Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy
and Praise of Śiva
द्रोहं न कुरु तैस्सार्द्धं स्वपदं भुंक्ष्व सादरम् । नाधिकं सविकारं च कुरु राज्यं विचार्य च
drohaṃ na kuru taissārddhaṃ svapadaṃ bhuṃkṣva sādaram | nādhikaṃ savikāraṃ ca kuru rājyaṃ vicārya ca
तैः सार्धं द्रोहं मा कार्षीः; स्वपदं सादरं भुङ्क्ष्व। विचार्य च राज्यं नाधिकं सविकारं न च रजसा विक्षुब्धं कुरु।
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the counsel given in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
FAQs
It teaches Shaiva dharma in conduct: avoid treachery, remain content in one’s rightful place, and rule (or live) with measured, reflective steadiness—reducing vikāra (inner disturbance) that binds the soul (paśu) under pāśa.
Linga-worship trains the mind toward purity, restraint, and truthfulness; this verse applies that inner discipline outwardly—no betrayal, no excessive reactive rule—so devotion to Saguna Shiva becomes embodied as dharmic action.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to calm vikāra, along with wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma as reminders to act without deceit and to choose measured, considered decisions.