Shloka 81

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिच्छूरा: कृतप्रज्ञा: पजच पज्च स्वनुछिता: । क्षेमं कुर्वन्ति संहत्य राजज्जनपदे तव

Transliteration

kaccic chūrāḥ kṛtaprajñāḥ pañca pañca svanuṣṭhitāḥ | kṣemaṃ kurvanti saṃhatya rājajjanapade tava, rājan ||

Translation

Nārada said: “O King, is it well with your realm? In each village of your kingdom, do groups of five—men who are brave, steady in judgment, and competent in action—work together in harmony to secure welfare and safety, carrying out public duties properly for the good of all?”

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether indeed? (I hope)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• शूराः: heroes, brave men
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कृतप्रज्ञाः: of settled/formed judgment; prudent
• कृतप्रज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतप्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Indeclinable/Number-word, Accusative (used adverbially/quantitatively), Plural (sense)

• पञ्च: five (each)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Indeclinable/Number-word, Accusative (used adverbially/quantitatively), Plural (sense)

• स्वनुच्छिताः: well-appointed/fitly chosen (as councilors)
• स्वनुच्छिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वनुच्छित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्षेमम्: welfare, security, well-being
• क्षेमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कुर्वन्ति: they do, they make
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• संहत्य: having assembled; together
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-हन्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• जनपदे: in the realm/country
• जनपदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• the King (rājan)
• janapada (the kingdom/realm)
• village pañcas (councils of five)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Good governance depends on local institutions staffed by capable and virtuous people who act collectively for kṣema—public safety and welfare. The verse highlights administrative dharma: competence, prudence, and coordinated service at the village level.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is questioning the king about the condition of his realm, specifically whether each village has a functioning council of five qualified men who work together to carry out public duties and ensure the people’s well-being.