Shloka 6
Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)
राज्ञां वृत्तिं करादानदण्डशुल्कादिदारुणाम् । मन्यमानो दीर्घसत्त्रव्याजेन विससर्ज ह ॥ ६ ॥
rājñāṁ vṛttiṁ karādāna- daṇḍa-śulkādi-dāruṇām manyamāno dīrgha-sattra- vyājena visasarja ha
كان يرى أن سُنّة الملوك في أخذ الضرائب وفرض العقوبات والرسوم والغرامات قاسيةٌ مُرّة. لذلك اعتزل مثل هذه المهام، وبذريعة إقامة «سَتْرَةٍ طويلة» انصرف إلى أداء قرابين وذبائح شتّى.
It is clear herein that the king sometimes has to perform duties which are not very desirable just because he is the king. Similarly, Arjuna was not at all willing to fight because fighting or killing one’s own kinsmen and family members is not at all desirable. Nonetheless, the kṣatriyas had to perform such undesirable actions as a matter of duty. Mahārāja Antardhāna was not very happy while exacting taxes or punishing the citizens for their criminal activities; therefore, on the plea of performing sacrifices, he retired from the royal majestic power at a very early age.
FAQs
This verse notes that a king’s maintenance often depends on severe collections—taxes, fines, and tolls—and presents the awareness of that harshness as a reason for renunciation and turning toward spiritual duty.
The verse indicates he wished to withdraw from the burdensome, harsh mechanisms of rulership; using an extended sacrifice as a socially acceptable reason, he could step away from worldly administration toward a higher spiritual aim.
It encourages examining whether one’s livelihood causes harm or hardness toward others and, where possible, choosing simpler, more ethical ways of living while prioritizing spiritual growth and service.