Shloka 2
Night Vigil and Kṛṣṇa’s Instructions to Dāruka (निशि प्रजागरः—दारुकानुशासनम्)
यः प्राप्य राज्यं धर्मेण ऋत्विग्ब्रह्मपुरोहितान् । अपृच्छदात्मन: श्रेय: पृष्टवा तेषां मते स्थित:,उन्होंने धर्मके अनुसार राज्य पाकर ऋत्विजों, ब्राह्मणों तथा पुरोहितोंसे अपने कल्याणका उपाय पूछा और पूछकर वे उनकी सम्मतिके अनुसार चलते रहे
yaḥ prāpya rājyaṃ dharmeṇa ṛtvig-brahma-purohitān | apṛcchad ātmanaḥ śreyaḥ pṛṣṭvā teṣāṃ mate sthitaḥ ||
नारद उवाच—यः धर्मेण राज्यं प्राप्य ऋत्विग्ब्राह्मणपुरोहितान् आत्मनः श्रेयः किमिति पप्रच्छ; तेषां मतं ज्ञात्वा तदनुसारमेव स निश्चलः समाचरत्।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should seek śreyas (true welfare) through dharma and by consulting qualified religious and ethical authorities (ṛtvij, brāhmaṇas, purohitas), then act consistently with sound counsel rather than impulse or self-interest.
Nārada describes a king who, after gaining sovereignty righteously, asks priests and Brahmins what course will lead to his welfare and then governs by following their advice—presenting an ideal of dharma-guided rule.