Shloka 36

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

एवं सहस्ररुद्रा क्षान्धारयेद्यो दृढव्रतः । तं नमंति सुराः सर्वे यथा रुद्र स्तथैव सः

Transliteration

evaṃ sahasrarudrā kṣāndhārayedyo dṛḍhavrataḥ | taṃ namaṃti surāḥ sarve yathā rudra stathaiva saḥ

Translation

So wird, wer im heiligen Gelübde standhaft ist und tausend Rudrākṣa-Perlen trägt, von allen Göttern verehrt; und in eben diesem Maße wird er Rudra selbst gleich.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• सहस्र-रुद्राः: a thousand Rudras
• सहस्र-रुद्राः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (संख्या) + रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), बहुवचन; द्विगु—सहस्रसंख्यकाः रुद्राः

• क्षान्: (many) ‘kṣa’ syllables
• क्षान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्ष (अक्षर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), बहुवचन; अक्षर/बीजाक्षर-रूपेण

• धारयेत्: should wear/hold
• धारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• दृढ-व्रतः: firm in vow
• दृढ-व्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दृढं व्रतं यस्य (firm-vowed)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन

• नमन्ति: bow to
• नमन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सुराः: gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of सुराः)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamāna (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• रुद्र: Rudra
• रुद्र: Upameya/Reference (उपमेय-संदर्भ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि पाठभेदः सम्भवः

• तथा: so
• तथा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यतावाचक-अव्यय (so/likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Promises of deva-vandya status for the steadfast rudrākṣa-vratī elevate personal observance to a cosmic recognition—devotion becomes socially and metaphysically transformative.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that steadfast discipline (dṛḍha-vrata) combined with Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa elevates the devotee’s spiritual status, making him worthy of reverence like Rudra—signifying closeness to Śiva through devotion and sacred observance.

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

Rudrākṣa is a Saguna emblem of Śiva’s grace—an outer sign that supports inner Śiva-bhakti. Wearing it with vow and purity is presented as a Śaiva practice aligned with Linga-worship, focusing the mind on Rudra as the personal Lord who grants protection and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa (wearing Rudrākṣa, here in a large count) together with a firm vrata; traditionally this is paired with japa of Śiva-mantras (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Śiva-pūjā.