Shloka 74
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिदर्थेषु सम्प्रौढान् हितकामाननुप्रियान् । नापकर्षसि कर्मभ्य: पूर्वमप्राप्प किल्बिषम्
kaccid artheṣu samprauḍhān hitakāmān anupriyān | nāpakarṣasi karmabhyaḥ pūrvam aprāpya kilbiṣam ||
Nārada asks: “In matters of state and wealth, do you refrain from removing from their duties those mature, experienced officials—well-wishers and dear to you—until you have first established that they have truly incurred some fault? In other words, do you avoid dismissing loyal, capable servants before properly ascertaining their wrongdoing?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should not punish or dismiss competent, loyal officials on suspicion or impulse; due process—ascertaining actual fault—is essential for dharmic governance and stable administration.
Narada is testing and advising the king through a series of questions on righteous statecraft, here focusing on fair treatment of experienced, well-intentioned servants and the need to verify wrongdoing before removing them from office.