Shloka 13

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

वर्णैस्तु तत्फलं धार्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलेप्सुभिः । शिवभक्तैर्विशेषेण शिवयोः प्रीतये सदा

Transliteration

varṇaistu tatphalaṃ dhāryaṃ bhuktimuktiphalepsubhiḥ | śivabhaktairviśeṣeṇa śivayoḥ prītaye sadā

Translation

Darum sollen jene, die die Früchte weltlichen Genusses und der endgültigen Befreiung begehren, jenes heilige Zeichen nach der vorgeschriebenen Weise tragen. Vor allem aber sollen Śivas Verehrer es stets tun, zur immerwährenden Freude Śivas und Śivās.

Word by Word

• वर्णैः: by letters/syllables
• वर्णैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• फलं: fruit/result
• फलं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धार्यम्: should be borne/held
• धार्यम्: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय), कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (gerundive: ‘to be borne/held’)

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-फल-एप्सुभिः: by those desiring the fruits of enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-फल-एप्सुभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + एप्सु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भुक्तिमुक्तिफलम् एप्सवः = those desiring the fruits of enjoyment and liberation)

• शिवभक्तैः: by devotees of Śiva
• शिवभक्तैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य भक्ताः)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण तृतीया-एकवचन (adverbial instrumental: ‘especially’)

• शिवयोः: of the two Śivas (Śiva and Śakti)
• शिवयोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• प्रीतये: for (their) pleasure
• प्रीतये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere Śaiva devotion is expressed both inwardly and outwardly: bearing Śiva’s sacred sign as prescribed supports discipline and remembrance, and becomes a means toward both bhukti (rightly ordered worldly good) and mukti (liberation), offered for the pleasure of Śiva and Śivā.

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

In Linga/Saguna worship, devotees adopt Śaiva identifiers (such as sacred ash marks) as part of daily pūjā and identity, making the body itself a temple-sign of belonging to Śiva and aligning one’s life with Linga-centered devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests regularly bearing the prescribed Śaiva sacred mark/sign—commonly understood in this context as Tripuṇḍra with bhasma—done with devotion and remembrance of Śiva (often alongside japa such as the Pañcākṣarī).