Shloka 53
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चित् पुरुषकारेण पुरुष: कर्म शोभयन् । लभते मानमधिकं भूयो वा भक्तवेतनम्
kaccit puruṣakāreṇa puruṣaḥ karma śobhayann | labhate mānam adhikaṃ bhūyo vā bhaktavetanaṃ ||
ナーラダは言った。「告げよ——ここでは、人が自らの奮励と働きによって任を巧みに、見事に果たしたとき、そなたはその者にいっそうの栄誉を与えるのか。それとも扶持や俸給を増して報いるのか。」
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes ethical governance: competent work done with personal initiative should be recognized—either through increased honor or through tangible remuneration—highlighting merit-based reward as a principle of just administration.
Nārada is questioning a ruler/householder about how workers are treated: when someone completes a task well through his own effort, does he receive greater respect or increased allowance and wages?