Shloka 3
Night Vigil and Kṛṣṇa’s Instructions to Dāruka (निशि प्रजागरः—दारुकानुशासनम्)
प्रजानां पालन धर्मो दानमिज्या द्विषज्जय: । एतत् सुहोत्रो विज्ञाय धर्मेणैच्छद् धनागमम्,प्रजापालन, धर्म, दान, यज्ञ और शत्रुओंपर विजय पाना--इन सबको राजा सुहोत्रने अपने लिये श्रेयस्कर जानकर धर्मके द्वारा ही धन पानेकी अभिलाषा की
prajānāṃ pālana-dharmo dānam ijyā dviṣaj-jayaḥ | etat suhotro vijñāya dharmeṇaicchad dhanāgamam ||
Nārada berkata: “Bagi seorang raja, dharma melindungi rakyat, kebajikan memberi (dāna), pelaksanaan yajña, dan kemenangan atas musuh—mengetahui semuanya sebagai yang membawa kebaikan sejati, Raja Suhotra menginginkan perolehan kekayaan hanya melalui jalan yang benar.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s true welfare lies in rajadharma: protecting subjects, practicing generosity, maintaining sacrificial/religious duties, and overcoming enemies—while seeking wealth only through righteous means rather than exploitation.
Nārada, as narrator/speaker, describes King Suhotra’s understanding of the essential duties of kingship and notes that Suhotra chose to pursue prosperity through dharma, framing ethical governance as the foundation of power and success.