Shloka 26

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

शतार्द्धेन युतैः पंचशतैर्वै मुकुटं मतम् । रुद्रा क्षैर्विरचेत्सम्यग्भक्तिमान्पुरुषो वरः

Transliteration

śatārddhena yutaiḥ paṃcaśatairvai mukuṭaṃ matam | rudrā kṣairviracetsamyagbhaktimānpuruṣo varaḥ

Translation

A crown is declared to be made from five hundred Rudrākṣa beads, together with an additional half-hundred. A noble man, endowed with bhakti, should properly fashion it from Rudrākṣas.

Word by Word

• śata-ardhena: with half of a hundred (i.e., fifty)
• śata-ardhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: शतस्य अर्धम्) — Instrumental singular, neuter

• yutaiḥ: combined with
• yutaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuta (कृदन्त; √yuj युज्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण — Instrumental plural, 'joined/combined'

• pañca-śataiḥ: with five hundreds
• pañca-śataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या, अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (पञ्च शतानि) — Instrumental plural, neuter

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• mukuṭam: a crown
• mukuṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukuṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular, masculine

• matam: is considered (proper)
• matam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mata (कृदन्त; √man मन्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — 'considered/approved' (agreeing with mukuṭam)

• rudrākṣaiḥ: with rudrākṣa beads
• rudrākṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra-akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (रुद्रस्य अक्षाणि) — Instrumental plural, neuter

• viracet: should make
• viracet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rac (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — should make/construct

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• bhaktimān: devout
• bhaktimān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti-mant (प्रातिपदिक; मतुप्/मन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण — Nominative singular, masculine

• puruṣaḥ: a man
• puruṣaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular, masculine

• varaḥ: excellent
• varaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (puruṣaḥ इति) — Nominative singular, masculine

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Rudrākṣa-ornamentation (mukuṭa) is treated as an external sign of Śiva-dharma, supporting continuous remembrance and eligibility for grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that devotion (bhakti) should become embodied in disciplined practice—here, the careful wearing and crafting of Rudrākṣa ornaments as a sacred support for steadfast remembrance of Lord Shiva (Pati) and purification of the bound soul (paśu).

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

Rudrākṣa is treated as a sanctified aid to Saguna Shiva worship: adorning oneself with Rudrākṣa (such as a crown) externalizes reverence and supports inner concentration while performing Linga-pūjā, japa, and other Shaiva observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a regulated Shaiva practice of wearing Rudrākṣa—specifically crafting a Rudrākṣa crown with the stated count—done “samyak” (properly), implying purity, devotion, and accompaniment by Shiva-oriented japa (such as the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya).