Ministers should act in such a way that the enemies of their master may not be able to detect his loopholes. On the other hand, when their shortcomings are seen, they should then be assailed. Like the tortoise protecting its limbs by withdrawing them within its shell, ministers should keep close their own counsels. They should, even thus, conceal their own short-comings. Those ministers of a kingdom, who succeed in keeping their counsels close, are said to be wise. Counsels are the armour of a king, and the limbs are his subjects and officers.
नास्य च्छिद्रं परः पश्येच्छिद्रेषु परमन्वियात्। गृहेत् कूर्म इवाङ्गानि रक्षेद् विवरमात्मनः॥ मन्त्रगूढा हि राज्यस्य मन्त्रिणो ये मनीषिणः। मन्त्रसंहननो राजा मन्त्राङ्गानीतरे जनाः॥