Shloka 88

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिद्‌ रक्ताम्बरधरा: खड्गहस्ता: स्वलंकृता: । उपासते त्वामभितो रक्षणार्थमरिंदम,शत्रुदमन! कया लाल वस्त्र धारण करके अलंकारोंसे अलंकृत हुए योद्धा अपने हाथोंमें तलवार लेकर तुम्हारी रक्षाके लिये सब ओरसे सेवामें उपस्थित रहते हैं?

Transliteration

kaccid raktāmbaradharāḥ khaḍgahastāḥ svalankṛtāḥ | upāsate tvām abhito rakṣaṇārtham ariṃdama śatrudamana ||

Translation

ନାରଦ କହିଲେ— ଶତ୍ରୁଦମନ! ଲାଲ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପିନ୍ଧି, ଆଭୂଷଣରେ ଅଲଙ୍କୃତ, ହାତରେ ଖଡ୍ଗ ଧରିଥିବା ଯୋଦ୍ଧାମାନେ କି ତୁମ ରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ସବୁଦିଗରୁ ସେବାରେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ରହୁଛନ୍ତି?

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether (indeed)?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• रक्ताम्बरधराः: wearing red garments
• रक्ताम्बरधराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ताम्बरधर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• खड्गहस्ताः: having swords in (their) hands
• खड्गहस्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्गहस्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वलंकृताः: well-adorned
• स्वलंकृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-अलंकृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• उपासते: attend upon / stand by in service
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• अभितः: all around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभितः

• रक्षणार्थम्: for the purpose of protection
• रक्षणार्थम्: Prayojana (Karma-pravacaniya sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षणार्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अरिंदम: O subduer of foes
• अरिंदम: Sambodhana (addressed epithet used in sentence)
• Type: Noun (epithet)
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शत्रुदमन: O tamer of enemies
• शत्रुदमन: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun (epithet)
• Root: शत्रुदमन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• warriors/guards
• red garments
• sword (khaḍga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a ruler’s duty to maintain vigilant protection and orderly governance: sovereignty is not merely display, but sustained by disciplined guardianship and readiness against threats.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada addresses the king with honorific epithets and asks whether armed, well-adorned guards in red attire stand around him in constant attendance to ensure his safety.