Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
रक्ष रक्ष महावीर त्रिदशान्व्यथितान्रणे । न बालस्त्वं युवा नैव किं तु सर्वेश्वरः प्रभुः
rakṣa rakṣa mahāvīra tridaśānvyathitānraṇe | na bālastvaṃ yuvā naiva kiṃ tu sarveśvaraḥ prabhuḥ
“Protege, protege, ó grande herói—protege os devas aflitos na batalha. Tu não és apenas uma criança nem somente um jovem; antes, és o Senhor, o Soberano supremo de todos.”
The Devas (gods), addressing Lord Skanda/Kartikeya in the Kumārakhaṇḍa battle context
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Mantra: रक्ष रक्ष महावीर त्रिदशान्व्यथितान्रणे । न बालस्त्वं युवा नैव किं तु सर्वेश्वरः प्रभुः
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It models śaraṇāgati (surrender): the distressed devas invoke divine protection and affirm that the Lord’s true nature transcends worldly labels like “child” or “youth,” pointing to the supreme Sarveśvara who governs all.
Though addressed to the divine commander (Skanda) in narrative form, the praise “Sarveśvara” reflects Saguna worship—approaching the Supreme through a manifest form for refuge, just as devotees approach Śiva through the Liṅga as the accessible presence of the transcendent Lord.
A practical takeaway is protective japa and prayerful surrender—reciting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a request for inner protection in one’s ‘battle’ against fear, anger, and delusion, optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids.