न तारयन्त्युभौ पक्षौ पितॄनेकोत्तरं शतम् । सगर्भो जपसंयुक्तस्त्वगर्भो ध्यानमात्रकः
Neither wing carries the ancestors across a hundred generations; recitation with the seed (initiation) is effective, but without the seed, it is mere meditation.
स्नानाङ्गतर्पणं कृत्वा देवर्षिपितृतोषकम् । शुद्धे वस्त्रे परीधाय जलाद्बहिरुपागतः
After offering water as part of the bathing rites to please the gods, sages, and ancestors, one should put on clean garments and come out of the water.
विभूतिधारणं कार्यं रुद्राक्षाणां च धारणम् । क्रमयोगेन कर्तव्यं सर्वदा जपसाधकैः
One should wear the Rudraksha beads as a sign of spiritual power; this should always be done in proper sequence by those devoted to recitation and practice.
रुद्राक्षान्कण्ठदेशे दशनपरिमिता- न्मस्तके विंशती द्वे षट् षट् कर्णप्रदेशे करयुगलकृते द्वादश द्वादशैव । बाह्वोरिन्दोः कलाभिर्नयनयुगकृते त्वेकमेकं शिखायां वक्षस्यष्टाधिकं यः कलयति शतकं स स्वयं नीलकण्ठः
Ten Rudraksha beads should be worn at the neck, twenty on the head, six on each ear, twelve on each hand, one on each eye and on the crest, and one hundred and eight on the chest; whoever arranges them thus becomes like Nilakantha himself.
बद्ध्वा स्वर्णेन रुद्राक्षं रजतेनाथवा मुने । शिखायां धारयेन्नित्यं कर्णयोर्वा समाहितः
O sage, having strung the Rudraksha with gold or silver, one should always wear it on the crest or on the ears with concentration.
यज्ञोपवीते हस्ते वा कण्ठे तुन्देऽथवा नरः । श्रीमत्पञ्चाक्षरेणैव प्रणवेन तथापि वा
A person may wear it on the sacred thread, on the hand, on the neck, or on the chest, accompanied by the sacred five-syllable mantra or by Om.
निर्व्याजभक्त्या मेधावी रुद्राक्षं धारयेन्मुदा । रुद्राक्षधारणं साक्षाच्छिवज्ञानस्य साधनम्
With sincere devotion and joy, the wise should wear Rudraksha; wearing Rudraksha is directly a means to the knowledge of Shiva.
रुद्राक्षं यच्छिखायां तत्तारतत्त्वमिति स्मरेत् । कर्णयोरुभयोर्ब्रह्मन् देवं देवीं च भावयेत्
When wearing Rudraksha on the crest, one should remember the supreme principle; when wearing them on both ears, O Brahman, one should contemplate the god and the goddess.
यज्ञोपवीते वेदांश्च तथा हस्ते दिशः स्मरेत् । कण्ठे सरस्वतीं देवीं पावकं चापि भावयेत्
When wearing on the sacred thread, one should remember the Vedas; on the hand, the directions; on the neck, the goddess Sarasvati and also the fire should be contemplated.
सर्वाश्रमाणां वर्णानां रुद्राक्षाणां च धारणम् । कर्तव्यं मन्त्रतः प्रोक्तं द्विजानां नान्यवर्णिनाम्
Wearing Rudraksha is prescribed by mantra for all orders and classes, but for twice-born men only, not for those of other classes.
रुद्राक्षधारणाद्रुद्रो भवत्येव न संशयः । पश्यन्नपि निषिद्धांश्च तथा शृण्वन्नपि स्मरन्
By wearing Rudraksha, one truly becomes Rudra—there is no doubt; even while seeing, hearing, or remembering forbidden things.
जिघ्रन्नपि तथा चाश्नन् प्रलपन्नपि सन्ततम् । कुर्वन्नपि सदा गच्छन्विसृजन्नपि मानवः
Even while smelling, eating, speaking, always acting, going, or excreting, a person—
रुद्राक्षधारणादेव सर्वपापैर्न लिप्यते । अनेन भुक्तं देवेन भुक्तं यत्तु तथा भवेत्
—is not tainted by any sins merely by wearing Rudraksha; whatever is consumed by him is as if consumed by the god.
