Shloka 30

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

उपवीते त्रयं धार्यं शिवभक्तिरतैर्नरैः । शेषानुर्वरितान्पंच सम्मितान्धारयेत्कटौ

Transliteration

upavīte trayaṃ dhāryaṃ śivabhaktiratairnaraiḥ | śeṣānurvaritānpaṃca sammitāndhārayetkaṭau

Translation

Lelaki yang berbakti kepada pemujaan Shiva harus memakai tiga tali suci (upavita). Baki lima lagi, yang disediakan mengikut peraturan, harus dipakai di pinggang.

Word by Word

• upavīte: in/for the sacred thread
• upavīte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• trayam: three
• trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (threefold/three)

• dhāryam: to be worn; should be worn
• dhāryam: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be worn/should be worn)

• śiva-bhakti-ratair: by men devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• śiva-bhakti-ratair: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva + bhakti + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण; तत्पुरुषसमासः (शिवे भक्तिः तस्यां रतः)

• naraiḥ: by men
• naraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• śeṣān: the remaining (ones)
• śeṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (remaining)

• anuvaritān: arranged successively
• anuvaritān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuvarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण; (anu-√vṛ/√vṛt sense: following/arranged in order)

• pañca: five
• pañca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक अव्यय (indeclinable numeral)

• sammitān: measured; of fixed measure
• sammitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sammita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (measured/limited)

• dhārayet: should wear/should hold
• dhārayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• kaṭau: at the waist
• kaṭau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined outer observance—such as properly wearing prescribed threads—supports inner Śiva-bhakti, helping the devotee maintain purity, steadiness, and reverence in daily worship.

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

As a Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara teaching on worship-conduct, it frames the devotee’s bodily and ritual readiness for saguna upāsanā—approaching the Śiva-liṅga with regulated ācāra that sustains devotion and sanctity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A ritual guideline is given: wear three upavīta threads and arrange the remaining five around the waist as prescribed—an external discipline that complements mantra-japa and liṅga-pūjā in Shaiva practice.