Adhyaya 4

Verse 1

देवीभागवतपुराणम्/स्कन्धः ११/अध्यायः ०४ वेदव्यासः‎ ← देवीभागवतपुराणम्/स्कन्धः ११/अध्यायः ०३ देवीभागवतपुराणम्/स्कन्धः ११/अध्यायः ०४ वेदव्यासः‎ देवीभागवतपुराणम्/स्कन्धः ११/अध्यायः ०५ → रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् <poem> नारद उवाच एवंभूतानुभावोऽयं रुद्राक्षो भवतानघ । वर्णितो महतां पूज्यः कारणं तत्र किं वद

Narada said: O sinless one! You have described the Rudraksha as possessing such extraordinary power and as being worthy of worship by the great ones. Please tell me, what is the cause of its origin?

Verse 2

श्रीनारायण उवाच एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो भगवान् गिरिशः प्रभुः । षण्मुखेन च रुद्रस्तं यदुवाच शृणुष्व तत्

Sri Narayana said: Long ago, the supreme Lord Girisha (Shiva) was asked this exact same question by Shanmukha (Kartikeya). Listen to what Lord Rudra told him.

Verse 3

ईश्वर उवाच शृणु षण्मुख तत्त्वेन कथयामि समासतः । त्रिपुरो नाम दैत्यस्तु पुराऽऽसीत्सर्वदुर्जयः

Lord Ishvara (Shiva) said: Listen, O Shanmukha! I shall tell you the truth in brief. In ancient times, there was a great demon named Tripura, who was invincible to all.

Verse 4

जितास्तेन सुराः सर्वे बह्मविष्ण्वादिदेवताः । सर्वैस्तु कथिते तस्मिंस्तदाहं त्रिपुरं प्रति

He (Tripura) conquered all the Suras (gods), including Brahma, Vishnu, and other deities. When all of them narrated their plight to me, I then directed my attention towards Tripura.

Verse 5

अचिन्तयं महाशस्त्रमघोराख्यं मनोहरम् । सर्वदेवमयं दिव्यं ज्वलन्तं घोररूपि यत्

I contemplated upon the great and fascinating weapon named Aghora, which embodies the power of all gods, is divine, blazing with fire, and terrifying in its form.

Verse 6

त्रिपुरस्य वधार्थाय देवानां तारणाय च । सर्वविघ्नोपशमनमघोरास्त्रमचिन्तयम्

For the purpose of slaying Tripura and for the deliverance of the gods, I concentrated my mind on the Aghorastra, the pacifier of all obstacles.

Verse 7

दिव्यवर्षसहस्रं तु चक्षुरुन्मीलितं मया । पश्चान्ममाकुलाक्षिभ्यः पतिता जलबिन्दवः

For a thousand divine years, I kept my eyes wide open (in intense concentration). Afterwards, from my strained and tearful eyes, drops of water fell to the ground.

Verse 8

तत्राश्रुबिन्दुतो जाता महारुद्राक्षवृक्षकाः । ममाज्ञया महासेन सर्वेषां हितकाम्यया

From those teardrops, the great Rudraksha trees were born. By my command, O Mahasena (Kartikeya), they manifested for the welfare and benefit of all beings.

Verse 9

बभूवुस्ते च रुद्राक्षा अष्टत्रिंशत्प्रभेदतः । सूर्यनेत्रसमुद्‌भूताः कपिला द्वादश स्मृताः

Those Rudrakshas originated in thirty-eight different varieties. From the tears of my right eye (the Sun eye), twelve tawny-colored (Kapila) varieties of Rudrakshas were born.

Verse 10

सोमनेत्रोत्थिताः श्वेतास्ते षोडशविधाः क्रमात् । वह्निनेत्रोद्‍भवाः कृष्णा दश भेदा भवन्ति हि

From my left eye (the Moon eye), sixteen varieties of white Rudrakshas arose. And from my third eye (the Fire eye), ten varieties of black Rudrakshas were born.

Verse 11

श्वेतवर्णश्च रुद्राक्षो जातितो ब्राह्म उच्यते । क्षात्रो रक्तस्तथा मिश्रो वैश्यः कृष्णस्तु शूद्रकः

By their nature (varna), a white-colored Rudraksha is called a Brahmana, a red one is a Kshatriya, a mixed-colored one is a Vaishya, and a black one is a Shudra.

Verse 12

एकवक्त्रः शिवः साक्षाद्ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति । द्विवक्त्रो देवदेव्यो स्याद्‌विविधं नाशयेदघम्

A one-faced (Ek Mukhi) Rudraksha is Lord Shiva Himself; it destroys the sin of killing a Brahmana (Brahmahatya). A two-faced (Do Mukhi) Rudraksha represents the God and Goddess (Shiva-Parvati) and destroys various types of sins.

Verse 13

त्रिवक्त्रस्त्वनलः साक्षात्स्त्रीहत्यां दहति क्षणात् । चतुर्वक्त्रः स्वयं ब्रह्मा नरहत्यां व्यपोहति

A three-faced (Teen Mukhi) Rudraksha is Fire (Agni) itself; it burns away the sin of killing a woman in an instant. A four-faced (Char Mukhi) Rudraksha is Lord Brahma himself; it destroys the sin of killing a human being (Narahatya).

