Shloka 54
पापभेदवर्णनम्
Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa
देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्याणामधर्मनिरतात्मनाम् । धर्मराजः स्मृतश्शास्ता सुघोरैर्विविधैर्वधैः
devatiryaṅmanuṣyāṇāmadharmaniratātmanām | dharmarājaḥ smṛtaśśāstā sughorairvividhairvadhaiḥ
দেব, তির্যক্ (পশু) ও মানুষ—যাদের চিত্ত অধর্মে নিমগ্ন—তাদের জন্য ধর্মরাজ যমকে শাস্তাদাতা বলা হয়; তিনি নানাবিধ অতিঘোর দণ্ড প্রদান করেন।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It affirms the moral order upheld by Dharma: when beings cling to adharma, they inevitably meet corrective consequences through Dharmaraja, urging the soul to return to righteous living and, ultimately, to Shiva-oriented liberation.
By contrasting the fate of adharma with the protection gained through dharma, it indirectly supports Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-puja) as a purifying discipline that aligns one’s life with dharma and reduces bondage (pāśa) created by karma.
A practical takeaway is daily self-restraint and expiation through Shaiva practice—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), sincere repentance, and dharmic conduct—so the mind turns from adharma toward Shiva.