Shloka 63
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिन्मूलं दृढं कृत्वा परान् यासि विशाम्पते । तांश्व॒ विक्रमसे जेतुं जित्वा च परिरक्षसि
kaccin mūlaṁ dṛḍhaṁ kṛtvā parān yāsi viśāmpate | tāṁś ca vikramase jetuṁ jitvā ca parirakṣasi, mahārāja ||
Nārada said: “O lord of the people, have you first made the foundations of your realm firm, and then set out against your foes? Do you exert your full valor to conquer them—and, having conquered them, do you continue to protect them completely, O great king?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should not rush into campaigns without first securing the kingdom’s foundations; and even in victory, dharma requires protecting the conquered as subjects, not exploiting them.
Nārada questions the king in a counsel-like style, checking whether he governs prudently: stabilizing the realm, waging war with adequate strength, and then maintaining protection and order after conquest.