Verse 14

पञ्चवक्त्रः स्वयं रुद्रः कालाग्निर्नाम नामतः । अभक्ष्यभक्षणोद्‌भूतैरगम्यागमनोद्‍भवैः

A five-faced (Panch Mukhi) Rudraksha is Lord Rudra Himself, specifically known by the name Kalagni. It frees one from the sins arising from eating forbidden foods and from engaging in forbidden sexual relations...

Verse 15

मुच्यते सर्वपापैस्तु पञ्चवक्त्रस्य धारणात् । षड्वक्त्रः कार्तिकेयस्तु स धार्यो दक्षिणे करे

By wearing the five-faced Rudraksha, one is indeed freed from all such sins. A six-faced (Chhah Mukhi) Rudraksha is Lord Kartikeya; it should be worn on the right hand/arm.

Verse 16

ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः । सप्तवक्त्रो महाभागो ह्यनङ्‌गो नाम नामतः

By wearing the six-faced Rudraksha, one is freed from sins like Brahmahatya; there is no doubt about this. The highly auspicious seven-faced (Saat Mukhi) Rudraksha is known by the name Ananga (Kamadeva).

Verse 17

तद्धारणान्मुच्यते हि स्वर्णस्तेयादिपातकैः । अष्टवक्त्रो महासेन साक्षाद्देवो विनायकः

By wearing it (the seven-faced Rudraksha), one is freed from the sins of stealing gold and similar crimes. O Mahasena! An eight-faced (Aath Mukhi) Rudraksha is Lord Vinayaka (Ganesha) Himself.

Verse 18

अन्तकूटं तूलकूटं स्वर्णकूटं तथैव च । दुष्टान्वयस्त्रियं वाथ संस्पृशंश्च गुरुस्त्रियम्

(By wearing the eight-faced Rudraksha, one is freed from the sins of) fraud in boundaries/measures, fraud in cotton/weights, and fraud in gold, as well as the sin of touching a woman of wicked descent or the wife of one's Guru...

Verse 19

एवमादीनि पापानि हन्ति सर्वाणि धारणात् । विघ्नास्तस्य प्रणश्यन्ति याति चान्ते परं पदम्

...By wearing it, all such sins and others are destroyed. His obstacles are completely eradicated, and in the end, he attains the supreme state (Moksha).

Verse 20

भवन्त्येते गुणाः सर्वे ह्यष्टवक्त्रस्य धारणात् । नववक्त्रो भैरवस्तु धारयेद्वामबाहुके

All these aforementioned virtues are obtained by wearing the eight-faced Rudraksha. A nine-faced (Nau Mukhi) Rudraksha is Lord Bhairava; it should be worn on the left arm.

Verse 21

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदः प्रोक्तो मम तुल्यबलो भवेत् । भ्रूणहत्यासहस्राणि ब्रह्महत्याशतानि च

It (the nine-faced Rudraksha) is declared to be the giver of both worldly enjoyments (bhukti) and liberation (mukti), making the wearer equal to Me in strength. Thousands of sins of female-feticide and hundreds of sins of Brahmahatya...

Verse 22

सद्यः प्रलयमायान्ति नववक्त्रस्य धारणात् । दशवक्त्रस्तु देवेशः साक्षाद्देवो जनार्दनः

...are instantly destroyed by wearing the nine-faced Rudraksha. A ten-faced (Das Mukhi) Rudraksha is the Lord of Gods, Lord Janardana (Vishnu) Himself.

Verse 23

ग्रहाश्चैव पिशाचाश्च वेताला ब्रह्मराक्षसाः । पन्नगाश्चोपशाम्यन्ति दशवक्त्रस्य धारणात्

By wearing the ten-faced Rudraksha, negative planetary influences (Grahas), evil spirits (Pishachas), vampires (Vetalas), Brahmarakshasas, and serpents (Pannagas) are all pacified.

Verse 24

वक्त्रैकादशरुद्राक्षो रुद्रैकादशकं स्मृतम् । शिखायां धारयेद्यो वै तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

An eleven-faced (Gyarah Mukhi) Rudraksha is known to represent the eleven Rudras. Listen to the meritorious fruits obtained by one who wears it on his topknot (Shikha).

Verse 25

अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च । गवां शतसहस्रस्य सम्यग्दत्तस्य यत्फलम्

The merit obtained by performing a thousand Ashwamedha (Horse) sacrifices, a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices, and by properly donating a hundred thousand cows...

Verse 26

तत्फलं लभते शीघ्रं वक्त्रैकादशधारणात् । द्वादशास्यस्य रुद्राक्षस्यैव कर्णे तु धारणात्

...That exact same merit is swiftly obtained simply by wearing the eleven-faced Rudraksha. Furthermore, by wearing a twelve-faced (Barah Mukhi) Rudraksha on the ear...

