Shloka 22

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिदात्मानमन्वीक्ष्य परांश्व जयतां वर | तथा संधाय कर्माणि अष्टौ भारत सेवसे

Transliteration

kaccid ātmānam anvīkṣya parāṁś ca jayatāṁ vara | tathā sandhāya karmāṇi aṣṭau bhārata sevase ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：“胜者之最、婆罗多族的由提施提罗啊——你是否先细察己力与敌力；当敌方更强时，便谨慎地与之维持盟约，同时施行治国八策，以增长财富与王库？”

Word by Word

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

• आत्मानम्: yourself
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अन्वीक्ष्य: having examined/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्वीक्ष्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• परान्: others; enemies
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• जयताम्: of the victorious/conquerors
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वर: O best/excellent one
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तथा: thus; in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• संधाय: having made/entered into (a treaty); having joined/arranged
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• कर्माणि: acts; measures; practices
• कर्माणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अष्टौ: eight
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सेवसे: you practice/you resort to
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव्
• Form: Present (Lat), Second, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Bhārata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should govern with clear-eyed assessment of strengths and risks, and when necessary adopt peace or alliance with a stronger foe, while systematically applying practical policies (the ‘eight measures’) to protect and strengthen the kingdom’s resources, especially wealth and the treasury.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Sabha Parva, Nārada questions and counsels Yudhiṣṭhira about sound kingship. Here he asks whether Yudhiṣṭhira evaluates both sides’ power and, if the opponent is stronger, maintains a strategic treaty (sandhi) and follows the recognized set of eight administrative/political measures aimed at consolidating prosperity and security.