Shloka 109
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
निश्चितानामनारम्भं मन्त्रस्यापरिरक्षणम् | मड़लाद्यप्रयोगं च प्रत्युत्थानं च सर्वतः
niścitānām anārambhaṁ mantrasya aparirakṣaṇam | maṅgalādyaprayogaṁ ca pratyutthānaṁ ca sarvataḥ, yudhiṣṭhira |
那罗陀说道：“噢，犹提湿提罗，你是否避开王道之过——对已坚决裁定之事却不即刻兴办；不善守护机密谋议；怠慢吉祥祭仪与维系士气与正统的公共典礼；以及同时在四面八方仓促起兵、应对并举？即便根基深固的君王，也会因这些缺失而覆亡：它们削弱决断，泄露方略，动摇民心，并使力量分散。”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must convert decisions into timely action, protect confidential strategy, maintain auspicious public observances that uphold legitimacy and social cohesion, and avoid overextending by confronting all threats simultaneously. Neglect in these areas can destroy even a stable kingdom.
In the Sabha Parva dialogue on rājadharma, Nārada questions Yudhiṣṭhira about whether he has abandoned key royal defects, warning that such lapses—delay, indiscretion, neglect of public rites, and strategic overreach—bring ruin to rulers.