Shloka 2

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

शिवप्रियतमो ज्ञेयो रुद्रा क्षः परपावनः । दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाज्जाप्यात्सर्वपापहरः स्मृतः

Transliteration

śivapriyatamo jñeyo rudrā kṣaḥ parapāvanaḥ | darśanātsparśanājjāpyātsarvapāpaharaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Rudrākṣa is to be known as dearest to Lord Śiva and supremely purifying. By merely seeing it, touching it, or using it for japa, it is declared to remove all sins.

Word by Word

• śiva-priyatamaḥ: most dear to Śiva
• śiva-priyatamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + priyatama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); superlative sense 'most dear'

• jñeyaḥ: to be known/should be known
• jñeyaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• rudrākṣaḥ: Rudrākṣa
• rudrākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudrākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• para-pāvanaḥ: supremely purifying
• para-pāvanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + pāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• darśanāt: from (its) seeing
• darśanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); used as cause/source

• sparśanāt: from touching
• sparśanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• jāpyāt: from reciting (it)
• jāpyāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāpya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); 'from recitation (japa)'

• sarva-pāpa-haraḥ: remover of all sins
• sarva-pāpa-haraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'remover of all sins'

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/said
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively: 'is said/considered'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It presents Rudrākṣa as a Śiva-sanctified means of inner and outer purification, emphasizing that contact with what is dear to Śiva supports the devotee’s movement toward grace and liberation.

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

Rudrākṣa functions as an accessory of Saguna-Śiva worship—supporting devotion, mantra-japa, and temple/pūjā practices centered on the Liṅga—thereby strengthening a devotee’s Śaiva discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Keep Rudrākṣa for darśana and sparśa (reverent seeing and touching), and perform mantra-japa—especially pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—using a Rudrākṣa mālā.