Shloka 42

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

पंच ब्रह्मभिरंगश्च त्रिमालां पंचसप्त च । अथवा मूलमंत्रेण सर्वानक्षांस्तुधारयेत्

Transliteration

paṃca brahmabhiraṃgaśca trimālāṃ paṃcasapta ca | athavā mūlamaṃtreṇa sarvānakṣāṃstudhārayet

Translation

One should wear the Rudrākṣa beads upon the body, consecrating them with the five Brahma-mantras; and one may also wear three garlands—or five and seven strings. Or else, using the root mantra, one should consecrate and wear all the Rudrākṣa beads.

Word by Word

• paṃca: five
• paṃca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃca (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), Indeclinable-like usage; qualifying brahmabhiḥ

• brahmabhiḥ: with the (five) Brahma(-mantras)
• brahmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• aṅgaḥ: (as) an aṅga/limb-part (nyāsa item)
• aṅgaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) / Masculine possible; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); here as item to be worn/placed (contextual)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tri-mālām: a triple garland/three strings
• tri-mālām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु “three garlands/strings”

• paṃca-sapta: five-and-seven (i.e., twelve)
• paṃca-sapta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃca + sapta (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral dvandva (संख्याद्वन्द्व) meaning “five and seven” i.e., twelve (द्वादश); used elliptically with mālā/akṣa etc.

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative conjunction (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• mūla-mantrena: with the root-mantra
• mūla-mantrena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय “the root mantra”

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• akṣān: beads (akṣa)
• akṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: indeed/however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/emphatic particle (विरोध/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa consecrated by pañcabrahma or mūlamantra is presented as a grace-bearing Śaiva marker, supporting temple-based identity and daily sādhana for purification and protection.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: Pañcabrahma-mantras (five) and mūlamantra (root mantra—commonly understood in this context as Śiva’s pañcākṣarī ‘Namaḥ Śivāya’, though not explicitly quoted here).

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa becomes truly sanctifying when joined to mantra—external wearing is elevated into Śiva-oriented sādhanā, aiding purity, devotion, and steadfast remembrance of Pati (Śiva).

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

Rudrākṣa and mantra are presented as supportive limbs of Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—preparing the devotee’s body and mind as fit instruments for Liṅga-pūjā and continual Śiva-smaraṇa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Consecrate and wear Rudrākṣa strings on the body/neck in prescribed counts (three, five, or seven), energizing them with the five Brahma-mantras or simply with the mūlamantra (commonly the Pañcākṣarī: “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).