Shloka 62
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
एकदोषा हि बहवो मृद्नीयुरपि कण्टकान् । मन्त्रभेदभयाद् राजंस्तस्मादेतद् ब्रवीमि ते,नरेश्वर! जब बहुत-से लोगोंपर एक ही तरहका दोष लगाया जाता है तो वे सब मिलकर एक हो जाते हैं और उस दशामें वे बड़े-बड़े कण्टकोंको भी मसल डालते हैं, अतः यह गुप्त विचार दूसरोंपर प्रकट न हो जाय, इसी भयसे मैं तुम्हें इस प्रकार एक-एक करके विरोधियोंके वधकी सलाह दे रहा हूँ
ekadoṣā hi bahavo mṛdnīyur api kaṇṭakān | mantrabhedabhayād rājan tasmād etad bravīmi te ||
Bhishma disse: “Quando muitos são acusados de uma mesma falta, tendem a unir-se; e, unidos, podem esmagar até ‘espinhos’ formidáveis (obstáculos perigosos). Por isso, ó rei, temendo que este conselho confidencial seja divulgado, digo-te: trata dos teus adversários um por um.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that a common accusation can unify many people into a powerful bloc; hence a ruler should prevent opponents from forming a united front by keeping strategy secret and addressing threats individually.
In Bhishma’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma) in the Shanti Parva, he gives pragmatic counsel to the king: secrecy is vital, because if adversaries learn the plan and feel collectively targeted, they may unite and become harder to overcome.