Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9
देवशरणागति-नारदप्रेषणम् | The Devas Take Refuge in Śiva; Nārada Is Sent
देवा ऊचुः । भोभो मुनिवरश्रेष्ठ दुःखं शृणु कृपाकर । श्रुत्वा तन्नाशय क्षिप्रं प्रभुस्त्वं शंकरप्रियः
devā ūcuḥ | bhobho munivaraśreṣṭha duḥkhaṃ śṛṇu kṛpākara | śrutvā tannāśaya kṣipraṃ prabhustvaṃ śaṃkarapriyaḥ
Die Devas sprachen: „O! O bester der Weisen, du Barmherziger—höre unser Leid. Nachdem du es vernommen hast, nimm es rasch hinweg. Du bist dazu fähig, und du bist Śaṅkara (Śiva) lieb.“
The Devas (gods)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: The verse models śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) through a Śiva-beloved sage; pilgrimage benefit analogized as removal of duḥkha through grace mediated by guru/saint.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It shows the Devas taking śaraṇāgati (refuge) through a Śiva-beloved sage: in Shaiva thought, grace flows when suffering is offered with humility and the devotee turns toward Śaṅkara’s compassionate order.
Calling him “Śaṅkara-priya” points to Saguna Śiva’s accessible grace—devotees and Śiva’s dear ones become channels of protection, echoing Linga-worship where devotees approach the Lord through devotion, prayer, and consecrated presence.
A practical takeaway is to combine heartfelt prayer with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple act of refuge—applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and remembering Śaṅkara for swift inner steadiness amid distress.