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Shloka 106

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

दुष्टो गृहीतस्तत्कारी तज्ज्ैर्दृष्ट: सकारण: । कच्चिन्न मुच्यते स्तेनो द्रव्यलोभान्नरर्षभ,नरश्रेष्ठ) कोई ऐसा दुष्ट चोर जो चोरी करते समय गृहरक्षकोंद्वारा देख लिया गया और चोरीके मालसहित पकड़ लिया गया हो, धनके लोभसे छोड़ तो नहीं दिया जाता?

duṣṭo gṛhītastatkārī tajjñair dṛṣṭaḥ sakāraṇaḥ | kaccin na mucyate steno dravyalobhān naraṛṣabha ||

ນາຣະດະກ່າວວ່າ: «ໂອ ຜູ້ເປັນເລີດໃນບຸລຸດ! ຖ້າມີໂຈນຊົ່ວຖືກຈັບໄດ້ຂະນະກໍາລັງກໍ່ການ—ມີຜູ້ຮູ້ເຫດການເຫັນຊັດ ມີເຫດຜົນແລະຫຼັກຖານ—ແນ່ນອນວ່າບໍ່ຖືກປ່ອຍຕົວເພາະຄວາມໂລບໃນຊັບສິນ ແມ່ນບໍ? ມີຄັ້ງໃດທີ່ອາຊະຍາກອນແບບນັ້ນຖືກປ່ອຍເພາະສິນບົນ ຫຼືຄວາມຢາກໄດ້ຊັບບໍ?»

दुष्टःwicked
दुष्टः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदुष्ट
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गृहीतःcaught, seized
गृहीतः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootग्रह्
Formक्त, Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Passive (past participle)
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कारीdoer (of that), perpetrator
कारी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृ
Formणिनि, Masculine, Nominative, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
दृष्टःseen
दृष्टः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त, Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Passive (past participle)
सकारणःwith evidence/with cause (i.e., with proof)
सकारणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसकारण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कच्चित्surely? is it the case that...?
कच्चित्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकच्चित्
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मुच्यतेis released, is let go
मुच्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootमुच्
FormLat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive/impersonal sense: is released
स्तेनःthief
स्तेनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootस्तेन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
द्रव्यलोभात्from/for greed of wealth
द्रव्यलोभात्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootद्रव्यलोभ
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
नरर्षभO bull among men
नरर्षभ:
TypeNoun
Rootनरर्षभ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

नारद उवाच

N
Nārada
T
thief (stena)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a standard of righteous governance: when guilt is evident and witnessed, justice should not be subverted by greed. Releasing a proven offender for wealth (bribes or personal gain) is presented as a moral failure and a breach of dharma.

Nārada poses a pointed rhetorical question to a leading man/kingly figure, using the example of a thief caught red-handed. The question probes whether, in that realm, criminals are ever improperly freed due to desire for wealth—implicitly testing the integrity of administration and judgment.