Shloka 21
ततो भयादिंद्रमुखाश्च देवाः पितामहाज्ञां समवाप्य सर्वे । उपद्रुता दैत्यवरेण जाताः क्षीरोदधिं यत्र हरिस्तु शेते
tato bhayādiṃdramukhāśca devāḥ pitāmahājñāṃ samavāpya sarve | upadrutā daityavareṇa jātāḥ kṣīrodadhiṃ yatra haristu śete
Then, out of fear, all the gods—led by Indra—having received the command of the Grandsire (Brahmā), and being harassed by that foremost of demons, went to the Ocean of Milk, where Hari (Viṣṇu) lies in repose.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It shows how even the Devas, when bound by fear and disturbance, must seek rightful guidance and refuge within cosmic order; in Shaiva understanding, such episodes prepare the stage for Shiva’s decisive grace that restores dharma beyond the limited power of the gods.
Though the verse names Hari as the immediate refuge, the Shiva Purana’s Shaiva frame presents all divine functions as upheld by Shiva as Pati; devotion to Saguna Shiva (and the Linga as His accessible form) is the ultimate shelter that transcends the insecurity even celestial beings experience.
The takeaway is to seek refuge through steady japa and surrender—especially Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—and to stabilize the mind with Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for fearlessness and dharma.