Shloka 86
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिद् द्वौ प्रथमौ यामौ रात्रे: सुप्त्वा विशाम्पते । संचिन्तयसि धर्मार्थो याम उत्थाय पकश्षिमे
kaccid dvau prathamau yāmau rātreḥ suptvā viśāmpate | saṃcintayasi dharmārthau yāma utthāya paścime prajānātha ||
Nārada said: “O lord of the people, O ruler among men—do you sleep during the first two watches of the night, and then, rising in the last watch, sit wakeful to reflect upon dharma and artha?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should practice disciplined self-governance: regulate sleep and dedicate the clearest hours to deliberating on dharma (justice and duty) and artha (public welfare and policy), so that personal habits support ethical and effective rule.
Nārada is questioning the king in a counsel-like manner, using ‘kaccit’ to inquire about the king’s daily discipline—specifically whether he rises in the last watch of the night to contemplate principles of righteous conduct and practical governance.