Shloka 4

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

शिव उवाच । शृणु देविमहेशानि रुद्रा क्षमहिमा शिवे । कथयामि तवप्रीत्या भक्तानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

śiva uvāca | śṛṇu devimaheśāni rudrā kṣamahimā śive | kathayāmi tavaprītyā bhaktānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

Śiva said: O Goddess, O Mahēśānī, great Queen, O auspicious one—listen. For your delight, and desiring the welfare of devotees, O Śivā, I shall tell the greatness of Kṣamā (forgiveness).

Word by Word

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• devī-maheśāni: O Goddess Maheśānī
• devī-maheśāni: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक) + maheśānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन); 'O Goddess, O Maheśānī' as a descriptive compound/apposition

• rudrākṣa-mahimā: the glory of Rudrākṣa
• rudrākṣa-mahimā: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudrākṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + mahimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śive: O Śivā (Pārvatī)
• śive: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathayāmi: I narrate
• kathayāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathaya (धातु; denom.)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tava-prītyā: for your delight
• tava-prītyā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tva(d) (प्रातिपदिक) + prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); hetu/instrumental: 'for your pleasure'

• bhaktānām: of devotees
• bhaktānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hita-kāmyayā: with a wish for (their) welfare
• hita-kāmyayā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); purpose-motive: 'with the desire for (their) welfare'

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Rudra

FAQs

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

This verse frames forgiveness (kṣamā) as a sacred Shaiva virtue taught directly by Shiva for the upliftment of devotees—an inner discipline that softens ego, purifies karma, and supports steady bhakti toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga worship is not only external ritual but inner alignment with Shiva’s qualities; cultivating forgiveness makes the devotee fit for Saguna worship (loving devotion to Shiva’s form) and prepares the mind for subtler realization beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pair japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a daily vow of kṣamā—consciously releasing resentment before worship, especially during Mahashivratri vrata, to make the puja inwardly pure.