Shloka 60

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिच्च बलमुख्ये भ्य: परराष्टे परंतप । उपच्छन्नानि रत्नानि प्रयच्छसि यथाहत:,परंतप! शत्रुके राज्यमें जो प्रधान-प्रधान योद्धा हैं, उन्हें छिपे-छिपे यथायोग्य रत्न आदि भेंट करते रहते हो या नहीं?

Transliteration

kaccic ca balamukhye bhyaḥ pararāṣṭre parantapa | upacchannāni ratnāni prayacchasi yathāhataḥ ||

Translation

قال نارَدَة: «يا مُحْرِقَ الأعداء، أفي مملكة العدو تُسدي خفيةً الجواهرَ وسائرَ النفائس—على قدرٍ مناسب وبما يليق—إلى أبرز قادة قوّته العسكرية؟»

Word by Word

कच्चित्whether (indeed)?

बलमुख्येभ्यःto the chief men of the army / principal warriors

परराष्ट्रेin the enemy's kingdom

परंतपO scorcher of foes (address)

उपच्छन्नानिhidden, concealed

रत्नानिgems, valuables

प्रयच्छसिyou give, bestow

यथाas, according to

आहतःas is proper/appropriate (lit. 'as brought/obtained')

परंतपO scorcher of foes (address)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Parantapa (epithet of the addressed king)

ratnāni (jewels/treasures)

pararāṣṭra (enemy kingdom)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dimension of rājadharma: prudent governance may include discreet, proportionate gifting to influential figures in hostile realms to reduce danger, gather support, or prevent conflict—yet it must be done with discernment and a sense of responsibility, not reckless bribery.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is examining the king’s preparedness and political wisdom by asking whether he maintains covert influence operations in an enemy state—specifically, whether he quietly offers suitable valuables to the principal military leaders there.