Shloka 22
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
ब्राह्मण प्रतिजाने ते प्रब्रूहि यदिहेच्छसि । करिष्यामि हि ते वाक्य॑ यदस्मान्विप्र वक्ष्यसि
brāhmaṇa pratijāne te prabrūhi yad ihecchasi | kariṣyāmi hi te vākyaṁ yad asmān vipra vakṣyasi ||
ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನೇ! ನಾನು ನಿನಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ—ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿನಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದುದನ್ನು ಹೇಳು. ಓ ವಿಪ್ರಾ! ನೀನು ನಮಗೆ ಹೇಳುವ ಮಾತನ್ನು ನಾನು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ನೆರವೇರಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should invite frank counsel from the virtuous and then uphold his pledged word. Keeping one’s promise (satya/pratijñā) and honoring Brahminical/ascetic guidance are presented as marks of dharmic kingship.
The speaker assures a Brahmin/ascetic that he may speak without fear and that whatever instruction or request he states will be carried out. The moment establishes trust and frames the king’s commitment to welfare-oriented, dharmic action.