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 ||
ಮುನಿಯು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಮಹಾರಾಜ! ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸೇವಕರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರು ಪಾಪಿಗಳು, ಯಾರು ನಿರಪರಾಧಿಗಳು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದು, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ನಿಮ್ಮದೇ ಅನುಚರರಿಂದ ನಿಮಗೆ ಅನೇಕ ಭಯಗಳು ಉಂಟಾಗಬಹುದೆಂದು ಅರಿತು, ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ವರ್ತಮಾನವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸಲು ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸನ್ನಿಧಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
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.