Shloka 65
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
क्या धनरक्षक, द्रव्यसंग्राहक, चिकित्सक, गुप्तचर, पाचक, सेवक, लेखक और प्रहरी--इन आठ अंगों और हाथी, घोड़े, रथ एवं पैदल--इन चारः॑ प्रकारके बलोंसे युक्त तुम्हारी सेना सुयोग्य सेनापतियोंद्वारा अच्छी तरह संचालित होकर शत्रुओंका संहार करनेमें समर्थ होती है? ।।
kaccid dhanarakṣaka-dravyasaṃgrāhaka-cikitsaka-guptacara-pācaka-sevaka-lekhaka-praharī—ebhir aṣṭāṅgaiḥ, hastyaśva-ratha-pādātaiś caturvidhair balaiś ca yuktā tava senā suyogyaiḥ senāpatibhiḥ samyak saṃcālitā śatrūṇāṃ saṃhāre samarthā bhavati? kaccid lavaṃ ca muṣṭiṃ ca pararāṣṭre parantapa avihāya mahārāja nihansi samare ripūn?
那罗陀问王道：“陛下之军是否编制得当、统御得力——以八大要务为支撑：守护国库、征收并管理财货储备、医治伤病、侦察谍报、炊事供给、侍从役使、书记文吏与守卫巡哨；又以四兵为本：象军、马军、车军与步军——使其在贤能统帅麾下，足以果决镇服强敌？又，焚敌之大王啊，陛下可曾不忽略实用之策，如断其粮道、乘其饥馑之机，而在战场上击杀仇寇乎？”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s duty is not only personal valor but competent governance of war: maintaining key administrative departments (security, revenue/stores, medicine, intelligence, logistics, records, and guards) and ensuring the fourfold army is led by capable commanders. Strategic pressure on enemy resources is presented as part of effective, disciplined rājadharma.
Nārada is testing the king’s preparedness and prudence through a sequence of ‘kaccit’ questions. Here he asks whether the king’s army is properly staffed and commanded, and whether the king applies practical wartime measures—like disrupting enemy grain supplies—so that victory is achieved through organized strength and strategy.