Shloka 37

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

एकोअप्यमात्यो मेधावी शूरो दान्तो विचक्षण: । राजानं राजपुत्रं वा प्रापयेन्महतीं श्रियम्‌

Transliteration

eko 'py amātyo medhāvī śūro dānto vicakṣaṇaḥ | rājānaṃ rājaputraṃ vā prāpayen mahatīṃ śriyam ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：“纵然只有一位大臣——若其聪慧、勇毅、自制而明察——亦能引导国王或王子臻于大盛大富。”

Word by Word

• एकः: one (single)
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अमात्यः: minister/counsellor
• अमात्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• मेधावी: intelligent
• मेधावी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेधाविन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शूरः: brave/heroic
• शूरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दान्तः: self-controlled/tamed
• दान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विचक्षणः: discerning/clever
• विचक्षणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचक्षण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजानम्: king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजपुत्रम्: king's son/prince
• राजपुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• प्रापयेत्: would cause to obtain/bring about
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (प्रापयति)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, Causative

• महतिम्: great
• महतिम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रियम्: prosperity/fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• amātya (minister)
• rājā (king)
• rājaputra (prince)
• śrī (prosperity/fortune)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s success depends greatly on the quality of counsel: even one capable minister—intelligent, brave, disciplined, and discerning—can secure great prosperity for a king or prince. The verse highlights character and judgment as the foundation of effective governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is presenting a principle of governance within his discourse: he emphasizes the decisive role of a competent minister in advancing the fortune and stability of a ruler, implying that a single exemplary adviser can outweigh many lesser attendants.