Shloka 63

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

रुद्रा क्षा विविधाः प्रोक्तास्तेषां भेदान्वदाम्यहम् । शृणु पार्वति सद्भक्त्या भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदान्

Transliteration

rudrā kṣā vividhāḥ proktāsteṣāṃ bhedānvadāmyaham | śṛṇu pārvati sadbhaktyā bhuktimuktiphalapradān

Translation

Rudrākṣas have been spoken of as many in kind; now I shall declare their distinctions. Listen, O Pārvatī, with true devotion—for they bestow the fruits of both worldly enjoyment and liberation (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• रुद्राक्षाः: Rudrākṣas (beads/trees)
• रुद्राक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• प्रोक्ताः: are said/declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भेदान्: differences/types
• भेदान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वदामि: I tell/say
• वदामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पार्वति: O Pārvatī
• पार्वति: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• सद्भक्त्या: with true devotion
• सद्भक्त्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भाव

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-फल-प्रदान्: granting the fruits of enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-फल-प्रदान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—(भुक्ति+मुक्ति) द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद, ततः फलस्य प्रदाः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (qualifier)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a doctrinal preface where Śiva promises to teach Rudrākṣa-bheda and its dual fruits (bhukti/mukti), a classic Purāṇic framing of upāya leading from worldly welfare to liberation.

Significance: Positions Rudrākṣa as an upāya that supports both dharma/artha/kāma (regulated prosperity) and mokṣa through Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse frames Rudrākṣa as a Shaiva sacred support (upāya) that can aid both bhukti (rightful worldly welfare) and mukti (liberation), when approached with sincere devotion—placing bhakti as the qualifying inner attitude.

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

By addressing Pārvatī directly, Shiva presents Rudrākṣa as a Saguna Shiva–connected emblem used alongside devotional worship—supporting disciplined practice and remembrance of Shiva, which complements Linga-oriented pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is devotional listening and adoption of Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa (wearing/using Rudrākṣa) with faith, typically paired with japa (especially Shiva mantras) so that the practice becomes a vehicle for both prosperity and liberation.