Shloka 17

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

धात्रीफलसमं यत्स्यात्सर्वारिष्टविनाशनम् । गुंजया सदृशं यत्स्यात्सर्वार्थफलसाधनम्

Transliteration

dhātrīphalasamaṃ yatsyātsarvāriṣṭavināśanam | guṃjayā sadṛśaṃ yatsyātsarvārthaphalasādhanam

Translation

Die Rudrākṣa, deren Maß dem der Āmalakī-Frucht entspricht, wird zur Vernichterin allen Unheils. Die, deren Maß einer Guñjā-Samenkorn gleicht, wird zur Erfüllerin der Früchte aller gewünschten Ziele.

Word by Word

• धात्री-फल-समम्: equal to an āmalakī fruit
• धात्री-फल-समम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—धात्रीफलस्य समम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• स्यात्: may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्व-अरिष्ट-विनाशनम्: destroyer of all misfortunes
• सर्व-अरिष्ट-विनाशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अरिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषाम् अरिष्टानां विनाशनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• गुञ्जया: with/like a guñjā (seed)
• गुञ्जया: Upamana (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुञ्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• सदृशम्: similar (in size)
• सदृशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• स्यात्: may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्व-अर्थ-फल-साधनम्: means of attaining the fruits of all aims
• सर्व-अर्थ-फल-साधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषाम् अर्थानां फलस्य च साधनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; बहु-सम्बन्ध)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Rudrākṣa functions as a portable ‘liṅga-like’ sign of Śiva-bhakti; its promised fruits are framed as removal of ariṣṭa (bondage/inauspiciousness) and attainment of desired aims, supporting the devotee’s path toward Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Rudrākṣa, as Shiva’s sacred emblem, yields specific spiritual and worldly benefits depending on its measure—protection from adversity and the fulfillment of legitimate aims when worn with Shaiva faith.

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

Rudrākṣa is treated as a tangible aid for Saguna Shiva worship—supporting devotion, purity, and auspiciousness—just as Linga worship provides a concrete focus for approaching the transcendent Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Select and wear Rudrākṣa beads of appropriate size with reverence, ideally while maintaining Shiva-centered japa (such as the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a disciplined devotional life.