Shloka 4

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

वक्ता प्रगल्भो मेधावी स्मृतिमान्‌ नयवित्‌ कवि: । परापरविभागज्ञ: प्रमाणकृतनिश्चय:

Transliteration

vaktā pragalbho medhāvī smṛtimān nayavit kaviḥ | parāparavibhāgajñaḥ pramāṇakṛtaniścayaḥ ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— അവൻ വാക്കിൽ പ്രഗൽഭൻ, പ്രസ്താവനയിൽ ധീരൻ, ബുദ്ധിമാൻ, ദൃഢസ്മൃതിയുള്ളവൻ; നയത്തിലും ആചരണത്തിലും നിപുണൻ, യഥാർത്ഥ കവി; ഉന്നത-നിമ്ന ഭേദം ശരിയായി തിരിച്ചറിയുന്നവൻ, പ്രമാണങ്ങളെ ആശ്രയിച്ച നിശ്ചയങ്ങളിൽ അചഞ്ചലൻ.

Word by Word

वक्ताspeaker, orator

प्रगल्भःbold, confident

मेधावीintelligent, wise

स्मृतिमान्possessing memory, mindful

नयवित्knower of policy/strategy

कविःpoet, sage

परापर-विभाग-ज्ञःknowing the distinction between higher and lower (proper discrimination)

प्रमाण-कृत-निश्चयःone whose conclusions are made on valid authority/evidence

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises an ideal counselor/speaker: confident yet disciplined in speech, intellectually sharp, guided by memory and learning, able to distinguish what is higher and lower (right and wrong, fitting and unfitting), and committed to conclusions supported by valid standards of knowledge (pramāṇa). It frames ethical governance as requiring both eloquence and evidence-based discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a person’s qualifications and character in laudatory terms—highlighting rhetorical skill, intelligence, prudence in matters of policy (naya), and sound judgment. The narrative context is a characterization meant to establish authority and trustworthiness within the unfolding events of the Sabha Parva.