Śatarudrīya-prabhāva and Rudra’s Supremacy (शतरुद्रीयप्रभावः)
मृगयूथैद्रतैर्भीतैर्हरपार्श्वमुपागतै: । शरणं चाप्यविन्दद्धिस्तत् सद: संकुलं बभौ
mṛgayūthair drutair bhītair hara-pārśvam upāgataiḥ | śaraṇaṃ cāpy avindad dhi tat sadaḥ saṃkulaṃ babhau ||
ナーラダは語った。「恐怖におののく鹿の群れが、あわただしく逃げ惑い、ハラ(シヴァ)の傍らへと近づいた。ほかに避難の地を得られず、そこに集まったため、集会の広間はすっかり埋め尽くされ――守りを求める怯えた生きものたちの姿によって、かえって稀なる美を帯びた。」
नारद उवाच
When beings are overwhelmed by fear and find no safety elsewhere, the righteous and compassionate—here symbolized by Hara (Śiva)—become a natural refuge. The verse highlights the ethical ideal of offering protection to the vulnerable and the spiritual intuition that true shelter is found near the divine.
Frightened herds of deer, fleeing from danger, arrive at Śiva’s side because they cannot find shelter anywhere else. Their sudden gathering fills the assembly hall, and the scene is described as taking on a distinctive beauty despite (and because of) their fearful state.