Shloka 35

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

मणिबंधे द्वादशद्विस्कंधे पंचशतं वहेत् । अष्टोत्तरशतैर्माल्यमुपवीतं प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

maṇibaṃdhe dvādaśadviskaṃdhe paṃcaśataṃ vahet | aṣṭottaraśatairmālyamupavītaṃ prakalpayet

Translation

Au poignet (maṇibandha), qu’on porte une rangée de douze Rudrākṣa ; sur les bras supérieurs (skandha), qu’on en porte cinq cents. Et avec cent huit grains, qu’on façonne une guirlande ainsi que le cordon sacré (upavīta), disposant sur le corps les marques de la dévotion à Śiva.

Word by Word

• मणिबन्धे: at the wrist
• मणिबन्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणिबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative 7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—मणेः बन्धः (wrist-joint)

• द्वादश-द्वि-स्कन्धे: on the (two) shoulders/upper arms with twelve (each)
• द्वादश-द्वि-स्कन्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या) + द्वि (संख्या) + स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative 7th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—संख्यापूर्वकः (on the shoulders/upper arms; numeric specification)

• पञ्चशतम्: five hundred
• पञ्चशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चशत (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु—पञ्च च शतं च (five-hundred)

• वहेत्: should bear/wear
• वहेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अष्टोत्तर-शतैः: with (counts of) one-hundred-and-eight
• अष्टोत्तर-शतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental 3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अष्ट अधिकं शतम् (108)

• माल्यम्: garland
• माल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन

• उपवीतम्: sacred thread
• उपवीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative 2nd), एकवचन

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Rudrākṣa arrangements (wrist/shoulders/upavīta) function as ‘pāśa-bheda’ supports—disciplining the embodied soul (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati) through constant remembrance.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches embodied devotion: by wearing Rudrākṣa in prescribed counts, the devotee continually remembers Pati (Śiva), and disciplines the body as an instrument of bhakti and purity leading toward liberation.

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

Rudrākṣa and the Śaiva upavīta are external supports for Saguna-Śiva worship, helping the devotee maintain constant reverence while performing Linga-pūjā, japa, and daily duties with Śiva-centered identity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa (wearing Rudrākṣa) and preparing a 108-bead mālā for japa—typically aligned with chanting the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”