Shloka 52

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा ज्ञात्वा तत्प्रभावं भस्मरुद्रा क्षधारिणः । ते पूज्याः सर्वदास्माकं नो नेतव्याः कदाचन

Transliteration

jñātvā jñātvā tatprabhāvaṃ bhasmarudrā kṣadhāriṇaḥ | te pūjyāḥ sarvadāsmākaṃ no netavyāḥ kadācana

Translation

Knowing again and again the greatness of its power, those who wear sacred ash (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa are ever worthy of reverence for us; they should never, at any time, be led away as offenders or taken for punishment.

Word by Word

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having known’

• jñātvā: having fully known
• jñātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• tat-prabhāvam: his/that power, influence
• tat-prabhāvam: Karma (कर्म/object of jñātvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्य प्रभावः)

• bhasma-rudrāḥ: the ash-Rudras (Rudra-devotees with ash)
• bhasma-rudrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasma (प्रातिपदिक) + rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (भस्म-सम्बद्धाः रुद्राः)

• kṣa-dhāriṇaḥ: bearers of ‘kṣa’ (sacred mark/letter)
• kṣa-dhāriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षं धारयन्ति)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• pūjyāḥ: worthy of worship
• pūjyāḥ: Viśeṣya-predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/नीयत्-अर्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• asmākam: of us, our
• asmākam: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• naḥ: for us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/for us)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative) एन्क्लिटिक, बहुवचन; here: dative sense ‘for us’

• netavyāḥ: should be taken/led
• netavyāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: should be led/taken), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; निषेधेन सह (with no)

• kadācana: ever
• kadācana: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (at any time/ever)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s ordinances on Shaiva marks and conduct)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudrākṣa
• Bhasma

FAQs

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

The verse establishes that the visible Shaiva emblems—bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa—are not mere symbols but carriers of Shiva’s grace; therefore, their wearers are to be honored as devotees aligned to Pati (Shiva) and protected from humiliation or harsh treatment.

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

Bhasma and Rudrākṣa are traditional supports of Saguna Shiva devotion: they mark the body as consecrated to Shiva and reinforce Linga-worship discipline (śauca, mantra, and bhakti), keeping the devotee oriented to Shiva as the accessible Lord in form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain Shaiva practice by wearing Rudrākṣa and applying bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) with reverence—ideally alongside japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—and uphold respectful conduct toward all who bear these Shaiva marks.