Verse 27

आदित्यास्तोषिता नित्यं द्वादशास्ये व्यवस्थिताः । गोभेधे चाश्वमेधे च यत्फलं तदवाप्नुयात्

...The twelve Adityas (Sun Gods) are constantly pleased and reside within the twelve-faced Rudraksha. The wearer attains the merit of performing the Gomedha and Ashwamedha sacrifices.

Verse 28

शृङ्‌गिणां शस्त्रिणां चैव व्याघ्रादीनां भयं न हि । न च व्याधिभयं तस्य नैव चाधिः प्रकीर्तितः

For him (who wears the twelve-faced Rudraksha), there is no fear from horned animals, armed men, or wild beasts like tigers. He has no fear of physical diseases (vyadhi), nor does he suffer from mental agonies (adhi).

Verse 29

न च किञ्चिद्‍भयं तस्य न च व्याधिः प्रवर्तते । न कुतश्चिद्‍भयं तस्य सुखी चैवेश्वरो भवेत्

He experiences absolutely no fear, and no disease ever afflicts him. He has nothing to fear from any quarter; he remains continuously happy and becomes lordly (prosperous and powerful like a master).

Verse 30

हस्त्यश्वमृगमार्जारसर्पमूषकदर्दुरान् । खरांश्च श्वशृगालांश्च हत्वा बहुविधानपि

Even if one has killed elephants, horses, deer, cats, snakes, mice, frogs, donkeys, dogs, jackals, and various other such creatures...

Verse 31

मुच्यते नात्र सन्देहो वक्त्रद्वादशधारणात् । वक्त्रत्रयोदशो वत्स रुद्राक्षो यदि लभ्यते

...he is undoubtedly freed from all those sins by wearing the twelve-faced Rudraksha. O child! If a thirteen-faced (Terah Mukhi) Rudraksha is obtained...

Verse 32

कार्तिकेयसमो ज्ञेयः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदः । रसो रसायनं चैव तस्य सर्वं प्रसिद्ध्यति

...it should be known as equal to Lord Kartikeya Himself, and it is the bestower of the fulfillment of all desires and wealth. For the wearer, all endeavors in alchemy (Rasa/Rasayana) and medicine become successful.

Verse 33

तस्यैव सर्वभोग्यानि नात्र कार्या विचारणा । मातरं पितरं चैव भ्रातरं वा निहन्ति यः

All worldly enjoyments naturally belong to him; there is no need to deliberate on this. Even one who has committed the heinous sin of killing his mother, father, or brother...

Verse 34

मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो धारणात्तस्य षण्मुख । चतुर्दशास्यो रुद्राक्षो यदि लभ्येत पुत्रक

...is freed from all those sins by wearing it, O Shanmukha! O dear son, if a fourteen-faced (Chaudah Mukhi) Rudraksha is obtained...

Verse 35

धारयेत्सततं मूर्ध्नि तस्य पिण्डः शिवस्य तु । किं मुने बहुनोक्तेन वर्णनेन पुनः पुनः

One should constantly wear it on the head; it is the very embodiment of Lord Shiva Himself. O Sage, what is the use of speaking so much and describing it again and again?

Verse 36

पूज्यते सन्ततं देवैः प्राप्यते च परा गतिः । रुद्राक्ष एकः शिरसा धार्यो भक्त्या द्विजोत्तमैः

He is constantly worshipped by the gods and attains the supreme state. At the very least, one single Rudraksha should be worn on the head with devotion by the best of the twice-born.

Verse 37

षड्‌विंशद्‌भिः शिरोमाला पञ्चाशद्‌धृदयेन तु । कलाक्षैर्बाहुवलये अर्काक्षैर्मणिबन्धनम्

A garland of 26 Rudrakshas should be worn on the head, 50 on the heart/chest, 16 on each upper arm, and 12 on each wrist.

Verse 38

अष्टोत्तरशतैर्माला पञ्चाशद्‌भिः षडानन । अथवा सप्तविंशत्या कृत्वा रुद्राक्षमालिकाम्

O Shanmukha! A mala should be made of 108 beads, or 50 beads. Alternatively, a Rudraksha mala can be made of 27 beads.

Verse 39

धारणाद्वा जपाद्वापि ह्यनन्तं फलमश्नुते । अष्टोत्तरशतैर्माला रुद्राक्षैर्धार्यते यदि

By wearing it or by using it for Japa, one obtains infinite merit. If a mala consisting of 108 Rudrakshas is worn...

Verse 40

क्षणे क्षणेऽश्वमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोति षण्मुख । त्रिःसप्तकुलमुद्धृत्य शिवलोके महीयते

...at every moment, he obtains the merit of performing an Ashwamedha sacrifice, O Shanmukha! He uplifts twenty-one generations of his family and is glorified in Shivaloka.

Verse 999

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां एकादशस्कन्धे रुद्राक्षमाहाम्यवर्णनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the fourth chapter titled 'Description of the Greatness of Rudraksha' in the eleventh book of the Mahapurana Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, consisting of eighteen thousand verses.