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Shloka 99

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

कच्चित्तव गृहेन्नानि स्वादून्यश्रन्ति वै द्विजा: । गुणवन्ति गुणोपेतास्तवाध्यक्ष॑ं सदक्षिणम्‌,क्या तुम्हारे महलमें तुम्हारी आँखोंके सामने गुणवान्‌ ब्राह्मण स्वादिष्ठ और गुणकारक अन्न भोजन करते हैं? और भोजनके पश्चात्‌ उन्हें दक्षिणा दी जाती है?

kaccit tava gṛhe 'nnāni svādūny aśnanti vai dvijāḥ | guṇavanti guṇopetās tavādhyakṣaṃ sadakṣiṇam ||

นารทกล่าวถามว่า “ในเรือนของท่าน มีพราหมณ์ผู้ทรงคุณธรรมได้บริโภคอาหารอันโอชะและเกื้อกูล—ต่อหน้าต่อตาท่านเอง—หรือไม่? และเมื่อเสร็จภัตตาหารแล้ว ท่านได้กำกับให้ถวายทักษิณาอย่างสมควรเพื่อเป็นเกียรติแก่เขาหรือไม่?”

कच्चित्whether (indeed)?
कच्चित्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकच्चित्
तवof you/your
तव:
Sambandha
TypePronoun
Rootत्वद्
Formany, Genitive, Singular
गृहेin (your) house
गृहे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगृह
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
अन्नानिfoods, dishes
अन्नानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअन्न
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
स्वादूनिtasty
स्वादूनि:
TypeAdjective
Rootस्वादु
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
अश्रन्तिeat
अश्रन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअश्
FormPresent, Indicative, Parasmaipada, 3rd, Plural
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
द्विजाःbrahmins (twice-born)
द्विजाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
गुणवन्तिvirtuous, possessing qualities
गुणवन्ति:
TypeAdjective
Rootगुणवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
गुणोपेताःendowed with virtues
गुणोपेताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootगुण-उपेत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तवyour
तव:
Sambandha
TypePronoun
Rootत्वद्
Formany, Genitive, Singular
अध्यक्षम्in your presence/under your supervision
अध्यक्षम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअध्यक्ष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
स-दक्षिणम्together with a gift (dakṣiṇā)
स-दक्षिणम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootस-दक्षिण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

नारद उवाच

N
Nārada
D
dvijāḥ (brāhmaṇas)
D
dakṣiṇā

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a ruler/householder’s dharma: ensuring that virtuous brāhmaṇas are properly fed with wholesome food and then honored with dakṣiṇā. It frames generosity and respectful hospitality as visible, supervised responsibilities rather than mere claims.

Nārada is questioning the king about the state of his household governance—specifically whether qualified brāhmaṇas are being fed well and given gifts afterward—using a series of ‘kaccit’ inquiries that test adherence to dharma and proper administration.