Shloka 39
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिद् द्विषामविदित: प्रतिपन्नश्न सर्वदा । नित्ययुक्तो रिपून् सर्वान् वीक्षसे रिपुसूदन
kaccid dviṣām aviditaḥ pratipannaś ca sarvadā | nityayukto ripūn sarvān vīkṣase ripusūdana śatrusūdana ||
那罗陀说道：“噢，诛敌者，灭仇者——你是否常怀警觉，使计谋不为仇敌所知；并且恒常自律、时刻戒备，密切察看一切敌人的动向？”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must combine ethical discipline with practical vigilance: keep one’s intentions concealed from hostile forces, remain constantly prepared, and monitor adversaries’ activities to protect the realm and uphold rājadharma.
Nārada addresses the ruler with honorific epithets (“slayer of foes”) and asks a probing question about governance—whether he stays ever alert, keeps his plans undisclosed to enemies, and continually watches the movements of all opponents.