Shloka 24
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
नात्मच्छिद्रं रिपुर्विद्याद् विद्याच्छिद्रं परस्य तु । गूहेत् कूर्म इवाड्रानि रक्षेद् विवरमात्मन:
nātmachchidraṃ ripur vidyād vidyāc chidraṃ parasya tu | gūhet kūrma ivāṅgāni rakṣed vivaram ātmanaḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ରାଜା ଏପରି ସଚେତନ ରହୁ ଯେ ଶତ୍ରୁ ତାହାର ଛିଦ୍ର (ଦୁର୍ବଳତା) ଜାଣିନ ପାରୁ; କିନ୍ତୁ ରାଜା ଶତ୍ରୁର ଛିଦ୍ର ଜାଣୁ। କଚ୍ଛପ ଯେପରି ନିଜ ଅଙ୍ଗଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଭିତରକୁ ଟାଣି ଲୁଚାଏ, ସେପରି ରାଜା ନିଜ ବିବରକୁ ଲୁଚାଇ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In rāja-dharma, prudent governance requires guarding one’s own vulnerabilities from hostile knowledge while discerning the opponent’s weak points; discretion and self-protection are ethical duties of rulership when they prevent harm to the realm.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on the duties and strategies of kingship. Here he gives a practical maxim of political vigilance, illustrated by the tortoise withdrawing its limbs.