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 ||
毗湿摩说道：那位国王，其密探与谋臣——恒常分辨“当为”与“不当为”之事者——仍能不为敌人所知晓；这样的君王，才真正堪当执掌并治理国家。
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.