Shloka 39
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
यस्य चाराश्न मन्त्राश्न नित्यं चैव कृताकृता: । न ज्ञायन्ते हि रिपुभि: स राजा राज्यमहति
yasya cārāś ca mantrāś ca nityaṃ caiva kṛtākṛtāḥ | na jñāyante hi ripubhiḥ sa rājā rājyam arhati ||
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า— พระราชาผู้มีสายลับและที่ปรึกษา ซึ่งคอยพิจารณาอยู่เสมอว่าอะไรควรทำและอะไรไม่ควรทำ และยังคงเป็นที่ไม่รู้จักแก่ศัตรู—พระองค์นั้นย่อมทรงสมควรแก่การครองแผ่นดิน.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must maintain effective, discreet intelligence and counsel. When a king’s spies and advisers—who continually judge what should and should not be done—cannot be identified by enemies, he is considered worthy of sovereignty because his governance and security are protected.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on the practical duties of kingship. Here he emphasizes secrecy and protection of the king’s intelligence network and counsel so that hostile powers cannot undermine the state.