Shloka 29

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिन्निद्रावशं नैषि कच्चित्‌ काले विबुद्धयसे । कच्चिच्चापररात्रेषु चिन्तयस्यर्थमर्थवित्‌

Transliteration

kaccin nidrāvaśaṃ naiṣi kaccit kāle vibudhyase | kaccic cāpararātreṣu cintayasy artham arthavit ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：“你可曾在不合时宜之时为睡意所制？你可在适当的时辰醒起？既然你通晓治国之道，你可在夜之末段保持清醒，思量何者真正有益，以及必须履行的职责吗？”

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: whether (indeed)?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• निद्रावशम्: under the control of sleep
• निद्रावशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा-वश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एषि: you go/come; you fall into
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (एति)
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada, Indicative

• कच्चित्: whether (indeed)?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• काले: at the proper time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विबुद्ध्यसे: you awaken
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Atmanepada, Indicative

• कच्चित्: whether (indeed)?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

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

• अपररात्रेषु: in the latter parts of the night
• अपररात्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर-रात्रि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• चिन्तयसि: you think/reflect
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada, Indicative

• अर्थम्: purpose; welfare; matter of policy
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्थवित्: knower of policy/wealth (one who knows artha)
• अर्थवित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थविद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler (or any responsible person) should practice self-control and vigilance: avoid untimely sleep, keep a disciplined routine, and use quiet hours—especially late night/early dawn—for sober reflection on duties and the welfare-oriented aims of governance (artha guided by dharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is questioning the king in a traditional ‘kaccit’ style of counsel, checking whether he maintains the habits expected of a competent ruler—timely wakefulness and deliberate thought about policy, obligations, and the kingdom’s good.