Shloka 25
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
मित्रोदासीनशत्रूणां कच्चिद् वेत्सि चिकीर्षितम् | कच्चित् संधिं यथाकाल विग्रहं चोपसेवसे,क्या तुम मित्र, शत्रु और उदासीन लोगोंके सम्बन्धमें यह ज्ञान रखते हो कि वे कब क्या करना चाहते हैं? उपयुक्त समयका विचार करके ही संधि और विग्रहकी नीतिका सेवन करते हो न?
mitrodāsīnaśatrūṇāṁ kaccid vetsi cikīrṣitam | kaccit sandhiṁ yathākālaṁ vigrahaṁ copasevase |
那罗陀说道：“你是否真正洞悉你的朋友、中立者与敌人之所图——他们谋划何事、何时动手？并且你是否权衡时机，适时采取结盟与和解之策，也在必要时采取敌对与征伐之策，各得其宜？”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must accurately read the intentions of allies, neutrals, and enemies, and then choose between conciliation (sandhi) and confrontation (vigraha) strictly according to timing and circumstance—strategy guided by discernment rather than impulse.
In Sabha Parva, Nārada is questioning and advising the ruler in a checklist-like manner, probing whether he possesses the practical knowledge of governance—especially intelligence about others’ intentions and the timely use of diplomatic or hostile measures.