Shloka 70
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
दूषितं परदोषै्हिं गृह्नीते योडन्यथा शुचिम् । स्वयं संदूषितामात्य: क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति
dūṣitaṃ paradoṣaiḥ gṛhṇīte yo 'nyathā śucim | svayaṃ saṃdūṣitāmātyaḥ kṣipram eva vinaśyati ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ରାଜା ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ଆରୋପିତ ମିଥ୍ୟା ଦୋଷରେ ଭ୍ରମିତ ହୋଇ ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ନିର୍ଦୋଷ ଓ ଶୁଚି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦିଏ, ସେ ଦୂଷିତ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ନୃପତି ଶୀଘ୍ର ନଶ୍ଟ ହୁଏ; କାରଣ ଅନ୍ୟାୟ ନିର୍ଣ୍ଣୟରେ ରାଜଧର୍ମର ମୂଳ ଧ୍ୱଂସ ହୋଇଯାଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must not punish the innocent on the basis of others’ slander or unverified accusations; unjust punishment, especially under corrupt counsel, rapidly leads to the ruler’s downfall and the collapse of righteous governance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about the ethics of rule and judgment, warning that a ruler who accepts defamatory reports and condemns the blameless—guided by tainted ministers—invites swift ruin.