Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 22

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

क्रिमिदुष्टं छिन्नभिन्नं कंटकैर्हीनमेव च । व्रणयुक्तमवृत्तं च रुद्रा क्षान्षड्विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

krimiduṣṭaṃ chinnabhinnaṃ kaṃṭakairhīnameva ca | vraṇayuktamavṛttaṃ ca rudrā kṣānṣaḍvivarjayet

Translation

应当舍弃六类鲁陀罗叉：被虫蛀败坏者、被切割或裂开者、缺少天然棱突者、带伤痕瑕疵者，以及形状不端正不圆者。

Word by Word

• क्रिमि-दुष्टम्: worm-infested
• क्रिमि-दुष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिमि (प्रातिपदिक) + दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्रिमिभिः दुष्टम्)

• छिन्न-भिन्नम्: cut and cracked
• छिन्न-भिन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + भिद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-द्वन्द्वः (क्त-प्रत्ययान्तौ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘cut and broken’

• कण्टकैः: with thorns/projections
• कण्टकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• हीनम्: devoid (of thorns)
• हीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-सम्बन्धे ‘devoid of’ (कण्टकैः हीनम्)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• व्रण-युक्तम्: having a wound
• व्रण-युक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रण (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (व्रणेन युक्तम्)

• अवृत्तम्: not round/irregular
• अवृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग ‘not round/irregular’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

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

• षट्: six (types)
• षट्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्/षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; ‘six’ (द्वितीया-बहुवचन-विशेषणार्थे)

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• विवर्जयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-वृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should avoid’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva’s worship-rules to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes śuddhi (ritual and inner purity) in Shaiva sādhana: a Rudrākṣa used for japa and devotion should be wholesome and intact, reflecting the seeker’s care, discipline, and reverence toward Lord Shiva.

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

Rudrākṣa is a revered support for Saguna Shiva worship—especially mantra-japa and daily pūjā of the Liṅga. By prescribing which beads to reject, the text safeguards the sanctity and effectiveness of devotional practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests careful selection of Rudrākṣa for dhāraṇa (wearing) and japa—prefer beads that are clean, undamaged, naturally formed, and well-shaped, then use them with Shiva-mantra practice (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).