Shloka 72
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिज्ज्ञातीन् गुरून् वृद्धान् वणिज: शिल्पिन: श्रितान् अभीक्षणमनुगृह्नासि धनधान्येन दुर्गतान्,तुम अपने आश्रित कुटुम्बके लोगों, गुरुजनों, बड़े-बूढ़ों, व्यापारियों, शिल्पियों तथा दीन-दुखियोंको धन-धान्य देकर उनपर सदा अनुग्रह करते रहते हो न?
kaccij jñātīn gurūn vṛddhān vaṇijaḥ śilpinaḥ śritān abhīkṣṇam anugṛhṇāsi dhanadhānyena durgatān?
Nārada berkata: “Adakah tuanku sentiasa menzahirkan belas ihsan—dengan mengurniakan harta dan bijirin—kepada mereka yang bergantung pada tuanku: kaum kerabat, para guru, orang tua, serta para pedagang, tukang mahir, dan mereka yang ditimpa kesusahan?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rājadharma and gṛhastha-dharma: a leader or householder should regularly sustain those under their care—relatives, teachers, elders, and working communities—especially the distressed, through practical support like food and wealth.
Nārada, as a moral examiner, asks a probing question to assess whether the ruler is fulfilling obligations of protection and generosity toward dependents and vulnerable groups, using material aid as an expression of ongoing compassion and duty.