Shloka 24

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

रुद्रा क्षधारणं प्राप्तं महापातकनाशनम् । रुद्र संख्याशतं धृत्वा रुद्र रूपो भवेन्नरः

Transliteration

rudrā kṣadhāraṇaṃ prāptaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam | rudra saṃkhyāśataṃ dhṛtvā rudra rūpo bhavennaraḥ

Translation

Il est enseigné que porter le Rudrākṣa détruit les grands péchés. Celui qui porte cent grains selon le compte de Rudra devient revêtu de la forme et des qualités de Rudra (Śiva).

Word by Word

• रुद्राक्षधारणम्: wearing of rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षधारणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष + धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः रुद्राक्षस्य धारणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• प्राप्तम्: is obtained/has been attained
• प्राप्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयभावः

• महापातकनाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महापातकनाशनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापातक + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः महापातकस्य नाशनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); विशेषण (धारणम्)

• रुद्राक्ष: rudrākṣa (bead)
• रुद्राक्ष: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (object within compound phrase)

• सङ्ख्याशतम्: a count of one hundred
• सङ्ख्याशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ख्या + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (शतसंख्या)

• धृत्वा: having worn/held
• धृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• रुद्ररूपः: having Rudra’s form / Rudra-like
• रुद्ररूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः रुद्रस्य रूपः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); विशेषण (नरः)

• भवेत्: would become / should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa is presented as a portable sādhana: purification from mahāpātakas and steadying of Śiva-bhakti irrespective of place.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa is a powerful Shaiva purifier: by adopting Śiva’s sacred emblem with devotion, the practitioner becomes Rudra-like in conduct and inner disposition, moving toward purity and liberation.

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

Rudrākṣa is a tangible sign of Saguna Śiva-bhakti; it supports daily worship—especially japa and pūjā of the Śiva-liṅga—by keeping the body and mind oriented toward Rudra as the personal Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa—specifically a mālā or set totaling one hundred beads—and use it for mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), maintaining purity, restraint, and devotion.