Shloka 47

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिद्धष्टश्न श्रश्व मतिमान्‌ धृतिमाञछुचि: । कुलीनश्चानुरक्तश्व दक्ष: सेनापतिस्तथा

Transliteration

kaccid dhṛṣṭaś ca śūraś ca matimān dhṛtimāñ śuciḥ | kulīnaś cānuraktaś ca dakṣaḥ senāpatis tathā ||

Translation

ナーラダは問うた。「汝の軍の総大将は、剛胆にして勇武—聡明で、忍耐強く、行い清らかであるか。高貴な家柄に生まれ、主君に忠誠を尽くし、統率の務めに熟達しているか。」

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether?, I hope
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• हृष्टः: joyful, delighted
• हृष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अश्वः: horse
• अश्वः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मतिमान्: intelligent
• मतिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धृतिमान्: steadfast, patient
• धृतिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शुचिः: pure, clean
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुलीनः: of noble family
• कुलीनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अनुरक्तः: devoted, attached
• अनुरक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुरक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दक्षः: skilful, competent
• दक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सेनापतिः: commander of the army
• सेनापतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनापति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• senāpati (army commander)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Effective command is not only bravery but a dharmic blend of courage, intelligence, steadiness, purity of conduct, noble character, loyalty to the rightful authority, and practical competence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is examining the state of a ruler’s administration and security by asking whether the army commander possesses the virtues required to protect the kingdom and uphold order.