Shloka 15

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

गां चैव मधुपर्क च सम्प्रदायार्घ्यमेव च । अर्चयामास रल्नैश्व सर्वकामैश्न धर्मवित्‌

Transliteration

gāṁ caiva madhuparkaṁ ca sampradāyārghyam eva ca | arcayāmāsa ratnaiś ca sarvakāmaiś ca dharmavit ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：通晓正法的国王由提施提罗迎接天仙那罗陀，依礼奉上母牛、玛度帕尔迦（madhuparka，款客的蜜乳调和之饮）与阿尔伽（arghya，敬献之水礼）。随后又按法度以珍贵礼物致敬，并满足其诸愿，使圣仙心满意足。此段彰显王者之法：以恭敬迎接贤宾，以慷慨施与，并在灵性权威之前保持谦卑。

Word by Word

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• मधुपर्कम्: madhuparka (honey-mixture offering)
• मधुपर्कम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुपर्क
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• सम्प्रदाय: having offered/given
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-दा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (honorary water/oblation)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एव: also/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• अर्चयामास: worshipped/honoured
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च्
• Form: Periphrastic Perfect (लिट्), 3, Singular

• रत्नैः: with jewels
• रत्नैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सर्वकामैः: with all desired things
• सर्वकामैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकाम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• धर्मवित्: knower of dharma
• धर्मवित्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मविद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Nārada
• cow (go)
• madhuparka
• arghya
• jewels (ratna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches rāja-dharma expressed through atithi-satkara: a righteous ruler honors a spiritually eminent guest with proper ritual offerings and generous gifts, showing humility and ensuring the guest’s satisfaction.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Nārada arrives, Yudhiṣṭhira formally receives him and performs the traditional honors—offering a cow, madhuparka, and arghya—then worships him with jewels and fulfills his wishes.