Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11
रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा
Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions
इत्युक्त्वा मां च धातारं हस्ते धृत्वा स्वयं हरिम् । कथयामास दुःखेषु सहायो भव सर्वदा
ityuktvā māṃ ca dhātāraṃ haste dhṛtvā svayaṃ harim | kathayāmāsa duḥkheṣu sahāyo bhava sarvadā
Nachdem er dies gesprochen hatte, nahm er mich und Dhātā (Brahmā) bei der Hand und wandte sich dann persönlich an Hari (Viṣṇu) mit den Worten: „In Zeiten des Leids sei stets ein Helfer.“
Lord Shiva (Rudra) (inferred from Rudrasaṃhitā Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narrative context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva’s role as the supreme guide who establishes dharma through compassion: in worldly suffering (duḥkha), one should become a steady support to others, reflecting divine grace and right conduct.
Saguna Śiva is worshipped as the personal Lord who intervenes in creation and guides the cosmic functions; this instruction to Hari shows the Lord’s accessible, relational form—devotion to the Liṅga is meant to mature into compassionate action.
A practical sādhana is to pair japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a vrata of service—consciously helping others during distress—as an offering to Śiva, aligning worship with dharmic conduct.