ययातिपतन-कारणम् (The Cause of Yayāti’s Fall) — Nārada’s Counsel on Pride and Reconciliation
ततः प्रतर्दनो5प्याह वाक्यं क्षत्रियपुड्रव: । यथा धर्मरतिर्नित्यं नित्यं युद्धपरायण:
tataḥ pratardano 'py āha vākyaṁ kṣatriyapuṅgavaḥ | yathā dharmaratir nityaṁ nityaṁ yuddhaparāyaṇaḥ ||
ତାପରେ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପ୍ରତର୍ଦନ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହି ବଚନ କହିଲେ—“ସେ ସଦା ଧର୍ମରେ ରତ, ଏବଂ ସଦା ଯୁଦ୍ଧପଥରେ ପରାୟଣ।”
नारद उवाच
The verse frames the ideal kṣatriya character as a union of unwavering commitment to dharma and readiness for righteous battle—ethical steadfastness paired with the duty to fight when required.
Within Nārada’s narration, Pratardana speaks, describing a warrior-king (or warrior ideal) as constantly devoted to dharma and consistently oriented toward battle, emphasizing the kṣatriya code in the lead-up to conflict.