Shloka 8

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

संधिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञस्त्वनुमानवि भागवित्‌ । षाडुण्यविधियुक्तश्न सर्वशास्त्रविशारद:

Transliteration

sandhivigrahatattvajñas tv anumāna-vibhāgavit | ṣāḍguṇya-vidhi-yuktaś ca sarvaśāstra-viśāradaḥ ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Conocía los verdaderos principios de la alianza y de la enemistad, era diestro en el razonamiento y en distinguir conclusiones por inferencia; además, estaba instruido en las seis medidas de la política de Estado y era consumado en todos los tratados de autoridad.»

Word by Word

सन्धि-विग्रह-तत्त्व-ज्ञःknower of the principles of alliance and hostility

तुbut/and

अनुमान-विभाग-वित्knower of inference and classification/analysis

षाड्गुण्य-विधि-युक्तःversed in the method of the six measures of policy (ṣāḍguṇya)

चand

सर्व-शास्त्र-विशारदःexpert in all treatises

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Competent governance requires disciplined knowledge of diplomacy and conflict (sandhi–vigraha), the ability to reason by inference (anumāna), and mastery of the six strategic options (ṣāḍguṇya). Such expertise should guide decisions toward stability and responsible action rather than impulsive force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a figure’s qualifications—portraying him as an accomplished adviser or statesman: expert in treaties and war, analytically sharp, trained in classical policy doctrine, and broadly learned in śāstric knowledge.