Shloka 41
उत्कोचकै रुचिक्रीतैस्तस्करैश्च प्रपीड्यते । यस्य राज्ञः प्रजा राष्ट्रे पच्यते नरकेषु सः
utkocakai rucikrītaistaskaraiśca prapīḍyate | yasya rājñaḥ prajā rāṣṭre pacyate narakeṣu saḥ
Aquel rey en cuyo reino el pueblo es oprimido por sobornadores y por ladrones comprados mediante favoritismo, es él mismo cocido en los infiernos, porque sus súbditos padecen dentro de su dominio.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, conveying the Uma-samhita teaching on righteous rule and karmic consequence)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It teaches that a ruler is karmically accountable for systemic suffering in his realm; permitting bribery and theft strengthens pasha (bondage) and leads to painful retribution, while dharmic protection of subjects supports purification and liberation.
Linga-worship is not merely ritual; it must be paired with Shiva-approved dharma. A king claiming devotion to Saguna Shiva while enabling oppression contradicts Shiva’s role as upholder of cosmic order, and such hypocrisy yields karmic downfall.
The implied practice is dharmic self-audit: daily japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a vow of non-corruption and protection of others; no specific bhasma or rudraksha rite is stated in this verse.