Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52
तारकवधोत्तरं देवस्तुतिः पर्वतवरप्रदानं च / Devas’ Hymn after Tāraka’s Slaying and the Bestowal of Boons upon the Mountains
यदा यदा भवेद्दुःखं युष्माकं देवसत्तमाः । तदा तदा मां यूयं वै भजंतु सुखहेतवे
yadā yadā bhavedduḥkhaṃ yuṣmākaṃ devasattamāḥ | tadā tadā māṃ yūyaṃ vai bhajaṃtu sukhahetave
Wahai para dewa utama, kapan pun duka menimpa kalian, pada saat itu juga sembahlah Aku semata, sebab Akulah sebab kesejahteraan dan kebahagiaan kalian.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: General teaching: in distress, taking refuge in Śiva and performing bhajana leads to sukha and protection (prasāda).
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that in times of duḥkha one should turn to Shiva in bhakti and remembrance; Shiva, as Pati (the Lord), becomes the immediate refuge who removes suffering and restores auspicious well-being.
The instruction “worship Me” supports Saguna upāsanā—approaching Shiva through accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga, where devotion and surrender are focused and stabilized, especially during adversity.
In distress, take up Shiva-bhajana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), simple liṅga-pūjā with water/abhisheka, and steady remembrance (smaraṇa) as the immediate practice.