Shloka 52
Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)
राजाका परम धर्म है--इन्द्रियसंयम
rājñaḥ paramo dharmaḥ—indriya-saṃyamaḥ, svādhyāyaḥ, agnihotra-karma, dānam, adhyayanam, yajñopavīta-dhāraṇam, yajñānuṣṭhānam, dhārmika-kārya-sampādanam, poṣya-varga-bharaṇa-poṣaṇam, ārabdha-karmasya saphalī-karaṇam, aparādha-yathā-yogya-daṇḍa-dānam, vaidika-yajñādi-karmānuṣṭhānam, vyavahāre nyāya-rakṣaṇam, satya-bhāṣaṇe anurāgaḥ—ete sarve rājñaḥ dharmāḥ. ārta-hasta-prado rājā pretya ceha mahīyate. go-brāhmaṇārthe vikrāntaḥ saṅgrāme nidhanaṃ gataḥ, sa svargam aśvamedha-yajñair jitān lokān adhitiṣṭhati.
マハーデーヴァは語った。「王にとって最高のダルマとは、諸感官の制御、ヴェーダの学習、アグニホートラの儀、施与、学び、聖紐（ヤジュニョーパヴィータ）の着用、供犠の執行、正しき事業の遂行、扶養すべき者の養育、着手した企てを成就へ導くこと、罪に応じた相当の刑罰を科すこと、ヴェーダの供犠および関連儀礼を正しく行うこと、世の取引において正義を守ること、そして真実の言葉に篤くあること—これらすべてが王のダルマの務めである。苦しむ者に手を差し伸べ支えとなる王は、この世でも死後の世でも尊ばれる。さらに、牛とバラモンを危難から守るため勇を奮い、戦場で命を落とす王は天界に至り、アシュヴァメーダの供犠によって得られるとされる諸世界の主権を得る。」
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage defines rājadharma: a king’s righteousness is not only ritual piety (svādhyāya, Agnihotra, yajña) but also ethical governance—supporting dependents, completing public works, administering proportionate punishment, protecting justice in civil affairs, and steadfast truthfulness. Compassion to the distressed and courageous protection of cows and Brahmins are praised as sources of honor here and merit after death.
Śrī Mahēśvara speaks as an authority on dharma, listing the king’s duties and then stating the spiritual outcomes: the helper of the afflicted is honored in both worlds, and the king who dies in battle while protecting cows and Brahmins attains heavenly status likened to the worlds gained through Aśvamedha sacrifices.