Shloka 53
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चित् पुरुषकारेण पुरुष: कर्म शोभयन् । लभते मानमधिकं भूयो वा भक्तवेतनम्
kaccit puruṣakāreṇa puruṣaḥ karma śobhayann | labhate mānam adhikaṃ bhūyo vā bhaktavetanaṃ ||
Nārada said: “Tell me—does a man here, by his own initiative and effort, when he carries out a task skillfully and well, receive from you greater honor, or else an increased allowance and wages?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes ethical governance: competent work done with personal initiative should be recognized—either through increased honor or through tangible remuneration—highlighting merit-based reward as a principle of just administration.
Nārada is questioning a ruler/householder about how workers are treated: when someone completes a task well through his own effort, does he receive greater respect or increased allowance and wages?