Shloka 79
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिन्न भक्त बीजं च कर्षकस्यावसीदति । प्रत्येक च शतं वृद्धया ददास्यृणमनुग्रहम्,तुम्हारे राज्यके किसानका अन्न या बीज तो नष्ट नहीं होता? क्या तुम प्रत्येक किसानपर अनुग्रह करके उसे एक रुपया सैकड़े ब्याजपर ऋण देते हो?
kaccin na bhakta-bījaṃ ca karṣakasyāvasīdati | pratyekaṃ ca śataṃ vṛddhyā dadāsi ṛṇam anugraham ||
Nārada asked the king: “Are the cultivator’s food-grain and seed kept safe from loss? And, out of royal compassion, do you grant each farmer a loan on just terms—so that agriculture is sustained, and not ruined by oppressive debt?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes safeguarding agriculture—ensuring farmers do not lose seed or sustenance and are not crushed by debt. Royal policy should be compassionate and just, supporting productive livelihoods rather than enabling exploitative lending.
Narada is testing and advising the king through pointed questions about administration. By asking about farmers’ seed/grain and the terms of loans, he evaluates whether the kingdom is governed with practical compassion and economic fairness.