Shloka 12
Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)
स सम कौसल्यमागम्य राजामात्यमलंकृतम् | प्राह काकस्य वचनादमुत्रेदं त्वया कृतम्
sa sama kauśalyam āgamya rājāmātyam alaṅkṛtam | prāha kākasya vacanād amutredaṃ tvayā kṛtam |
毗湿摩言：圣仙抵达拘萨罗国后，走近那端坐、仪容具足的王之大臣，并援引乌鸦之言说道：“此事乃汝在彼处所为：汝于某地盗取王家某项财物。某某等人知之，皆可为证。我这乌鸦说汝侵吞国库；故当速速认罪。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public authority demands moral accountability: when confronted with credible accusation of misusing royal wealth, one should not evade but accept responsibility and confess the offense. The verse frames confession as an ethical duty, especially for those entrusted with the king’s resources.
A sage arrives in Kosala and addresses the king’s minister, formally seated in office. Citing a crow’s report, the sage accuses the minister of stealing from the royal treasury and urges him to admit the crime, indicating that witnesses also know the matter.