Shloka 39
रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य
Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha
संख्या प्रीतिर्धृता येन सोपि शैवजनः परः । शिववत्पूजनीयो हि वंद्यस्सर्वैरभीक्ष्णशः
saṃkhyā prītirdhṛtā yena sopi śaivajanaḥ paraḥ | śivavatpūjanīyo hi vaṃdyassarvairabhīkṣṇaśaḥ
संख्याप्रीतिं धृतो येन स शैवजनः परः। शिववत्पूजनीयो हि वन्द्यः सर्वैरभीक्ष्णशः॥
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Elevates the ideal of the accomplished Śaiva (japa + prīti). The ‘śivavat-pūjanīya’ theme supports honoring realized devotees at tīrthas and temples as conduits of Śiva’s grace.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that disciplined mantra practice (japa with sacred counting) united with heartfelt devotion is a hallmark of the highest Śaiva, and such a devotee becomes worthy of honor as a living embodiment of Śiva’s grace.
In Saguna worship, the Liṅga is revered as Śiva’s accessible form; this verse extends that reverence to the devotee whose inner worship is firm—suggesting that steadfast japa-bhakti makes the heart a fit seat of Śiva, deserving Liṅga-like honor.
Regular mantra-japa with a counted discipline (saṅkhyā), ideally of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” performed with prīti (devotional love), and cultivating reverence toward sincere Śaiva practitioners.