Shloka 28

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

शिखायां च त्रयं प्रोक्तं रुद्र क्षाणां महेश्वरि । कर्णयोः षट् च षट्चैव वामदक्षिणयोस्तथा

Transliteration

śikhāyāṃ ca trayaṃ proktaṃ rudra kṣāṇāṃ maheśvari | karṇayoḥ ṣaṭ ca ṣaṭcaiva vāmadakṣiṇayostathā

Translation

ഹേ മഹേശ്വരീ, രുദ്രാക്ഷങ്ങളിൽ ശിഖയിൽ മൂന്ന് ധരിക്കണമെന്ന് ഉപദേശിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; കൂടാതെ കാതുകളിൽ ഇടത്തും വലത്തും—ആറ് ആറ് വീതം.

Word by Word

• शिखायाम्: in the topknot (śikhā)
• शिखायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रयम्: three
• त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्या (numeral) — 'three (items)'

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (said/declared)

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षाणाम्: of (kṣā...) (uncertain reading)
• क्षाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्ष (प्रातिपदिक) / क्षा (प्रातिपदिक) (पाठ-अनिश्चित)
• Form: बहुवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive); रूप-पाठे अनिश्चितता (kṣāṇām as transmitted)

• महेश्वरि: O Maheśvarī
• महेश्वरि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्णयोः: in the two ears
• कर्णयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Locative/Genitive), द्विवचन; अर्थतः सप्तमी (in/on the two ears)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-रूप (indeclinable numeral form used for 'six')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-रूप (indeclinable numeral form used for 'six')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/just)

• वाम-दक्षिणयोः: of the left and right (sides)
• वाम-दक्षिणयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (left and right) — here gen/loc dual

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse prescribes specific placements of Rudraksha as a Shaiva discipline (ācāra) that supports purity, devotion, and steady remembrance of Pati (Shiva), aligning the devotee’s body and mind toward Shiva-consciousness.

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

Rudraksha-dhāraṇa is an outer mark of Saguna Shiva-bhakti: the devotee honors Shiva as the accessible Lord (Pati) through sacred symbols while progressing inwardly toward deeper contemplation and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudraksha in the stated locations (three at the śikhā; six on each ear side) and maintain japa—especially of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a daily Shaiva observance.