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.
महादेव उवाच—राज्ञः परमो धर्मः इन्द्रियसंयमः, स्वाध्यायः, अग्निहोत्रकर्म, दानम्, अध्ययनम्, यज्ञोपवीतधारणम्, यज्ञानुष्ठानम्, धार्मिककर्मसम्पादनम्, पोष्यवर्गभरणपोषणम्, आरब्धकर्मसिद्धिः, अपराधानुरूपदण्डविधानम्, वैदिकयज्ञादिकर्मानुष्ठानम्, व्यवहारन्यायरक्षा, सत्यभाषणनिष्ठा—एते सर्वे राज्ञो धर्मा एव। आर्तहस्तप्रदो राजा प्रेत्य चेह महीयते। गोब्राह्मणार्थे विक्रान्तः संग्रामे निधनं गतः, स स्वर्गं प्राप्य अश्वमेधजितान् लोकान् अधितिष्ठति।
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.