Shloka 12

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

श्वेतरक्ताः पीतकृष्णा वर्णाज्ञेयाः क्रमाद्बुधैः । स्वजातीयं नृभिर्धार्यं रुद्रा क्षं वर्णतः क्रमात्

Transliteration

śvetaraktāḥ pītakṛṣṇā varṇājñeyāḥ kramādbudhaiḥ | svajātīyaṃ nṛbhirdhāryaṃ rudrā kṣaṃ varṇataḥ kramāt

Translation

Die Weisen wissen, dass die Rudrākṣa-Perlen der Reihe nach weiß, rot, gelb und schwarz sind, entsprechend den vier Varṇas. Darum soll der Mensch Rudrākṣa seiner eigenen Varṇa tragen, gemäß dieser Ordnung der Farben.

Word by Word

• श्वेत-रक्ताः: white and red
• श्वेत-रक्ताः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (white and red)

• पीत-कृष्णाः: yellow and black
• पीत-कृष्णाः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (yellow and black)

• वर्ण-आज्ञेयाः: to be identified by color
• वर्ण-आज्ञेयाः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण + आज्ञेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (to be known by color/varna)

• क्रमात्: in due order; successively
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (ablatival adverb: in order/ क्रमशः)

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• स्व-जातीयम्: one’s own kind/class
• स्व-जातीयम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + जातीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (one’s own kind)

• नृभिः: by men/people
• नृभिः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• धार्यम्: should be maintained/observed
• धार्यम्: विधेय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be held/maintained’

• रुद्राः: Rudras
• रुद्राः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• क्षम्: kṣa (a class/term)
• क्षम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/दुर्लभ-रूप)

• वर्णतः: according to color/varna
• वर्णतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: according to/from the standpoint of color/varna)

• क्रमात्: in order
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (ablatival adverb: in order)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudraksha

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It frames Rudrākṣa-wearing as a dharmic Shaiva observance: devotion to Pati (Shiva) is practiced through regulated conduct, where outer discipline supports inner purity and steady remembrance of Shiva.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Rudrākṣa is treated as a sacred aid for Saguna Shiva worship—supporting japa, pūjā, and daily Shiva-oriented discipline—thereby strengthening focused devotion toward the Linga and Shiva’s gracious, accessible form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa as prescribed and use it for japa—especially the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a steady, embodied practice of Shaiva remembrance.