Shloka 26

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिद्‌ वृत्तिमुदासीने मध्यमे चानुमन्यसे । कच्चिदात्मसमा वृद्धा: शुद्धा: सम्बोधनक्षमा:

Transliteration

kaccid vṛttim udāsīne madhyame cānumanyase | kaccid ātmasamā vṛddhāḥ śuddhāḥ sambodhanakṣamāḥ |

Translation

Нарада сказал: «Умеешь ли ты должным образом утверждать и направлять поведение по отношению к равнодушным и к тем, кто держится середины? И назначил ли ты в министры достойных доверия старейшин — равных тебе в честности, чистых сердцем, способных к здравому совету и ясному наставлению?»

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether? (interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• वृत्तिम्: conduct; behavior; policy
• वृत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उदासीने: toward/with a neutral person
• उदासीने: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदासीन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मध्यमे: toward/with a middling person
• मध्यमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अनुमन्यसे: do you approve/consider (proper)?
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√मन्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Second, Singular

• कच्चित्: whether? (again, introducing a question)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• आत्मसमाḥ: equal to yourself
• आत्मसमाḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मसम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वृद्धाः: elders
• वृद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शुद्धाः: pure; honest
• शुद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सम्बोधनक्षमाḥ: capable of proper counsel/explanation (addressing matters well)
• सम्बोधनक्षमाḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्बोधन-क्षम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must have a clear, ethically grounded policy toward neutrals and moderates, and must rely on ministers who are experienced, pure-minded, and capable of giving and communicating sound counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada questions the king in a diagnostic, advisory style, checking whether the king’s governance is supported by prudent policy and by competent, trustworthy elders serving as ministers.