Shloka 34

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

शिखायामेकरुद्रा क्षं शिरसा त्रिंशतं वहेत् । पंचाशच्च गले दध्याद्बाह्वोः षोडश षोडश

Transliteration

śikhāyāmekarudrā kṣaṃ śirasā triṃśataṃ vahet | paṃcāśacca gale dadhyādbāhvoḥ ṣoḍaśa ṣoḍaśa

Translation

On the śikhā (crown-tuft) one should wear a single Rudrākṣa bead. Upon the head one should bear thirty. Around the neck one should place fifty, and on the two arms sixteen and sixteen.

Word by Word

• शिखायाम्: in the topknot
• शिखायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative 7th), एकवचन

• एक-रुद्राः: single-Rudras (one each)
• एक-रुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative 1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘एकाः रुद्राः’

• क्षम्: the syllable ‘kṣa’
• क्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्ष (अक्षर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन; अक्षर/बीजाक्षर-रूपेण

• शिरसा: with/on the head
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental 3rd), एकवचन

• त्रिंशतम्: thirty
• त्रिंशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन; संख्या

• वहेत्: should bear/wear
• वहेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पञ्चाशत्: fifty
• पञ्चाशत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन; संख्या

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गले: on the neck
• गले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative 7th), एकवचन

• दध्यात्: should place/put
• दध्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘स्थापयेत्/न्यसेत्’ अर्थे

• बाह्वोः: of/on the two arms
• बाह्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive 6th), द्विवचन

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन; संख्या

• षोडश: sixteen (again)
• षोडश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन; पुनरुक्त्या द्वौ बाहू निर्दिश्यते

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed Shaiva observances to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa is presented as a portable, body-centered sādhana—turning the devotee’s body into a moving ‘kṣetra’ of Śiva-bhakti.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: kṣaṃ (as a bīja-like syllable in the compound ekarudrā-kṣam / rudrākṣaṃ)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined Shaiva identity: Rudrākṣa worn in specific numbers becomes a constant remembrance (smaraṇa) of Pati—Lord Shiva—helping the devotee loosen pāśa (bondage) through steady bhakti and purity of conduct.

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

Rudrākṣa is treated as a sacred aid for Saguna Shiva worship—supporting japa, vrata, and pūjā to the Liṅga—so the body itself becomes prepared for Shiva’s presence through visible, regulated devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa in the prescribed placements and counts, and use them as a support for mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as part of daily Shaiva observance.