Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिदग्निषु ते युक्तो विधिज्ञो मतिमानृजु: । हुतं च होष्यमाणं च काले वेदयते सदा,तुमने अग्निहोत्रके लिये विधिज्ञ, बुद्धिमान् और सरल स्वभावके ब्राह्मणको नियुक्त किया है न? वह सदा किये हुए और किये जानेवाले हवनको तुम्हें ठीक समयपर सूचित कर देता है न?
kaccid agniṣu te yukto vidhijño matimān ṛjuḥ | hutaṃ ca hoṣyamāṇaṃ ca kāle vedayate sadā ||
ナーラダは言った。「そなたは聖火のために、作法を知り、聡明で、行いのまっすぐな祭司を任じているか。彼は、すでに捧げた供物と、これから捧げるべき供物とを、つねに時宜にかなってそなたに告げているか。」
नारद उवाच
The verse emphasizes that dharma is sustained through disciplined, timely performance of obligatory rites, overseen by competent and upright specialists; such orderliness reflects both personal integrity and responsible governance.
Nārada is conducting a welfare-and-dharma inquiry, asking whether the ruler has properly arranged the maintenance of sacred fires and whether a qualified priest keeps him informed about completed and upcoming offerings at the correct times.