Shloka 52
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
जर्जर चास्य विषयं कुर्वन्ति प्रतिरूपकै: । स्त्रीरक्षिभिश्व सज्जन्ते तुल्यवेषा भवन्ति च
jarjaraṃ cāsya viṣayaṃ kurvanti pratirūpakaiḥ | strīrakṣibhiś ca sajjante tulyaveṣā bhavanti ca ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Sa pamamagitan ng mga mapagkunwari at mga kahawig na anyo, sinisira at pinahihina nila ang kaharian ng hari. Nakikipag-ugnayan din sila sa mga bantay ng silid ng kababaihan sa palasyo, o kaya’y nagkukunwaring nakasuot ng katulad na kasuotan at naglilibot doon.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that a kingdom can be destabilized through deception: impostors and disguised agents infiltrate sensitive spaces and compromise security by colluding with insiders. Ethically, it highlights vigilance and integrity in governance, especially regarding protection of the inner palace and prevention of covert corruption.
In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous rule and practical governance, he describes a tactic used by hostile agents: they employ doubles and disguises to weaken the state, and they gain access to the women’s quarters either by befriending the guards or by adopting similar dress to move about unnoticed.