Shloka 43

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

मद्यं मांसं तु लशुनं पलाण्डुं शिग्रुमेव च । श्लेष्मांतकं विड्वराहं भक्षणे वर्जयेत्ततः

Transliteration

madyaṃ māṃsaṃ tu laśunaṃ palāṇḍuṃ śigrumeva ca | śleṣmāṃtakaṃ viḍvarāhaṃ bhakṣaṇe varjayettataḥ

Translation

Therefore one should abstain from intoxicating drink, meat, garlic, onion, moringa (śigru), and foods deemed impure or harmful—such as mucus-producing items and the boar—so that body and mind remain fit for the pure worship of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• मद्यम्: liquor
• मद्यम्: कर्म (Object to be avoided)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: कर्म (Object to be avoided)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: and / also
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/विरोधसूचक-निपात (particle: and/but)

• लशुनम्: garlic
• लशुनम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: लशुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पलाण्डुम्: onion
• पलाण्डुम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाण्डु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिग्रुम्: moringa (drumstick tree)
• शिग्रुम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिग्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis: just/indeed)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• श्लेष्म-अन्तकम्: ‘phlegm-destroyer’ (a pungent item)
• श्लेष्म-अन्तकम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः—‘श्लेष्मणः अन्तकः’ (phlegm-destroyer; a plant/food item)

• विड्-वराहम्: pig/boar
• विड्-वराहम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: विड् (प्रातिपदिक) + वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः—‘विडः वराहः’ (boar/pig associated with filth; i.e., pig)

• भक्षणे: in eating / as food
• भक्षणे: अधिकरण (Context/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: क्रिया (Injunctive/Rule)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: हेतु/सम्बन्ध (Therefore)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद् + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva discipline to the sages of Naimisharanya, as typical for this section of the Shiva Purana)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes śauca (purity) and sāttvika discipline as prerequisites for effective Liṅga-pūjā and mantra-japa; supports inner fitness for Śiva’s anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches āhāra-śuddhi (purity of intake) as a support for śuddha-bhakti and steady meditation, so the devotee’s body-mind becomes a suitable vessel for Śiva-upāsanā and inner clarity on the path to liberation.

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

Linga worship emphasizes external and internal purity—clean offerings, disciplined senses, and a sattvic mind. Avoiding intoxicants and impure foods is presented as a practical aid to maintain the sanctity required for Saguna Śiva worship and focused japa of the Panchākṣarī.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies vrata-style dietary restraint as preparation for Shiva pūjā—supporting regular japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintaining ritual cleanliness for practices like applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing rudrākṣa with a composed mind.