Shloka 69
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिदा भ्यन्तरेभ्यश्ष बाहो भ्यश्ष विशाम्पते । रक्षस्यात्मानमेवाग्रे तांश्व॒ स्वेभ्यो मिथश्व॒ तान्,प्रजापालक नरेश! क्या तुम रसोइये आदि भीतरी सेवकों तथा सेनापति आदि बाह्य सेवकोंद्वारा भी पहले अपनी ही रक्षा करते हो, फिर आत्मीयजनोंद्वारा एवं परस्पर एक-दूसरेसे उन सबकी रक्षापर भी ध्यान देते हो?
kaccid ābhyantarebhyaś ca bāhyebhyaś ca viśāmpate | rakṣasy ātmānam evāgre tāṃś ca svebhyo mithaś ca tān ||
Nārada said: “O lord of the people, do you first secure your own safety against dangers that may arise from inner attendants and outer officials, and then also provide for the safety of those very servants—through trusted kinsmen and by arranging mutual checks among them? O king who guards his subjects, do you remain vigilant so that the household and the administration stay safe, disciplined, and free from betrayal?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must practice vigilant, ethical governance: secure himself and the realm by monitoring both inner household staff and outer officials, and by establishing trustworthy oversight and mutual accountability so that service does not turn into betrayal.
Nārada continues a sequence of ‘kaccit’ counsel-questions to the ruler, probing whether the king maintains proper administrative safeguards—covering palace insiders and external officers—while ensuring orderly protection and supervision within the royal establishment.