Shloka 121
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चित् सूत्राणि सर्वाणि गृह्नासि भरतर्षभ । हस्तिसूत्रा श्वसूत्राणि रथसूत्राणि वा विभो,भरतश्रेष्ठ! क्या तुम संक्षेपसे सिद्धान्तका प्रति-पादन करनेवाले सभी सूत्रग्रन्थ--हस्तिसूत्र, अश्वसूत्र एवं रथसूत्र आदिका संग्रह (पठन एवं अभ्यास) करते रहते हो?
kaccit sūtrāṇi sarvāṇi gṛhṇāsi bharatarṣabha | hastisūtrā śvasūtrāṇi rathasūtrāṇi vā vibho ||
Nārada berkata: “Wahai banteng di antara kaum Bharata, adakah tuanku tekun mempelajari dan mengingati semua risalah ringkas yang menghuraikan prinsip-prinsip amali—seperti pedoman tentang gajah, tentang kuda, dan tentang kereta perang? Wahai yang perkasa, adakah tuanku mengekalkan disiplin-disiplin ini dalam latihan yang berterusan?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes disciplined learning and continual practice of practical sciences (especially those tied to governance and defense). Mastery of such ‘sūtras’ is presented as an ethical responsibility: competence protects subjects and prevents reckless rule.
The sage Nārada is examining the king/prince’s readiness for rule by asking pointed ‘kaccit’ questions. Here he checks whether the addressee keeps up systematic study of technical manuals—elephant, horse, and chariot lore—implying comprehensive training in royal and military administration.