Shloka 47

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिद्धष्टश्न श्रश्व मतिमान्‌ धृतिमाञछुचि: । कुलीनश्चानुरक्तश्व दक्ष: सेनापतिस्तथा,क्या तुम्हारा सेनापति हर्ष और उत्साहसे सम्पन्न, शूरवीर, बुद्धिमान, धैर्यवान्‌ू, पवित्र, कुलीन, स्वामिभक्त तथा अपने कार्यमें कुशल है?

Transliteration

kaccid dhṛṣṭaś ca śūraś ca matimān dhṛtimāñ śuciḥ | kulīnaś cānuraktaś ca dakṣaḥ senāpatis tathā ||

Translation

নারদ জিজ্ঞাসা করলেন—তোমার সেনাপতি কি নির্ভীক ও বীর, বুদ্ধিমান, ধৈর্যশীল এবং আচরণে শুচি? সে কি কুলীন, প্রভুভক্ত এবং কর্তব্যে দক্ষ?

Word by Word

कच्चित्whether?, I hope

हृष्टःjoyful, delighted

चand

अश्वःhorse

मतिमान्intelligent

धृतिमान्steadfast, patient

शुचिःpure, clean

कुलीनःof noble family

चand

अनुरक्तःdevoted, attached

चand

दक्षःskilful, competent

सेनापतिःcommander of the army

तथाthus, also

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

senāpati (army commander)

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?

Effective command is not only bravery but a dharmic blend of courage, intelligence, steadiness, purity of conduct, noble character, loyalty to the rightful authority, and practical competence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is examining the state of a ruler’s administration and security by asking whether the army commander possesses the virtues required to protect the kingdom and uphold order.