Shloka 71
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिदायस्य चार्थेन चतुर्भागेन वा पुनः । पादभागैस्त्रिभिवापि व्यय: संशुद्धयते तव,क्या तुम्हारी आयके एक चौथाई या आधे अथवा तीन चौथाई भागसे तुम्हारा सारा खर्च चल जाता है?
kaccid āyasya cārthena caturbhāgena vā punaḥ | pādabhāgais tribhir vāpi vyayaḥ saṁśuddhyate tava ||
那罗陀说道：“你的宫廷开支，是否只需动用收入的一部分——四分之一，或一半，甚至四分之三——便能尽数清净地支应，无浪费、无负债？”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should practice financial discipline: expenditure should be comfortably covered by income, ideally leaving a surplus. This reflects ethical governance—avoiding waste, debt, and oppressive extraction—so the treasury and the people remain secure.
Nārada is examining the king’s administrative competence through practical questions. Here he asks whether the king’s expenses are managed within a fraction of revenue, implying prudent budgeting and orderly statecraft.