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
汝らに苦しみが起こるときはいつでも、神々のうち最勝なる者たちよ、その時こそ真実に我を礼拝せよ。われは汝らの安寧と歓喜の因である。
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.