Shloka 21

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

समाः स्निग्धा दृढाः स्थूलाः कंटकैः संयुताः शुभाः । रुद्रा क्षाः कामदा देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाः सदा

Transliteration

samāḥ snigdhā dṛḍhāḥ sthūlāḥ kaṃṭakaiḥ saṃyutāḥ śubhāḥ | rudrā kṣāḥ kāmadā devi bhuktimuktipradāḥ sadā

Translation

O Goddess, Rudrākṣas that are even, lustrous, firm, large, and auspicious—endowed with natural ridges and projections—fulfil worthy desires and ever bestow both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

Word by Word

• समाः: even/uniform
• समाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• स्निग्धाः: smooth/oily
• स्निग्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दृढाः: firm
• दृढाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्थूलाः: thick/large
• स्थूलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कण्टकैः: with thorns/projections
• कण्टकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• संयुताः: joined/endowed
• संयुताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘endowed/connected’

• शुभाः: auspicious
• शुभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रुद्राक्षाः: rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• कामदाः: wish-granting
• कामदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक (कामं ददाति)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदाः: granting enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (भुक्तिः च मुक्तिḥ च) + ‘प्रद’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that properly qualified Rudrākṣa is not merely ornamental: it is a sacred aid for a devotee’s life, supporting dharmic prosperity (bhukti) and culminating in liberation (mukti) through Shiva-oriented devotion and purity.

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

Rudrākṣa is presented as a direct emblem of Saguna Shiva worship—worn by the devotee as a constant reminder of Shiva while engaging in Linga-pūjā, japa, and disciplined living, thereby aligning the individual (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Select auspicious, well-formed Rudrākṣa beads and wear them with reverence while doing japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—and maintaining Shaiva conduct for both worldly steadiness and spiritual ascent.