Shloka 30

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

उपवीते त्रयं धार्यं शिवभक्तिरतैर्नरैः । शेषानुर्वरितान्पंच सम्मितान्धारयेत्कटौ

Transliteration

upavīte trayaṃ dhāryaṃ śivabhaktiratairnaraiḥ | śeṣānurvaritānpaṃca sammitāndhārayetkaṭau

Translation

Men devoted to the worship of Śiva should wear three sacred threads (upavīta). The remaining five, measured and prepared according to rule, should be worn around the waist.

Word by Word

• upavīte: in/for the sacred thread
• upavīte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• trayam: three
• trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (threefold/three)

• dhāryam: to be worn; should be worn
• dhāryam: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be worn/should be worn)

• śiva-bhakti-ratair: by men devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• śiva-bhakti-ratair: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva + bhakti + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण; तत्पुरुषसमासः (शिवे भक्तिः तस्यां रतः)

• naraiḥ: by men
• naraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• śeṣān: the remaining (ones)
• śeṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (remaining)

• anuvaritān: arranged successively
• anuvaritān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuvarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण; (anu-√vṛ/√vṛt sense: following/arranged in order)

• pañca: five
• pañca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक अव्यय (indeclinable numeral)

• sammitān: measured; of fixed measure
• sammitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sammita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (measured/limited)

• dhārayet: should wear/should hold
• dhārayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• kaṭau: at the waist
• kaṭau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined outer observance—such as properly wearing prescribed threads—supports inner Śiva-bhakti, helping the devotee maintain purity, steadiness, and reverence in daily worship.

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

As a Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara teaching on worship-conduct, it frames the devotee’s bodily and ritual readiness for saguna upāsanā—approaching the Śiva-liṅga with regulated ācāra that sustains devotion and sanctity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A ritual guideline is given: wear three upavīta threads and arrange the remaining five around the waist as prescribed—an external discipline that complements mantra-japa and liṅga-pūjā in Shaiva practice.