Shloka 119

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

द्रव्योपकरणं किंचित्‌ सर्वदा सर्वशिल्पिनाम्‌ । चातुर्मास्यावरं सम्यड नियतं सम्प्रयच्छसि,नरेश्वर! क्या तुम सदा नियमसे सभी शिल्पियोंको व्यवस्थापूर्वक एक साथ इतनी वस्तु-निर्माणकी सामग्री दे देते हो, जो कम-से-कम चौमासे भर चल सके

Transliteration

dravyopakaraṇaṃ kiñcit sarvadā sarvaśilpinām | cāturmāsyāvaraṃ samyaṅ niyataṃ samprayacchasi, nareśvara ||

Translation

नारद म्हणाले—नरेश्वर! तू काय नेहमी नियमाप्रमाणे व सुव्यवस्थित रीतीने सर्व शिल्पकारांना साहित्य व साधनसामग्रीचा असा ठरावीक साठा देतोस का, जो किमान चातुर्मास्यकाळभर पुरेल, ज्यामुळे त्यांचे कार्य अखंड चालू राहील?

Word by Word

द्रव्योपकरणम्materials and implements (equipment of goods)

किञ्चित्some, a certain (amount)

सर्वदाalways

सर्वशिल्पिनाम्of all artisans/craftsmen

चातुर्मास्यlasting four months; for a four-month period

अवरम्at least; minimum (lit. not less)

सम्यक्properly, duly

नियतंfixed, regular, as a rule

सम्प्रयच्छसिyou give, you bestow

नरेश्वरO lord of men (king)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

nareśvara (the king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s dharma includes ensuring stable livelihoods and uninterrupted productive work by providing regulated, sufficient resources to artisans; good governance supports the economic base and social welfare through orderly provisioning.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada addresses the king and probes his administrative practice: whether he systematically supplies all craftsmen with enough materials and tools—at least for a four-month period—reflecting scrutiny of the king’s governance and care for subjects.