Shloka 81

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

कच्चिच्छूरा: कृतप्रज्ञा: पजच पज्च स्वनुछिता: । क्षेमं कुर्वन्ति संहत्य राजज्जनपदे तव

Transliteration

kaccic chūrāḥ kṛtaprajñāḥ pañca pañca svanuṣṭhitāḥ | kṣemaṃ kurvanti saṃhatya rājajjanapade tava, rājan ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：“大王，你的国土可安泰无虞？在你王国的每一村落，是否有五人之组——勇敢、判断沉稳、办事干练——同心协力以保安宁与福祉，循法尽公职，为众人之利而行？”

Word by Word

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

• शूराः: heroes, brave men
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कृतप्रज्ञाः: of settled/formed judgment; prudent
• कृतप्रज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतप्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Indeclinable/Number-word, Accusative (used adverbially/quantitatively), Plural (sense)

• पञ्च: five (each)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Indeclinable/Number-word, Accusative (used adverbially/quantitatively), Plural (sense)

• स्वनुच्छिताः: well-appointed/fitly chosen (as councilors)
• स्वनुच्छिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वनुच्छित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्षेमम्: welfare, security, well-being
• क्षेमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कुर्वन्ति: they do, they make
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• संहत्य: having assembled; together
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-हन्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• जनपदे: in the realm/country
• जनपदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• the King (rājan)
• janapada (the kingdom/realm)
• village pañcas (councils of five)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Good governance depends on local institutions staffed by capable and virtuous people who act collectively for kṣema—public safety and welfare. The verse highlights administrative dharma: competence, prudence, and coordinated service at the village level.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is questioning the king about the condition of his realm, specifically whether each village has a functioning council of five qualified men who work together to carry out public duties and ensure the people’s well-being.