Shloka 40
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
जिसके गुप्तचर, गुप्त विचार, निश्चय किए हुए करने योग्य कर्म और किये हुए कर्म शत्रुओंद्वारा कभी जाने न जा सकें, वही राजा राज्य पानेका अधिकारी है ।।
yasya gūḍhacārā gūḍhamantrā niścitāḥ kartavyakarmāṇi kṛtāni ca karmāṇi śatrubhir na kadācana jñāyante sa eva rājā rājyaprāptum adhikārī | ślokaś cāyaṃ purā gīto bhārgaveṇa mahātmanā | ākhyāte rājacarite nṛpatiṃ prati bhārata ||
毗湿摩说道：唯有那位君王，其密探隐而不露，其谋议秘而不宣，其既定之职责与已成之举，永不为敌所窥知——方堪得而守其王权。婆罗多啊，此偈正是往昔大圣婆尔伽瓦在向一位君主阐明王者行止与职责时所吟唱的。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s fitness for sovereignty depends on disciplined secrecy and strategic prudence: intelligence networks, counsel, planned duties, and executed actions must be protected from enemy knowledge, because governance requires safeguarding the realm through controlled information.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on the practical duties of kingship and cites an older authoritative verse attributed to the Bhargava sage, presented as a traditional maxim on royal conduct.