Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 82

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

भक्तिश्रद्धा युतश्चैव सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये । रुद्रा क्षान्धारयेन्मंत्रैर्देवनालस्य वर्जितः

Transliteration

bhaktiśraddhā yutaścaiva sarvakāmārthasiddhaye | rudrā kṣāndhārayenmaṃtrairdevanālasya varjitaḥ

Translation

Ang may bhakti at śraddhā, at nagnanais ng katuparan ng lahat ng makatarungang layon at hangarin, ay dapat magsuot ng mga butil na Rudrākṣa habang bumibigkas ng mga mantra—iwasan ang di-mabuting uri na tinatawag na “deva-nāla”.

Word by Word

• भक्ति-श्रद्धा: devotion and faith
• भक्ति-श्रद्धा: Sahakārī/Viśeṣaṇa (सहकारी/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (itaretara)

• युतः: endowed (with)
• युतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘युक्त/युत’ = endowed/connected

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सर्व-काम-अर्थ-सिद्धये: for the accomplishment of all desired aims
• सर्व-काम-अर्थ-सिद्धये: Sampradāna/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (dative of purpose)

• रुद्राक्षान्: Rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

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

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• देव-नालस्य: of the divine cord/stem (thread)
• देव-नालस्य: Sambandha/Ṣaṣṭhī (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + नाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वर्जितः: avoided/devoid (of)
• वर्जितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) from √वर्ज् ‘to avoid’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-instructions to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Rudrākṣa is not merely an ornament: when worn with bhakti (devotion) and śraddhā (faith) and supported by mantra, it becomes a Shaiva sādhana that harmonizes worldly aims (artha/kāma) with Shiva-oriented spiritual progress.

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

Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa with mantra is a Saguna-Shiva mode of worship—approaching Lord Shiva through sacred forms, names, and disciplines. It supports Linga-worship by keeping the practitioner continuously aligned with Shiva’s presence through japa and consecrated symbols.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Rudrākṣa while performing mantra-japa (commonly the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and avoid inauspicious/unsuitable varieties indicated as “deva-nāla,” emphasizing purity of materials and intent in Shaiva practice.