Shloka 31

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

एतत्संख्या धृता येन रुद्रा क्षाः परमेश्वरि । तद्रू पं तु प्रणम्यं हि स्तुत्यं सर्वैर्महेशवत्

Transliteration

etatsaṃkhyā dhṛtā yena rudrā kṣāḥ parameśvari | tadrū paṃ tu praṇamyaṃ hi stutyaṃ sarvairmaheśavat

Translation

O Supreme Goddess, the Rudrākṣas that are borne in this number—whatever form is thereby assumed—is indeed worthy of reverent prostration and is to be praised by all, just as Mahēśvara (Śiva) Himself is.

Word by Word

• etat-saṃkhyā: this number/count
• etat-saṃkhyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एषा सा संख्या)

• dhṛtā: worn/held
• dhṛtā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) + kta (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (held/worn)

• yena: by whom
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध/करण (by whom)

• rudrākṣāḥ: rudrākṣa beads
• rudrākṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य अक्षाः)

• parameśvari: O Supreme Goddess
• parameśvari: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• tat-rūpam: that form/nature
• tat-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (तत् एव रूपम्)

• tu: indeed; but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• praṇamyam: worthy of salutation
• praṇamyam: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (worthy to be bowed to)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (for/indeed)

• stutyam: worthy of praise
• stutyam: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (worthy to be praised)

• sarvaiḥ: by all
• sarvaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (by all)

• maheśa-vat: like Maheśa
• maheśa-vat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (comparative particle), -वत् = 'like/as'

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that wearing Rudrākṣa with proper reverence aligns the devotee with Śiva’s sanctity; the devotee’s embodied state becomes “praiseworthy” because it is oriented to Pati (Śiva) through sacred observance, supporting bhakti and liberation-minded living in a Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

Rudrākṣa is presented as a visible, Saguna aid to Śiva-upāsanā: it marks the body as dedicated to Mahēśvara, encouraging constant remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverence comparable to honoring Śiva’s own form, which culminates in deeper devotion to the Liṅga and Śiva’s gracious presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa in a prescribed number with purity and devotion, and accompany it with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—treating the beads not as ornament but as a vow of continual Śiva-remembrance and worship.