Shloka 82
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिन्नगरगुप्त्यर्थ ग्रामा नगरवत् कृता: । ग्रामवच्च कृता: प्रान्तास्ते च सर्वे त्वदर्पणा:
kaccin nagaraguptyarthaṁ grāmā nagaravat kṛtāḥ | grāmavac ca kṛtāḥ prāntās te ca sarve tvad-arpaṇāḥ ||
ナーラダは問うた。「都を守るために、村々もまた都と同じほどの配慮をもって整えられ、勇士らにより守られているか。辺境の地も内地の村々と等しく、相応の備えと扶助を受けて保たれているか。さらに諸州・村・町は、徴収した収入を正当な租税として、しかるべくそなたに献じているか。」
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes balanced security and welfare: protect cities by strengthening villages, treat frontier regions with equal administrative care, and ensure revenue is collected and offered through orderly, just governance rather than neglect or coercion.
Narada, speaking as a moral examiner of kingship, questions the ruler about practical statecraft—security arrangements for villages and cities, equitable support for border districts, and the proper flow of tribute/revenue from all regions.