Shloka 86
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिद् द्वौ प्रथमौ यामौ रात्रे: सुप्त्वा विशाम्पते । संचिन्तयसि धर्मार्थो याम उत्थाय पकश्षिमे,प्रजानाथ! क्या तुम रात्रिके (पहले पहरके बाद) जो प्रथम दो (दूसरे-तीसरे) याम हैं, उन्हींमें सोकर अन्तिम पहरमें उठकर बैठ जाते और धर्म एवं अर्थका चिन्तन करते हो?
kaccid dvau prathamau yāmau rātreḥ suptvā viśāmpate | saṃcintayasi dharmārthau yāma utthāya paścime prajānātha ||
ナーラダは言った。「民の主よ、人々の王よ。そなたは夜の初めの二更に眠り、最後の更に起きて端坐し、ダルマとアルタ――正しき務めと国政の利――を省みているか。」
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should practice disciplined self-governance: regulate sleep and dedicate the clearest hours to deliberating on dharma (justice and duty) and artha (public welfare and policy), so that personal habits support ethical and effective rule.
Nārada is questioning the king in a counsel-like manner, using ‘kaccit’ to inquire about the king’s daily discipline—specifically whether he rises in the last watch of the night to contemplate principles of righteous conduct and practical governance.