Shloka 22
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिदात्मानमन्वीक्ष्य परांश्व जयतां वर | तथा संधाय कर्माणि अष्टौ भारत सेवसे,विजेताओंमें श्रेष्ठ भरतवंशी युधिष्ठिर! क्या तुम अपनी और शत्रुकी शक्तिको अच्छी तरह समझकर यदि शत्रु प्रबल हुआ तो उसके साथ संधि बनाये रखकर अपने धन और कोषकी वृद्धिके लिये आठ* कर्मोका सेवन करते हो?
kaccid ātmānam anvīkṣya parāṁś ca jayatāṁ vara | tathā sandhāya karmāṇi aṣṭau bhārata sevase ||
Nārada berkata: “Wahai yang terbaik antara para pemenang, wahai Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira)—setelah menimbang dengan teliti kekuatanmu dan kekuatan lawan, apabila musuh ternyata lebih kuat, adakah engkau mengekalkan persekutuan yang berhemah dengannya, sambil melaksanakan lapan langkah praktis kenegaraan demi menambah kekayaan dan perbendaharaan diraja?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should govern with clear-eyed assessment of strengths and risks, and when necessary adopt peace or alliance with a stronger foe, while systematically applying practical policies (the ‘eight measures’) to protect and strengthen the kingdom’s resources, especially wealth and the treasury.
In the Sabha Parva, Nārada questions and counsels Yudhiṣṭhira about sound kingship. Here he asks whether Yudhiṣṭhira evaluates both sides’ power and, if the opponent is stronger, maintains a strategic treaty (sandhi) and follows the recognized set of eight administrative/political measures aimed at consolidating prosperity and security.