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Shloka 47

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

सर्वाश्रमाणां वर्णानां स्त्रीशूद्रा णां शिवाज्ञया । धार्याः सदैव रुद्रा क्षा यतीनां प्रणवेन हि

sarvāśramāṇāṃ varṇānāṃ strīśūdrā ṇāṃ śivājñayā | dhāryāḥ sadaiva rudrā kṣā yatīnāṃ praṇavena hi

Auf Śivas Geheiß sollen Rudrākṣa-Perlen stets von Menschen aller Āśramas und Varṇas getragen werden—auch von Frauen und Śūdras. Für Entsagende (Yatīs) sollen sie mit dem Praṇava „Om“ als heiligender Mantra getragen werden.

सर्वाश्रमाणाम्of all āśramas (stages of life)
सर्वाश्रमाणाम्:
सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सर्वे आश्रमाः)
वर्णानाम्of (all) varṇas/classes
वर्णानाम्:
सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन
स्त्रीशूद्राणाम्of women and śūdras
स्त्रीशूद्राणाम्:
सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री + शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग(स्त्री) + पुंलिङ्ग(शूद्र) समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन
शिवाज्ञयाby Śiva’s command
शिवाज्ञया:
करण (तृतीया/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootशिव + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आज्ञा)
धार्याःshould be worn/borne
धार्याः:
विधेय (Predicate)
TypeAdjective
Rootधृ (धातु) → धार्य (कृदन्त, यत्-प्रत्यय)
Formविधेय-विशेषण; बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st) / (स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचन रूपम्); कृदन्तः—यत् (gerundive/obligatory: ‘to be worn/borne’)
सदाalways
सदा:
क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
एवindeed/only
एव:
निपात (Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)
रुद्राक्षाःrudrākṣa beads
रुद्राक्षाः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootरुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन
यतीनाम्of ascetics (yatīs)
यतीनाम्:
सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootयति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन
प्रणवेनwith/through the praṇava (Oṃ)
प्रणवेन:
करण (Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन
हिindeed/for
हि:
निपात (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formहेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle: for/indeed)

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s ordinance on Rudrākṣa to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a universal Śaiva ordinance (ājñā) extending Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa to all āśramas/varṇas, emphasizing eligibility for Śiva-bhakti beyond social restriction.

Significance: Frames Rudrākṣa as a portable ‘tīrtha’ and marker of Śiva’s grace-access for all devotees, including women and Śūdras.

Mantra: प्रणव (ॐ)

S
Shiva
R
Rudraksha
P
Pranava (Om)

FAQs

The verse universalizes Rudrākṣa as a Shaiva sādhana: by Śiva’s own authority it becomes a legitimate, purifying sign of devotion (bhakti) and remembrance of Pati (Śiva) for all stages of life, supporting inner discipline and liberation-oriented living.

Rudrākṣa functions as a constant external aid to internal Linga-centered remembrance—keeping the devotee aligned with Saguna Śiva’s grace while cultivating steadiness that matures toward deeper, more subtle realization.

Wear Rudrākṣa daily; for renunciants specifically, sanctify the wearing with the Praṇava (Om)—using it as japa and contemplative recollection while donning or touching the beads.