Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)
तस्मिन्नेव कालेऽहं प्रसन्नो निर्भयो मुने । अस्तवं शंकरं भक्त्या विविधैश्च शुभस्तवैः
tasminneva kāle'haṃ prasanno nirbhayo mune | astavaṃ śaṃkaraṃ bhaktyā vividhaiśca śubhastavaiḥ
就在那时，噢牟尼，我心生清安，离于恐惧；并以虔敬之情，用种种吉祥赞颂歌咏商羯罗。
Brahma (narrating to a sage, within Sūta’s overarching narration)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a jyotirliṅga; it is a personal testimony of Brahmā’s fear dissolving through devotion and hymnody.
Significance: Highlights stotra as a means to attain prasāda and abhaya; pilgrims often recite Brahmā-stuti-like passages as part of Śiva-pūjā.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse presents bhakti as a direct means to prasāda (inner clarity and grace) and nirbhayatā (fearlessness), implying that turning the mind to Śaṅkara through sincere praise loosens the bonds of anxiety and limitation under Shiva’s grace.
By praising Śaṅkara with śubha-stava (auspicious hymns), the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva—Shiva with attributes accessible to devotion—often expressed in Purāṇic practice through stotra, pūjā, and liṅga-upāsanā as tangible supports for grace.
Stotra-paṭha (recitation of hymns) with bhakti is implied; in Shaiva practice this is commonly paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and can be supported by bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to stabilize devotion and remembrance.