Shloka 52
जर्जर चास्य विषयं कुर्वन्ति प्रतिरूपकै: । स्त्रीरक्षिभिश्व सज्जन्ते तुल्यवेषा भवन्ति च,वे जाली अज्ञापत्र जारी करके राजाके राज्यको जर्जर कर देते हैं। रनवासके रक्षकोंसे मिल जाते हैं अथवा उनके समान ही वेशभूषा धारण करके वहाँ घूमते फिरते हैं
jarjaraṃ cāsya viṣayaṃ kurvanti pratirūpakaiḥ | strīrakṣibhiś ca sajjante tulyaveṣā bhavanti ca ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Por meio de impostores e sósias, eles minam e enfraquecem o reino do rei. Também estabelecem ligações com os guardas dos aposentos das mulheres, ou então se disfarçam com trajes semelhantes e circulam por ali.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that a kingdom can be destabilized through deception: impostors and disguised agents infiltrate sensitive spaces and compromise security by colluding with insiders. Ethically, it highlights vigilance and integrity in governance, especially regarding protection of the inner palace and prevention of covert corruption.
In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous rule and practical governance, he describes a tactic used by hostile agents: they employ doubles and disguises to weaken the state, and they gain access to the women’s quarters either by befriending the guards or by adopting similar dress to move about unnoticed.