Shloka 78

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

द्वादशास्यं तु रुद्रा क्षं धारयेत्केशदेशके । आदित्याश्चैव ते सर्वेद्वादशैव स्थितास्तथा

Transliteration

dvādaśāsyaṃ tu rudrā kṣaṃ dhārayetkeśadeśake | ādityāścaiva te sarvedvādaśaiva sthitāstathā

Translation

ദ്വാദശമുഖ രുദ്രാക്ഷം കേശദേശത്ത് (ശിരസ്സിൽ) ധരിക്കണം. അതിൽ ദ്വാദശ ആദിത്യർ—പന്ത്രണ്ടുപേരും—അങ്ങനെ തന്നെ അധിഷ്ഠിതരായിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• द्वादशास्यम्: twelve-faced
• द्वादशास्यम्: विशेषण (attribute of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of रुद्राक्षम्)

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• रुद्राक्षम्: rudrākṣa bead
• रुद्राक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• धारयेत्: should wear/hold
• धारयेत्: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• केशदेशके: at the hair region (on the head)
• केशदेशके: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) + देशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘at the hair-region’), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• आदित्याः: Ādityas (solar deities)
• आदित्याः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (restrictive/emphatic particle)

• ते: those
• ते: कर्ता (subject; apposition to आदित्याः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण (attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण (of ते/आदित्याः)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: विशेषण/संख्या-निर्देश (numerical predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (used predicatively: ‘twelve in number’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• स्थिताः: are situated/stand
• स्थिताः: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/कर्तरि कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; (predicate of आदित्याः)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Rudraksha
• Adityas

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Rudrākṣa is not merely an ornament but a sacred support for Shiva-bhakti; the twelve-mukhi is said to embody the twelve Ādityas, indicating a harmonizing, sattvic, and protective spiritual influence when worn with devotion and purity.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, external sacred supports (Rudrākṣa, bhasma, mantra) stabilize the mind and align the devotee with Shiva’s grace; wearing the prescribed Rudrākṣa becomes an aid to steady japa and Linga-upāsanā, turning daily life into continuous remembrance of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear a twelve-mukhi Rudrākṣa on the head region (as traditionally prescribed), ideally after purification and with mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), maintaining reverence and ethical discipline while using it as a support for meditation.