Shloka 47

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

सर्वाश्रमाणां वर्णानां स्त्रीशूद्रा णां शिवाज्ञया । धार्याः सदैव रुद्रा क्षा यतीनां प्रणवेन हि

Transliteration

sarvāśramāṇāṃ varṇānāṃ strīśūdrā ṇāṃ śivājñayā | dhāryāḥ sadaiva rudrā kṣā yatīnāṃ praṇavena hi

Translation

ശിവാജ്ഞപ്രകാരം എല്ലാ ആശ്രമങ്ങളിലെയും വർണങ്ങളിലെയുംവർ—സ്ത്രീകളും ശൂദ്രരും ഉൾപ്പെടെ—എപ്പോഴും രുദ്രാക്ഷം ധരിക്കണം. യതികൾ പ്രണവം (ഓം) കൊണ്ട് സംസ്കരിച്ച് ധരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• सर्वाश्रमाणाम्: of all āśramas (stages of life)
• सर्वाश्रमाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सर्वे आश्रमाः)

• वर्णानाम्: of (all) varṇas/classes
• वर्णानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• स्त्रीशूद्राणाम्: of women and śūdras
• स्त्रीशूद्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग(स्त्री) + पुंलिङ्ग(शूद्र) समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• शिवाज्ञया: by Śiva’s command
• शिवाज्ञया: करण (तृतीया/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आज्ञा)

• धार्याः: should be worn/borne
• धार्याः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) → धार्य (कृदन्त, यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: विधेय-विशेषण; बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st) / (स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचन रूपम्); कृदन्तः—यत् (gerundive/obligatory: ‘to be worn/borne’)

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• रुद्राक्षाः: rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• यतीनाम्: of ascetics (yatīs)
• यतीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• प्रणवेन: with/through the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle: for/indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s ordinance on Rudrākṣa to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a universal Śaiva ordinance (ājñā) extending Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa to all āśramas/varṇas, emphasizing eligibility for Śiva-bhakti beyond social restriction.

Significance: Frames Rudrākṣa as a portable ‘tīrtha’ and marker of Śiva’s grace-access for all devotees, including women and Śūdras.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: प्रणव (ॐ)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudraksha
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

The verse universalizes Rudrākṣa as a Shaiva sādhana: by Śiva’s own authority it becomes a legitimate, purifying sign of devotion (bhakti) and remembrance of Pati (Śiva) for all stages of life, supporting inner discipline and liberation-oriented living.

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

Rudrākṣa functions as a constant external aid to internal Linga-centered remembrance—keeping the devotee aligned with Saguna Śiva’s grace while cultivating steadiness that matures toward deeper, more subtle realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa daily; for renunciants specifically, sanctify the wearing with the Praṇava (Om)—using it as japa and contemplative recollection while donning or touching the beads.