Shloka 58

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

रुद्रा क्षेण जपन्मन्त्रं पुण्यं कोटिगुणं भवेत् । दशकोटिगुणं पुण्यं धारणाल्लभते नरः

Transliteration

rudrā kṣeṇa japanmantraṃ puṇyaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ bhavet | daśakoṭiguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ dhāraṇāllabhate naraḥ

Translation

When a person repeats a mantra using a Rudrākṣa rosary, the merit becomes a koṭi-fold. By merely wearing and retaining Rudrākṣa, a person attains merit ten koṭis times greater.

Word by Word

• रुद्राक्षेण: with a rudrākṣa (bead)
• रुद्राक्षेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); instrumental ‘by/with a rudrākṣa’

• जपन्: reciting
• जपन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (शतृ; present active participle), Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘while reciting’

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• कोटिगुणम्: crores-fold
• कोटिगुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘having crores-fold (koṭi-fold) (multiplier)’ qualifying ‘puṇyam’

• भवेत्: would become/is said to be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्; optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• दशकोटिगुणम्: ten-crore-fold
• दशकोटिगुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa + koṭi + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘ten-crore-fold’ qualifying ‘puṇyam’

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• धारणात्: from (the act of) wearing
• धारणात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ablative ‘from/through wearing’

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्; present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Rudrākṣa is not merely an ornament but a Shaiva sādhana-support: it amplifies mantra-japa and strengthens Shiva-bhakti, accelerating purification (puṇya) and readiness for grace (anugraha).

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

Rudrākṣa is associated with Rudra (Shiva) and is used as an aid in Saguna worship—especially in japa and devotional observances performed before the Shiva Linga—making the practitioner’s remembrance of Shiva more continuous and focused.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa (dhāraṇā) and perform regular mantra-japa—classically the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—using a Rudrākṣa mālā for steadiness, count, and devotional concentration.