Shloka 48

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

दिवा बिभ्रद्रा त्रिकृतै रात्रौ विभ्रद्दिवाकृतैः । प्रातर्मध्याह्नसायाह्ने मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

Transliteration

divā bibhradrā trikṛtai rātrau vibhraddivākṛtaiḥ | prātarmadhyāhnasāyāhne mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Translation

Wer sie am Tage nach der dreifachen Vorschrift trägt und in der Nacht nach der für den Tag gebotenen Weise, wird von allen Sünden befreit—bei Morgendämmerung, zur Mittagszeit und am Abend.

Word by Word

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: अधिकरण (Time-locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (by day)

• बिभ्रत्: wearing/bearing
• बिभ्रत्: कर्ता (Agent/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृ (धातु) → बिभ्रत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); प्रथमा एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — ‘bearing/wearing’

• रुद्राक्षान्: rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• त्रिकृतैः: by acts done thrice / in threefold manner
• त्रिकृतैः: करण/प्रकार (Instrument/Manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (त्रिभिः कृतैः = done thrice)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• विभ्रत्: wearing/bearing
• विभ्रत्: कर्ता (Agent/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृ (धातु) → विभ्रत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); प्रथमा एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग)

• दिवाकृतैः: by deeds done in the daytime
• दिवाकृतैः: करण/प्रकार (Instrument/Manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिवा + कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दिवा कृतैः = done in daytime)

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (in the morning)

• मध्याह्न: at midday
• मध्याह्न: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे समासेऽपि सम्भवः); here as time-point in a series

• सायाह्ने: in the evening
• सायाह्ने: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायाह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: कर्मणि-क्रिया (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• सर्वपातकैः: from all sins
• सर्वपातकैः: अपादान (Ablative sense via instrumental: ‘from’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि पातकानि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it prescribes a daily regimen (divā/rātri; prātaḥ/madhyāhna/sāyāhna) whose fruit is pāpa-kṣaya, a common purāṇic framing for Śaiva ācāra.

Significance: Transforms daily time-junctures (sandhyās) into pilgrimage-moments through Śaiva marks/observance, promising purification.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady Shaiva discipline—especially the threefold, time-bound observance aligned with the daily sandhyās—purifies the pashu (bound soul) and removes pāpa, preparing one for Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes external marks and regulated conduct (such as Tripuṇḍra/Bhasma and prescribed timings), which are classic supports for Saguna Shiva worship—helping the devotee remain continually oriented to the Linga as Shiva’s accessible form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observe the thrice-daily sandhyā rhythm (morning–midday–evening) while bearing the Shaiva mark/observance (commonly understood as Tripuṇḍra with Bhasma, often paired with Rudrākṣa) and mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”