Shloka 30
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
मन्त्रिण्यननुरक्ते तु विश्वासो नोपपद्यते । तस्मादननुरक्ताय नैव मन्त्र प्रकाशयेत्
mantriṇy ananurakte tu viśvāso nopapadyate | tasmād ananuraktāya naiva mantraṁ prakāśayet ||
毗湿摩说道：对不具真诚忠心的辅臣，不宜托付信任。因此，切不可向不忠于王者的臣子泄露机密谋议。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should place confidence only in ministers who are genuinely loyal; confidential policy and strategy must not be shared with an advisor lacking devotion, since secrecy and fidelity are foundations of sound governance.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and governance, Bhishma advises the listener on how to choose and handle ministers, warning that disloyal advisors are unfit for trust and should not be entrusted with secret deliberations.