Shloka 87

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

एवं ज्ञात्वा तु माहात्म्यं रुद्रा क्षस्य महेश्वरि । सम्यग्धार्यास्समंत्राश्च भक्त्याधर्मविवृद्धये

Transliteration

evaṃ jñātvā tu māhātmyaṃ rudrā kṣasya maheśvari | samyagdhāryāssamaṃtrāśca bhaktyādharmavivṛddhaye

Translation

O Maheśvarī, having thus understood the greatness of the Rudrākṣa, one should wear it properly—and also with the prescribed mantras—so that, through devotion, dharma may increase and flourish.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वय

• माहात्म्यम्: the greatness (glory)
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• रुद्राक्षस्य: of rudrākṣa (Rudra's eye/seed)
• रुद्राक्षस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य अक्षः), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• महेश्वरि: O Maheśvarī
• महेश्वरि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• धार्याः: should be worn/borne
• धार्याः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृत्य (gerundive/future passive participle: ‘to be worn/held’), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• समन्त्राः: with mantras / mantra-accompanied
• समन्त्राः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सह मन्त्रैः/मन्त्रयुक्ताः), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• अधर्मविवृद्धये: for the increase of dharma (lit. growth of non-adharma)
• अधर्मविवृद्धये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म + विवृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अधर्मस्य विवृद्धिः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

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 teaches that Rudrākṣa is not merely an ornament; when its sacred greatness is understood and it is worn correctly with devotion, it becomes a dharmic aid that strengthens bhakti toward Pati (Śiva) and supports righteous living.

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

Rudrākṣa functions as an external support (ādhāra) for Saguna-Śiva worship—like Linga-pūjā—by keeping the devotee aligned with mantra and remembrance of Śiva, thereby nurturing steady devotion and disciplined conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa properly while reciting the appropriate mantras (japa), maintaining devotional intent; this integrates daily practice with dharma—especially suitable alongside Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and regular Śiva-pūjā.