Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”
अतस्त्वया महादेव सुरर्षिप्राणरक्षक । साधूनां रक्षणार्थाय हंतव्या म्लेच्छजातयः
atastvayā mahādeva surarṣiprāṇarakṣaka | sādhūnāṃ rakṣaṇārthāya haṃtavyā mlecchajātayaḥ
Ainsi, ô Mahādeva—protecteur de la vie même des dieux et des ṛṣi—pour la sauvegarde des justes, il faut abattre les hordes mleccha, qui soutiennent l’adharma et oppriment les bons.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa dialogue to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya; the verse reflects an appeal addressed to Mahādeva within the narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It presents Śiva as Pati—the compassionate protector of devas, ṛṣis, and sādhus—who removes adharma when it threatens the spiritual order, showing that divine “destruction” is ultimately protective and purifying.
As Saguna Śiva, Mahādeva responds to the cries of the righteous and restores dharma; Linga-worship trains the devotee to seek that same shelter in Śiva’s protective grace and to surrender egoistic violence while trusting divine justice.
Take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a dhārmic resolve (saṅkalpa) for protection of virtue; accompany it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s purifying guardianship.