Shloka 6
नरकलोकवर्णनम् (Narakaloka-varṇanam) — Description of the Hell-Realms
चित्रगुप्त उवाच । भो भो नृपा दुराचाराः प्रजा विध्वंसकारिणः । अल्पकालस्य राज्यस्य कृते किं दुष्कृतं कृतम्
citragupta uvāca | bho bho nṛpā durācārāḥ prajā vidhvaṃsakāriṇaḥ | alpakālasya rājyasya kṛte kiṃ duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam
Chitragupta nói: “Than ôi, than ôi—hỡi các bậc vua chúa hạnh kiểm tà vạy, kẻ hủy hoại chính thần dân của mình! Vì một ngôi báu chóng tàn, các ngươi đã gây nên những nghiệp tội nào?”
Citragupta
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It warns that worldly power is transient, while karma is enduring; harming others—especially one’s dependents—creates binding pāśa (bondage) that obstructs the soul’s return to Pati (Lord Shiva), the liberator.
Linga-worship signifies aligning one’s life with Shiva as the supreme moral and spiritual order; this verse contrasts true devotion (dharma, protection of beings) with hypocrisy—seeking rule while violating Shiva’s dharmic law that sustains creation.
A practical takeaway is daily self-audit of actions (karma-vicāra) alongside Shaiva disciplines—japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and sincere repentance (prāyaścitta) for harm done—so rulership or authority becomes service rather than exploitation.