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.
大自在天（摩诃提婆）说道：“对国王而言，至高之法（dharma）在于：克制诸根，研习吠陀，奉行阿耆尼火供（Agnihotra），施与布施，勤学求知，佩戴圣线（yajñopavīta），举行祭祀，成办正法之业，抚养依附之众，使已起之事圆满成功，按罪行轻重施以相称之刑，依吠陀如法修行诸祭与相关仪轨，在世间往来与政务裁断中护持公正，并笃爱真实之言——这一切皆为国王之法。能伸手扶助困苦之人的国王，今世与身后皆受尊崇。又有国王为护牛与婆罗门而奋勇，战死沙场者，得生天界，并获得据说由马祭（Aśvamedha）所赢得诸世界之主权。”
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.