Shloka 13
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
एवं विचिनुयाद् राजा परचारं विचक्षण: । चारे हि विदिते पूर्व हितं भवति पाण्डव
evaṁ vicinuyād rājā paracāraṁ vicakṣaṇaḥ | cāre hi vidite pūrvaṁ hitaṁ bhavati pāṇḍava pāṇḍunandana ||
毗湿摩说道：“因此，明察之王当不断侦察敌方间谍。噢，般度之子——般度族的后裔啊，若能预先识破间者，便成为君主极大的护持与优势。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be vigilant and discerning in matters of intelligence: proactively identifying enemy spies is a practical duty of kingship because early detection protects the realm and advances the king’s welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on governance. Here he emphasizes counter-intelligence—continual scrutiny to uncover hostile agents—framing it as prudent state protection.