Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26
देवस्तुतिः — Hymn of Praise by the Devas
Devastuti
शारदा विप्रतनया बालवैधव्यमागता । तव भक्तेः प्रभावात्तु पुत्रसौभा ग्यवत्यभूत्
śāradā vipratanayā bālavaidhavyamāgatā | tava bhakteḥ prabhāvāttu putrasaubhā gyavatyabhūt
Śāradā, filha de um brāhmaṇa, tornou-se viúva ainda jovem; contudo, pelo poder da tua devoção ao Senhor Śiva, foi abençoada com a boa fortuna de um filho.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Shows Śiva’s grace operating within worldly suffering (duḥkha) to restore auspiciousness; bhakti becomes a means for overcoming social/biographical misfortune.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights Śiva-anugraha: even severe worldly suffering can be transformed when devotion becomes the inner cause, showing that bhakti to Pati (Śiva) reshapes karmic outcomes and restores auspiciousness.
The verse points to Saguna Śiva’s accessible grace—worship of the Śiva-liṅga with faith and surrender is presented in the Purāṇa as a direct means to receive protection, wellbeing, and auspicious results.
A practical takeaway is steady Śiva-bhakti through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple liṅga-pūjā with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) as a sign of Śaiva surrender.