Shloka 87
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिदर्थयसे नित्यं मनुष्यान् समलंकृत: । उत्थाय काले कालनज्ञै: सह पाण्डव मन्त्रिभि:,पाण्डुनन्दन! तुम प्रतिदिन समयपर उठकर स्नान आदिके पश्चात् वस्त्राभूषणोंसे अलंकृत हो देश-कालके ज्ञाता मन्त्रियोंके साथ बैठकर (प्रार्थी या दर्शनार्थी) मनुष्योंकी इच्छा पूर्ण करते हो न?
kaccid arthayase nityaṁ manuṣyān samalaṅkṛtaḥ | utthāya kāle kālajñaiḥ saha pāṇḍava mantribhiḥ, pāṇḍunandana! tvaṁ pratidina samayapara uṭhkara snāna-ādike paścāt vastra-ābhūṣaṇaiḥ alaṅkṛta ho deśa-kāla-ke jñātā mantriyoṁ ke sātha baiṭhkara (prārthī yā darśanārthī) manuṣyoṁ kī icchā pūrṇa karate ho na?
Nārada berkata: “Wahai putera Pāṇḍu, adakah engkau bangun setiap hari pada waktunya, mandi dan menunaikan tugas, mengenakan pakaian serta perhiasan, lalu duduk bersama para menteri Pāṇḍava yang arif tentang masa dan keadaan, untuk memberi audiensi kepada rakyat dan menunaikan permohonan para pemohon secara tetap?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes disciplined daily conduct, personal cleanliness and dignity, and accessible, timely administration—he should hear petitioners with competent advisers and fulfill rightful requests according to time and circumstance.
Nārada is examining Yudhiṣṭhira’s royal governance by asking whether he follows a proper daily regimen and, with wise ministers, regularly grants audience to people and addresses their needs.