api - whether; dārāḥ - wives; prajā - citizens; amātyāḥ - and secretaries; bhṛtyāḥ - servants; śreṇyaḥ - merchants; atha - as well as; mantriṇaḥ - ministers; paurāḥ - inmates of the palace; jānapadāḥ - the provincial governors; bhūpāḥ - landholders; ātma-jāḥ - sons; vaśa-vartinaḥ - under your full control.

O King, are your wives, citizens, secretaries and servants and the merchants who sell spices and oil under your control? Are you also in full control of ministers, the inhabitants of your palace, your provincial governors, your sons and your other dependents?