Shloka 96
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चित् सर्वेडनुरक्तास्त्वां भूमिपाला: प्रधानत: । कच्चित् प्राणांस्त्वदर्थेषु संत्यजन्ति त्वया55दृता:
kaccit sarve ’nuraktās tvāṃ bhūmipālāḥ pradhānataḥ | kaccit prāṇāṃs tvadartheṣu saṃtyajanti tvayādṛtāḥ ||
Nārada said: “Are all the kings—especially the foremost among them—truly devoted to you? And, being honored by you, would they even relinquish their lives for your sake and for your causes?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes the ethical foundation of rulership: a king’s authority depends not merely on power but on earned loyalty. Honor (ādara) shown to allies and subordinate rulers is presented as a key cause of devotion so strong that they would risk even their lives for the ruler’s aims.
Nārada is questioning a ruler about the stability of his political circle—specifically whether the leading kings are genuinely attached to him and whether, having been properly respected by him, they would stand by him to the point of sacrificing their lives.