Shloka 9
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
अमात्येषु च सर्वेषु मित्रेषु विविधेषु च । पुत्रेषु च महाराज प्रणिदध्यात् समाहित:,महाराज! राजा एकाग्रचित्त हो सब मन्त्रियों, नाना प्रकारके मित्रों तथा पुत्रोंपर भी गुप्तचर नियुक्त करे
amātyeṣu ca sarveṣu mitreṣu vividheṣu ca | putreṣu ca mahārāja praṇidadhyāt samāhitaḥ ||
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ മഹാരാജാ! രാജാവ് ഏകാഗ്രചിത്തനായി തന്റെ എല്ലാ മന്ത്രിമാരിലും, വിവിധ തരത്തിലുള്ള സുഹൃത്തുകളിലും, സ്വന്തം പുത്രന്മാരിലും പോലും രഹസ്യചാരന്മാരെ നിയോഗിക്കണം.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must practice vigilant governance: for the protection of the realm and the integrity of rule, he should discreetly verify loyalty and conduct through trusted intelligence, even within close circles like ministers, allies, and family.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on practical statecraft. Here he emphasizes the appointment of secret agents to monitor potential risks and prevent betrayal or disorder.