Shloka 44

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

छिन्नं खंडितं भिन्नं विदीर्ण । ततो वैश्यैर्धार्यं प्रतिदिवसभावश्यकमहो तथा कृष्णं शूद्रै ः श्रुतिगदितमार्गोयमगजे

Transliteration

chinnaṃ khaṃḍitaṃ bhinnaṃ vidīrṇa | tato vaiśyairdhāryaṃ pratidivasabhāvaśyakamaho tathā kṛṣṇaṃ śūdrai ḥ śrutigaditamārgoyamagaje

Translation

Si (cette observance sacrée śaiva) est coupée, brisée en morceaux, fendue ou fissurée, alors elle doit être renouvelée et gardée comme il se doit—vraiment, comme une nécessité quotidienne—par les Vaiśya ; et de même les Śūdra doivent en conserver la forme sombre (simple), selon la voie énoncée par la Śruti, ô Agaja (Gaṇeśa).

Word by Word

• छिन्नम्: cut, severed
• छिन्नम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (कृदन्त; √छिद् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) = past passive participle; English: neuter nom/acc sg

• खण्डितम्: broken into pieces
• खण्डितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खण्डित (कृदन्त; √खण्ड् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; English: neuter nom/acc sg

• भिन्नम्: split, divided
• भिन्नम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-भूतकृदन्त; English: neuter nom/acc sg

• विदीर्णम्: torn, rent asunder
• विदीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदीर्ण (कृदन्त; √दॄ/√दीर् धातु, वि-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-भूतकृदन्त; English: neuter nom/acc sg

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वैश्यैः: by the Vaiśyas
• वैश्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; English: masculine instrumental plural

• धार्यम्: to be worn/borne
• धार्यम्: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्य (कृदन्त; √धृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण; ‘to be worn/borne’ (gerundive/यत्)

• प्रतिदिवसभावश्यकम्: necessary as a daily practice
• प्रतिदिवसभावश्यकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-दिवस-भाव-आवश्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-सन्निकर्षः): प्रतिदिवस (every day) + भाव (nature) + आवश्यक (necessary); English: neuter nom/acc sg

• महो: indeed!/oh!
• महो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: महो (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: निपात/उद्गार (exclamatory particle)

• तथा: likewise, similarly
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ (adverb: likewise)

• कृष्णम्: black/dark
• कृष्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; English: neuter nom/acc sg

• शूद्रैः: by the Śūdras
• शूद्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; English: masculine instrumental plural

• श्रुतिगदितमार्गः: the path stated in the Vedas
• श्रुतिगदितमार्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति-गदित-मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष: श्रुति (Veda) + गदित (said) + मार्ग (path); English: masculine nominative singular

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; English: masculine nominative singular pronoun

• गजे: in/for the elephant (gaja)
• गजे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; English: masculine locative singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā teaching to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes continuity of Śaiva observance (dhāraṇa) as daily maintenance of sādhana; repairing/renewing supports steadiness in worship.

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It stresses continuity and reverence in Shaiva practice: when a sacred item/mark becomes damaged, the devotee should restore it and keep the discipline as a daily necessity, reflecting steadiness (niyama) in devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By insisting on daily maintenance of Shaiva observances, it supports regular Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through tangible disciplines (marks, materials, and ritual purity) that stabilize the mind for Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is daily renewal/maintenance of Shaiva identifiers and discipline—commonly expressed as keeping Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and allied observances intact, alongside steady japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and regular worship.