Shloka 56
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
न वामना: कुब्जकृशा न खञ्जा नान्धो जड: स्त्री च नपुंसकं च | नचात्र तिर्यक् च पुरो न पश्चा- न्नोर्ध॑न चाध: प्रचरेत् कथंचित्,जहाँ गुप्त विचार किया जाता हो, वहाँ या उसके अगल-बगल, आगे-पीछे और ऊपर- नीचे भी किसी तरह बौने, कुबड़े, दुबले, लँगड़े, अन्धे, गूँगे, स्त्री और हीजड़े--ये न आने पावें
na vāmanāḥ kubja-kṛśā na khañjā nāndho jaḍaḥ strī ca napuṁsakaṁ ca | nacātra tiryak ca puro na paścān nordhvaṁ ca adhaḥ pracaret kathaṁcit yatra gupta-vicāraḥ kriyate ||
Bhīṣma said: “Where confidential deliberation is being conducted, one should not allow—either there or in its immediate vicinity—dwarfs, hunchbacks, the emaciated, the lame, the blind, the dull-witted, women, or eunuchs to move about in any way; nor should anyone be permitted to pass across, in front, behind, above, or below. Thus secrecy in counsel is to be protected.”
भीष्म उवाच