Shloka 61

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

पंचदेवप्रियश्चैव सर्वदेवप्रियस्तथा । सर्वमन्त्राञ्जपेद्भक्तो रुद्रा क्षमालया प्रिये

Transliteration

paṃcadevapriyaścaiva sarvadevapriyastathā | sarvamantrāñjapedbhakto rudrā kṣamālayā priye

Translation

O beloved, the devotee who repeats mantras while wearing a garland of Rudrākṣa becomes dear to the five deities and likewise dear to all the gods; indeed, with that Rudrākṣa rosary he may successfully perform the japa of all mantras.

Word by Word

• पञ्चदेवप्रियः: dear to the five deities
• पञ्चदेवप्रियः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + देव + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पञ्चानां देवानां प्रियः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• सर्वदेवप्रियः: dear to all the gods
• सर्वदेवप्रियः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + देव + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां देवानां प्रियः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/so
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'so/likewise')

• सर्वमन्त्रान्: all mantras
• सर्वमन्त्रान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वे मन्त्राः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• जपेत्: should chant
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्तः: a devotee
• भक्तः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचन

• क्षमालया: by/with the abode of forgiveness (i.e., through forbearance)
• क्षमालया: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षमायाः आलयः); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• प्रिये: O dear one
• प्रिये: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचन (address: 'O dear one')

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Panchadeva
• Devas

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 sādhanā-support: when worn for japa, it aligns the devotee with Shiva’s grace and makes one spiritually acceptable even to the wider divine order (all devas).

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

Rudrākṣa-japa is a Saguna Shiva practice: devotion is focused through a tangible aid (mālā) while chanting Shiva-mantras (such as the Pañcākṣarī). This supports steady remembrance of the Lord, which culminates in inner purity and realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform mantra-japa using a Rudrākṣa mālā (rosary/garland), keeping the mind fixed on Shiva; this is especially aligned with Shaiva daily worship and vrata days like Mahāśivarātri.