पीतं रुद्रेण तत्पीतं घ्रातं घ्रातं शिवेन तत् । रुद्राक्षधारणे लज्जा येषामस्ति महामुने
Whatever is drunk is as if drunk by Rudra; whatever is smelled is as if smelled by Shiva; O great sage, those who feel shame in wearing Rudraksha—
तेषां नास्ति विनिर्मोक्षः संसाराज्जन्मकोटिभिः । रुद्राक्षधारिणं दृष्ट्वा परिवादं करोति यः
—for them there is no liberation from the cycle of birth and death, even after millions of lifetimes; whoever criticizes the wearer of Rudraksha—
उत्पत्तौ तस्य साङ्कर्यमस्त्वेवेति विनिश्चयः । रुद्राक्षधारणादेव रुद्रो रुद्रत्वमाप्नुयात्
—it is certain that confusion arises at his birth; by wearing Rudraksha, Rudra attains Rudra-hood.
मुनयः सत्यसङ्कल्पा ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मत्वमागतः । रुद्राक्षधारणाच्छ्रेष्ठं न किञ्चिदपि विद्यते
The sages, steadfast in truth, and Brahma, having attained Brahma-hood, declare that nothing is superior to wearing Rudraksha.
रुद्राक्षधारिणे भक्त्या वस्त्रं धान्यं ददाति यः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोकं स गच्छति
Whoever gives cloth or grain with devotion to a wearer of Rudraksha is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Shiva.
रुद्राक्षधारिणं श्राद्धे भोजयेत विमोदतः । पितृलोकमवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा
One should gladly feed a Rudraksha-wearer at a funeral rite; he attains the world of the ancestors—there is no need for further consideration.
रुद्राक्षधारिणः पादौ प्रक्षाल्याद्भिः पिबेन्नरः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते
One who drinks the water after washing the feet of a Rudraksha-wearer is freed from all sins and is honored in the world of Shiva.
हारं वा कटकं वापि सुवर्णं वा द्विजोत्तमः । रुद्राक्षसहितं भक्त्या धारयन् रुद्रतामियात्
If a foremost Brahmin wears a necklace, bracelet, or gold ornament together with rudraksha, with devotion, he attains the state of Rudra.
रुद्राक्षं केवलं वापि यत्र कुत्र महामते । समन्त्रकं वा मन्त्रेण रहितं भाववर्जितम्
O wise one, even if one wears only rudraksha, anywhere, whether with mantras or without, or without any feeling,
यो वा को वा नरो भक्त्या धारयेल्लज्जयापि वा । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः सम्यग्ज्ञानमवाप्नुयात्
Whoever, by devotion or even by modesty, wears it—such a person becomes completely freed from all sins and attains true knowledge.
अहो रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं मया वक्तुं न शक्यते । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कुर्याद्रुद्राक्षधारणम्
Ah! The greatness of rudraksha cannot be fully described by me; therefore, one should make every effort to wear rudraksha.
रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् नारद उवाच एवंभूतानुभावोऽयं रुद्राक्षो भवतानघ । वर्णितो महतां पूज्यः कारणं तत्र किं वद
The Greatness of Rudraksha Described Narada said: Such is the power of rudraksha, as you have described, O sinless one. Revered by the great, tell me, what is the reason for this?
श्रीनारायण उवाच एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो भगवान् गिरिशः प्रभुः । षण्मुखेन च रुद्रस्तं यदुवाच शृणुष्व तत्
Sri Narayana said: In the same way, long ago, Lord Girisha, the great Lord Rudra, was asked by Shanmukha, and he spoke to him. Listen to that.
ईश्वर उवाच शृणु षण्मुख तत्त्वेन कथयामि समासतः । त्रिपुरो नाम दैत्यस्तु पुराऽऽसीत्सर्वदुर्जयः
Ishvara said: Listen, Shanmukha, I will briefly tell you the truth. Long ago, there was a demon named Tripura, unconquerable by all.
जितास्तेन सुराः सर्वे बह्मविष्ण्वादिदेवताः । सर्वैस्तु कथिते तस्मिंस्तदाहं त्रिपुरं प्रति
He conquered all the gods, including Brahma, Vishnu, and the other deities. When all had spoken about him, I then addressed Tripura.
अचिन्तयं महाशस्त्रमघोराख्यं मनोहरम् । सर्वदेवमयं दिव्यं ज्वलन्तं घोररूपि यत्
I conceived a great weapon called Aghora, wondrous and beautiful, divine, composed of all the gods, blazing and of a terrible form.
त्रिपुरस्य वधार्थाय देवानां तारणाय च । सर्वविघ्नोपशमनमघोरास्त्रमचिन्तयम्
For the destruction of Tripura and the deliverance of the gods, I conceived the Aghora weapon, which removes all obstacles.