Shloka 15
Adhyāya 90 — Protection of Livelihoods, Brahmanical Subsistence Norms, and Royal Oversight (राष्ट्रवृत्ति-राष्ट्रगुप्ति-उपदेशः)
अतीतदिदतसे वृत्तं प्रशंसन्ति न वा पुनः । गुप्तैशज्ारैरनुमतै: पृथिवीमनुसारयेत्
atītad idatase vṛttaṃ praśaṃsanti na vā punaḥ | guptaiś cārair anumataiḥ pṛthivīm anusārayet ||
Bhishma berkata: “Sama ada orang memuji atau tidak memuji tingkah laku seseorang pada masa lampau—hal itu harus dipastikan. Maka, dengan ejen perisik rahsia yang dipercayai dan telah diperkenankan, hendaklah seseorang sentiasa memerhati seluruh bumi (wilayah kerajaan), mengutus mereka ke segala penjuru untuk mengetahui kebenaran.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or any leader) should not rely on self-assessment or flattery to judge their conduct; they should verify public sentiment and the real effects of their actions through trustworthy, discreet information channels.
In Bhishma’s instruction on governance in the Shanti Parva, he advises maintaining an approved network of secret agents who circulate throughout the realm to learn whether the ruler’s past behavior is praised or criticized and to report the truth.