Shloka 19
राज्ञो रहस्यं यद् वाक््यं जयार्थ लोकसंग्रह: । ह्दि यच्चास्य जिह्दूं स््थात् कारणेन च यद् भवेत्
rājño rahasyaṁ yad vākyaṁ jayārthaṁ lokasaṅgrahaḥ | hṛdi yac cāsya jihvūṁ sthāt kāraṇena ca yad bhavet ||
राज्ञो रहस्यं यद् वाक्यं जयार्थं लोकसंग्रहः । हृदि यच्चास्य जिह्वां स्यात् कारणेन च यद् भवेत् ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that royal speech is a moral instrument: a king must discern what to disclose and what to keep confidential, speaking when it serves victory and the cohesion of society, and restraining speech when silence better protects the realm—always guided by sound reasons and circumstances.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on governance. Here he outlines principles of counsel and communication: secrecy, purposeful speech for success and public order, and disciplined restraint of the tongue.