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

Menurut perintah Śiva, manik Rudrākṣa hendaklah dipakai sentiasa oleh semua orang daripada segala āśrama dan varṇa—termasuk wanita dan Śūdra. Bagi para yatī (pertapa/renunsian), ia dipakai dengan Praṇava “Om” sebagai mantra penyuci.

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.