Shloka 64
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
उद्यानेषु विहारेषु देवतायतनेषु च । पानागारेषु रथ्यासु सर्वतीर्थेषु चाप्पथ,उद्यान, घूमने-फिरनेके स्थान, देवालय, मद्यपानके अड्डे, गली या सड़क, सम्पूर्ण तीर्थस्थान, चौराहे, कुएँ, पर्वत, वन, नदी तथा जहाँ मनुष्योंकी भीड़ इकट्ठी होती हो, उन सभी स्थानोंमें अपने गुप्तचरोंको घुमाता रहे
udyāneṣu vihāreṣu devatāyataneṣu ca | pānāgāreṣu rathyāsu sarvatīrtheṣu cāpi ||
కాణికుడు అన్నాడు—ఉద్యానాలలో, విహారస్థలాలలో, దేవాలయాలలో, మద్యశాలలలో, వీధులు-రహదారులపై, అలాగే అన్ని తీర్థస్థలాలలో కూడా—ప్రతి చోటా గూఢచారులను తిరుగుతూ ఉండేలా చేయాలి.
कणिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a principle of rājadharma (royal policy): a ruler should maintain awareness of public sentiment and hidden threats by deploying trustworthy intelligence-gatherers in all common social and religious spaces. Ethically, it highlights vigilance and responsibility in governance, while also raising questions about the limits of surveillance and the need for restraint.
In Ādi Parva, Kaṇika is giving counsel on political strategy. Here he specifies the kinds of public places—gardens, temples, taverns, streets, and pilgrimage sites—where agents should circulate to observe conversations and movements, so that the ruler is not caught unprepared by rivals or unrest.