Shloka 62

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

विष्ण्वादिदेवभक्ताश्च धारयेयुर्न संशयः । रुद्र भक्तो विशेषेण रुद्रा क्षान्धारयेत्सदा

Transliteration

viṣṇvādidevabhaktāśca dhārayeyurna saṃśayaḥ | rudra bhakto viśeṣeṇa rudrā kṣāndhārayetsadā

Translation

Devotees of Viṣṇu and other deities may also wear them—there is no doubt. Yet, one who is devoted to Rudra, in particular, should always wear Rudrākṣa beads.

Word by Word

• विष्णु-आदि-देव-भक्ताः: devotees of gods such as Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-आदि-देव-भक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (विष्ण्वादयः देवाः येषां ते; तेषां भक्ताः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धारयेयुः: should wear/hold
• धारयेयुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाक्ये विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

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

• भक्तः: a devotee
• भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Prakara (प्रकार/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially: ‘especially’)

• रुद्राक्षान्: rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य अक्षाः)

• धारयेत्: should wear/hold
• धारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (always)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga; it teaches Rudrākṣa as a pan-Śaiva marker usable even by devotees of other deities, while being especially obligatory/ideal for Rudra-bhaktas.

Significance: Frames Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa as a portable, always-available sādhana/saṃskāra of Śiva-bhakti, strengthening identity as Paśu oriented to Pati.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Vishnu
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse affirms Rudrākṣa as a universally auspicious sacred sign, while emphasizing that for a Rudra-bhakta it is a continual mark of surrender to Pati (Śiva) and steady bhakti that supports liberation.

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

Rudrākṣa functions as an outer support for inner devotion to Saguna Śiva—helping the devotee remain oriented to Śiva’s presence while engaging in Linga-pūjā, japa, and daily Shaiva observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical instruction is Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa—wearing Rudrākṣa regularly (ideally always) as part of Shaiva discipline, typically alongside japa of Śiva-mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī.