Shloka 7
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
स काक॑ पज्जरे बद्ध्वा विषयं क्षेमदर्शिन: । सर्व पर्यचरद् युक्तः प्रवृत्त्यर्थी पुनः: पुन:
sa kākaṁ pañjare baddhvā viṣayaṁ kṣemadarśinaḥ | sarvaṁ paryacarad yuktaḥ pravṛttyarthī punaḥ punaḥ ||
स काकं पञ्जरे बद्ध्वा क्षेमदर्शिनो विषयं युक्तः पर्यचरत्। प्रवृत्त्यर्थी पुनः पुनः सर्वत्र विचचार सः।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler or responsible agent should prioritize the realm’s welfare (kṣema) through disciplined, repeated, hands-on oversight—restraining disruptive elements and actively ensuring orderly conduct.
Bhīṣma describes someone who first captures and cages a crow (a concrete act of restraint), and then repeatedly moves through the territory with disciplined intent, seeking opportunities to act so that the domain remains secure and well-governed.