Shloka 23
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
मुनिर्वाच ज्ञात्वा पापानपापांश्व भृत्यतस्ते भयानि च । भक्त्या वृत्ति समाख्यातुं भवतो$न्तिकमागमम्
munir uvāca jñātvā pāpān apāpāṁś ca bhṛtyatas te bhayāni ca | bhaktyā vṛttiṁ samākhyātuṁ bhavato 'ntikam āgamam ||
Sang resi berkata, “Wahai Maharaja, setelah meneliti di antara para pelayanmu siapa yang bersalah dan siapa yang tak bersalah—serta menyadari bahwa banyak bahaya bagimu dapat timbul justru dari para pengiringmu sendiri—aku datang menghadap dengan penuh bakti untuk menyampaikan kepadamu seluruh keadaan dan perilaku dalam kerajaan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must discern guilt and innocence among officials and attendants, because internal agents can become sources of danger; loyal advisers should report the true state of affairs so governance aligns with dharma and justice.
A sage approaches the king and explains his purpose: after investigating which servants are culpable or blameless and foreseeing threats arising from within the king’s own staff, he has come, out of devotion and concern, to give a full report on the situation.