Shloka 79

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिन्न भक्त बीजं च कर्षकस्यावसीदति । प्रत्येक च शतं वृद्धया ददास्यृणमनुग्रहम्‌

Transliteration

kaccin na bhakta-bījaṃ ca karṣakasyāvasīdati | pratyekaṃ ca śataṃ vṛddhyā dadāsi ṛṇam anugraham ||

Translation

那罗陀问国王：“耕作者的口粮与种子，可曾免于损失而得以妥善保全？又出于王者慈悯，你是否以公正的条件向每位农夫提供借贷，使农事得以延续，而不为苛重债务所摧毁？”

Word by Word

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

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

• भक्तम्: food, provisions
• भक्तम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• बीजम्: seed
• बीजम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• कर्षकस्य: of the farmer
• कर्षकस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्षक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अवसीदति: perishes/declines/is ruined
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (सीदति)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रत्येकम्: to each, individually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्येक

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

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वृद्ध्या: with interest (increase)
• वृद्ध्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• ददासि: you give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Present, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ऋणम्: a debt/loan
• ऋणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनुग्रहम्: favor, benevolence
• अनुग्रहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• king (unnamed addressee)
• karṣaka (farmers/cultivators)
• bhakta (food-grain)
• bīja (seed)
• ṛṇa (loan/debt)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma includes safeguarding agriculture—ensuring farmers do not lose seed or sustenance and are not crushed by debt. Royal policy should be compassionate and just, supporting productive livelihoods rather than enabling exploitative lending.

What is happening in the narrative?

Narada is testing and advising the king through pointed questions about administration. By asking about farmers’ seed/grain and the terms of loans, he evaluates whether the kingdom is governed with practical compassion and economic fairness.