Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

रुद्राक्षमालितौ नित्यं रुद्राक्षकरकंकणौ । रुद्राक्षकंठाभरणौ सदा रुद्राक्षकुंडलौ

Transliteration

rudrākṣamālitau nityaṃ rudrākṣakarakaṃkaṇau | rudrākṣakaṃṭhābharaṇau sadā rudrākṣakuṃḍalau

Translation

അവർ നിത്യവും രുദ്രാക്ഷമാല ധരിച്ചിരുന്നു; കൈകളിൽ രുദ്രാക്ഷ കങ്കണങ്ങൾ, കഴുത്തിൽ രുദ്രാക്ഷാഭരണം, ചെവികളിൽ എന്നും രുദ്രാക്ഷ കുണ്ഡലങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• रुद्राक्ष: rudrākṣa
• रुद्राक्ष: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (m., nom./acc., sg.; in compound member)

• मालितौ: the two adorned with rudrākṣa garlands
• मालितौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; माला + इत/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (m., nom., du.); समासः—रुद्राक्ष-मालितौ (adorned with rudrākṣa garlands)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• रुद्राक्ष: rudrākṣa
• रुद्राक्ष: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (m., nom./acc., sg.; in compound member)

• कर: hand
• कर: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (m., nom./acc., sg.; in compound member)

• कंकणौ: the two with rudrākṣa hand-bracelets
• कंकणौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंकण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (m., nom., du.); समासः—रुद्राक्ष-कर-कंकणौ (hand-bracelets of rudrākṣa)

• रुद्राक्ष: rudrākṣa
• रुद्राक्ष: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (m., nom./acc., sg.; in compound member)

• कंठ: neck
• कंठ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (m., nom./acc., sg.; in compound member)

• आभरणौ: the two with rudrākṣa neck-ornaments
• आभरणौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (n., nom., du.); समासः—रुद्राक्ष-कंठ-आभरणौ (neck-ornaments of rudrākṣa)

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

• रुद्राक्ष: rudrākṣa
• रुद्राक्ष: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (m., nom./acc., sg.; in compound member)

• कुंडलौ: the two with rudrākṣa earrings
• कुंडलौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंडल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (n., nom., du.); समासः—रुद्राक्ष-कुंडलौ (earrings of rudrākṣa)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; prior speaker not explicit in this verse)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close, rhythmic visual repetition: Rudrākṣa garland on chest, Rudrākṣa bracelets on wrists, Rudrākṣa necklace at throat, Rudrākṣa earrings—beads everywhere, forming a devotional armor.

Characters & Entities

• Rudrākṣa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Constant remembrance of Rudra/Śiva is cultivated through continuous devotional signs and disciplined practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular sacred site is mentioned; the verse praises a Śaiva devotional lifestyle.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Regular, continuous wearing of Rudrākṣa in multiple forms (garland, bracelets, neck ornament, earrings).