पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - पिशुनः

षट्कर्णो भिद्यते मंत्रश्चतुष्कर्णः स्थिरो भवेत् ।
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन षट्कर्णं वर्जयेत्सुधीः ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

ShaTkarNaH bhidyate mantraH catuShkarNaH sthiro bhavet ।
tasmAt sarva prayatnena ShaTkarNaM varjayet sudhIH ॥

- panchatantra, mitrabheda

If a secret falls over six ears, it will be spread like wild fire. If it falls on just four ears, it will become more strong. So a wise man must use all his resources to avoid his secrets falling over six ears. If you confide in a friend he will not betray you because, he knows that if the secret becomes public you will know that he has failed you. If you tell it more than one person, they will not keep it to themselves because both of them knows that you will have no idea who spread it.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda