Shloka 21

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

समाः स्निग्धा दृढाः स्थूलाः कंटकैः संयुताः शुभाः । रुद्रा क्षाः कामदा देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाः सदा

Transliteration

samāḥ snigdhā dṛḍhāḥ sthūlāḥ kaṃṭakaiḥ saṃyutāḥ śubhāḥ | rudrā kṣāḥ kāmadā devi bhuktimuktipradāḥ sadā

Translation

Wahai Dewi, Rudrākṣa yang rata, berkilau, kokoh, besar, dan suci—serta memiliki alur dan tonjolan alami—memenuhi keinginan yang layak dan senantiasa menganugerahkan bhukti (kenikmatan duniawi) dan mukti (pembebasan).

Word by Word

• समाः: even/uniform
• समाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• स्निग्धाः: smooth/oily
• स्निग्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दृढाः: firm
• दृढाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्थूलाः: thick/large
• स्थूलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कण्टकैः: with thorns/projections
• कण्टकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• संयुताः: joined/endowed
• संयुताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘endowed/connected’

• शुभाः: auspicious
• शुभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रुद्राक्षाः: rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• कामदाः: wish-granting
• कामदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक (कामं ददाति)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदाः: granting enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (भुक्तिः च मुक्तिḥ च) + ‘प्रद’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that properly qualified Rudrākṣa is not merely ornamental: it is a sacred aid for a devotee’s life, supporting dharmic prosperity (bhukti) and culminating in liberation (mukti) through Shiva-oriented devotion and purity.

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

Rudrākṣa is presented as a direct emblem of Saguna Shiva worship—worn by the devotee as a constant reminder of Shiva while engaging in Linga-pūjā, japa, and disciplined living, thereby aligning the individual (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Select auspicious, well-formed Rudrākṣa beads and wear them with reverence while doing japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—and maintaining Shaiva conduct for both worldly steadiness and spiritual ascent.