Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship
अन्यत्किंचिन्न वक्तव्यं यूयं यात यथागतम् । यमदूतास्स्वलोकं तु सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा
anyatkiṃcinna vaktavyaṃ yūyaṃ yāta yathāgatam | yamadūtāssvalokaṃ tu suprasannena cetasā
„Weiteres braucht nicht gesagt zu werden. Kehrt zurück, wie ihr gekommen seid. O Boten Yamas, geht in euer Reich mit völlig befriedetem Geist.“
An authoritative divine protector aligned with Śiva’s ordinance (addressing the Yamadūtas)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Episode of Śiva’s jurisdiction superseding Yama’s over a Śiva-bhakta: Yamadūtas are dismissed and sent back pacified, indicating the devotee’s protected status.
Significance: Assures devotees that Śiva’s grace and dharma override fear of death and punitive afterlife; fosters śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Śiva.
FAQs
It shows that when Śiva’s higher ordinance prevails, the forces of death and punishment withdraw; the soul under Śiva’s protection is not to be harassed by fear, and the mind is instructed to become calm and surrendered.
In the Shiva Purana narrative world, devotion to Saguna Śiva (often centered on the Liṅga) places the devotee under Śiva’s guardianship; thus even Yamadūtas are told to return, acknowledging Śiva’s supremacy over fear and mortality.
The practical takeaway is fearlessness through Śiva-smaraṇa: steady remembrance of Śiva and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to pacify the mind (suprasanna-cetas) and remain aligned with dharma.