Shloka 23
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
मुनिर्वाच ज्ञात्वा पापानपापांश्व भृत्यतस्ते भयानि च । भक्त्या वृत्ति समाख्यातुं भवतो$न्तिकमागमम्,मुनि बोले--महाराज! आपके कर्मचारियोंमेंसे कौन अपराधी है और कौन निरपराध? इस बातका पता लगाकर तथा आपपर आपके सेवकोंकी ओरसे ही अनेक भय आने वाले हैं, यह जानकर प्रेमपूर्वक राज्यका सारा समाचार बतानेके लिये मैं आपके पास आया था
munir uvāca jñātvā pāpān apāpāṁś ca bhṛtyatas te bhayāni ca | bhaktyā vṛttiṁ samākhyātuṁ bhavato 'ntikam āgamam ||
मुनिरुवाच—ज्ञात्वा पापानपापांश्च भृत्यतस्ते भयानि च। भक्त्या वृत्तिं समाख्यातुं भवतोऽन्तिकमागमम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must discern guilt and innocence among officials and attendants, because internal agents can become sources of danger; loyal advisers should report the true state of affairs so governance aligns with dharma and justice.
A sage approaches the king and explains his purpose: after investigating which servants are culpable or blameless and foreseeing threats arising from within the king’s own staff, he has come, out of devotion and concern, to give a full report on the situation.