Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
बाणस्य शोकः शिवस्मरणं च — Bāṇa’s Grief and the Turn to Śiva-Remembrance
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । बाण शंकरसद्भक्त मानुतापं कुरुष्व भोः । भक्तानुकंपी शंभुर्वै भक्तवत्सलनामधृक्
nandīśvara uvāca | bāṇa śaṃkarasadbhakta mānutāpaṃ kuruṣva bhoḥ | bhaktānukaṃpī śaṃbhurvai bhaktavatsalanāmadhṛk
Nandīśvara sprach: «O Bāṇa, wahrer Verehrer Śaṅkaras—trauere nicht wie ein gewöhnlicher Mensch. Śambhu ist den Bhaktas voller Erbarmen, und Er trägt den Namen ‘Bhaktavatsala’, der zärtliche Beschützer derer, die Ihn verehren».
Nandīśvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse teaches that a Śiva-bhakta should rise above merely human despair, remembering Śiva’s essential nature as bhaktānukampī—graceful and protective toward devotees. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, surrender and remembrance of the Lord’s grace loosen pāśa (bondage) created by sorrow and attachment.
By calling Śiva ‘Bhaktavatsala’, the verse emphasizes accessible Saguna worship—approaching Śiva with devotion, prayer, and trust. Linga-worship embodies this nearness: the devotee offers pūjā and receives anugraha (grace), which steadies the mind beyond grief.
The takeaway is devotional remembrance during distress—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Śiva-pūjā with a calm mind. The verse primarily recommends inner composure grounded in bhakti rather than a specific external rite.