Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 10: The Divine Glories

Bhagavad Gita 10.38

daṇḍo damayatāmasmi nītirasmi jigīṣatām | maunaṃ caivāsmi guhyānāṃ jñānaṃ jñānavatāmaham ||

I am the rod of those who enforce discipline, and the statecraft of those who seek victory. I am the silence of secrets, and the knowledge of those who know.

Modern context

The rod of discipline, the skill of wise policy, the silence that keeps a secret, the knowledge of the wise. These are qualities of governance and maturity. Silence appears as the deepest form of keeping a confidence. Sometimes the most sacred thing a person can do is not speak: hold a secret, keep a trust, let something remain unsaid.