Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49
तारकवधोत्तरं देवस्तुतिः पर्वतवरप्रदानं च / Devas’ Hymn after Tāraka’s Slaying and the Bestowal of Boons upon the Mountains
उवाच सुप्रसन्नात्मा विष्ण्वादीन्सुरसत्तमान् । शंकरः परमेशानो दीनबंधुस्सतां गतिः
uvāca suprasannātmā viṣṇvādīnsurasattamān | śaṃkaraḥ parameśāno dīnabaṃdhussatāṃ gatiḥ
Da sprach Śaṅkara—der höchste Herr (Parameśvara), der barmherzige Freund der Bedrängten und Zuflucht der Tugendhaften—mit heiterer, gnädiger Seele zu Viṣṇu und zu den erhabensten der Götter.
Lord Shiva (Śaṅkara/Parameśvara)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It establishes Śiva as Parameśvara—both sovereign and compassionate—who becomes the sure refuge (gati) for the righteous and the distressed, emphasizing grace and protection as central to Shaiva devotion.
By naming Śiva as Śaṅkara and Parameśāna, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the Supreme through a gracious, personal Lord—commonly honored in the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible form of Parameśvara for devotion and surrender.
A practical takeaway is bhakti-filled śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while contemplating Śiva as dīnabandhu (protector of the afflicted) and satāṃ gati (goal of the virtuous).