Shloka 88

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तं गिरिजाग्रे हि शिवेन परमात्मना । भस्मरूद्रा क्षमाहात्म्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्

Transliteration

ityuktaṃ girijāgre hi śivena paramātmanā | bhasmarūdrā kṣamāhātmyaṃ bhuktimuktiphalapradam

Translation

Thus did the Supreme Self, Lord Śiva, declare before Girijā (Pārvatī) the greatness of sacred ash (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and forgiveness—teachings that bestow the fruits of both worldly well-being (bhukti) and liberation (mukti).

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तम्: was said
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गिरिजाग्रे: in front of Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजाग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरिजायाः अग्रे), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• परमात्मना: by the Supreme Self
• परमात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (परमः आत्मा), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• भस्मरुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यम्: the glory of ash and rudrākṣa
• भस्मरुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म + रुद्राक्ष + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भस्म-रुद्राक्षयोः माहात्म्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्: granting the fruits of enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति + मुक्ति + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भुक्ति-मुक्त्योः फलम् प्रददाति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati (Girija)

FAQs

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

It summarizes Śiva’s teaching that three Shaiva foundations—bhasma (renunciation and purity), Rudrākṣa (constant remembrance of Śiva), and kṣamā (ego-softening forgiveness)—together support both dharmic living and the ultimate aim of mokṣa.

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

Bhasma and Rudrākṣa are classic external marks of Linga-centered Saguna Śiva worship; they train the devotee’s body and mind toward Śiva-bhakti, which in Shaiva Siddhānta matures into grace (anugraha) and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt daily Shaiva observance: apply sacred bhasma (Tripuṇḍra), wear or japa with Rudrākṣa, and practice kṣamā as a vow—supporting steady mantra-bhakti such as the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").