बदरीफलमात्रं तु प्रोच्यते मध्यमं बुधैः । अधमं चणमात्रं स्यात्प्रतिज्ञैषा मयोदिता
The size of a jujube fruit is considered medium by the wise; the lowest is the size of a chickpea—this is my declared assertion.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चेति शिवाज्ञया । वृक्षा जाताः पृथिव्यां तु तज्जातीयाः शुभाक्षकाः
By Shiva's command, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras were born as trees upon the earth, producing auspicious Rudrakshas of their own kind.
श्वेतास्तु ब्राह्मणा ज्ञेयाः क्षत्रिया रक्तवर्णकाः । पीता वैश्यास्तु विज्ञेयाः कृष्णाः शूद्राः प्रकीर्तिताः
White ones are to be known as Brahmins, red as Kshatriyas, yellow as Vaishyas, and black are said to be Shudras.
ब्राह्मणो बिभृयाच्छ्वेतान् रक्तान् राजा तु धारयेत् । पीतान्वैश्यस्तु बिभृयात्कृष्णान् शूद्रस्तु धारयेत्
A Brahmin should wear white ones, a king should wear red, a Vaishya should wear yellow, and a Shudra should wear black.
समाः स्निग्धा दृढास्तद्वत्कण्टकैः संयुताः शुभाः । कृमिदष्टाञ्छिन्नभिन्नान्कण्टकैरहितांस्तथा
The beads that are smooth, solid, likewise adorned with thorns, auspicious, and those bitten by insects, broken, split, or lacking thorns—
व्रणयुक्तानावृतांश्च षड्रुद्राक्षांस्तु वर्जयेत् । स्वयमेव कृतद्वारो रुद्राक्षः स्यादिहोत्तमः
One should avoid six-faced Rudraksha beads that are covered with wounds; the best Rudraksha is that which naturally has an opening.
यत्तु पौरुषयत्नेन कृतं तन्मध्यमं भवेत् । समान्स्निग्धान्दृढान्वृत्तान्क्षौमसूत्रेण धारयेत्
That which is made by human effort is considered average; one should wear smooth, solid, round beads with a silk thread.
सर्वगात्रेषु साम्येन समानातिविलक्षणा । निर्घर्षे हेमलेखाभा यत्र लेखा प्रदृश्यते
On all parts of the body, beads that are uniform and distinct, where a golden streak appears without abrasion, are to be seen.
तदक्षमुत्तमं विद्यात्स धार्यः शिवपूजकैः । शिखायामेकरुद्राक्षं त्रिंशद्वै शिरसा वहेत्
Such a bead is known as the highest; it should be worn by worshippers of Shiva. One Rudraksha on the topknot, and thirty on the head should be carried.
षट्त्रिंशच्च गले धार्या बाह्वोः षोडश षोडश । मणिबन्धे द्वादशाक्षान्स्कन्धे पञ्चाशतं भवेत्
Thirty-six beads should be worn on the neck, sixteen on each arm, twelve on each wrist, and fifty on the shoulders.
अष्टोत्तरशतैर्मालोपवीतं च प्रकल्पयेत् । द्विसरं त्रिसरं वापि बिभृयात्कण्ठदेशतः
A garland or sacred thread should be made with one hundred and eight beads; one may wear two or three strands around the neck.
कुण्डले मुकुटे चैव कर्णिकाहारकेषु च । केयूरे कटके चैव कुक्षिवंशे तथैव च
In earrings, crowns, and also in ear ornaments; in armlets, bracelets, and likewise at the waist.
सुप्ते पीते सर्वकालं रुद्राक्षं धारयेन्नरः । त्रिशतं त्वधमं पञ्चशतं मध्यममुच्यते
A person should wear Rudraksha at all times, whether sleeping or drinking; three hundred is considered inferior, five hundred is called medium.
सहस्रमुत्तमं प्रोक्तं चैवं भेदेन धारयेत् । शिरसीशानमन्त्रेण कर्णे तत्पुरुषेण च
A thousand is declared as the highest; thus, according to distinction, one should wear them—on the head with the Ishana mantra, in the ear with the Tatpurusha mantra.
अघोरेण ललाटे तु तेनैव हृदयेऽपि च । अघोरबीजमन्त्रेण करयोर्धारयेत्पुनः
With the Aghora mantra on the forehead, and likewise on the heart; with the Aghora seed mantra, one should again wear them on the hands.
पञ्चाशदक्षग्रथितां वामदेवेन चोदरे । पञ्चब्रह्मभिरङ्गैश्चाप्येवं रुद्राक्षधारणम्
Fifty beads strung together should be worn on the abdomen with the Vamadeva mantra; likewise, with the five Brahma mantras on the limbs, thus is the wearing of Rudraksha.
ग्रथितान्मूलमन्त्रेण सर्वानक्षांस्तु धारयेत् । एकवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षः परतत्त्वप्रकाशकः
All beads should be strung with the root mantra and worn; the one-faced Rudraksha reveals the supreme principle.
परतत्त्वधारणाच्च जायते तत्प्रकाशनम् । द्विवक्त्रस्तु मुनिश्रेष्ठ अर्धनारीश्वरो भवेत्
By wearing the supreme principle, its revelation occurs; the two-faced Rudraksha, O best of sages, is the form of Ardhanarishvara.
धारणादर्धनारीशः प्रीयते तस्य नित्यशः । त्रिवक्त्रस्त्वनलः साक्षात्स्त्रीहत्यां दहति क्षणात्
By wearing it, Ardhanarisha is always pleased with the wearer; the three-faced Rudraksha is fire itself and instantly burns the sin of killing a woman.
त्रिमुखश्चैव रुद्राक्षोऽप्यग्नित्रयस्वरूपकः । तद्धारणाच्च हुतभुक् तस्य तुष्यति नित्यशः
The three-faced Rudraksha is also the form of the three fires; by wearing it, the fire deity is always satisfied with the wearer.
चतुर्मुखस्तु रुद्राक्षः पितामहस्वरूपकः । तद्धारणान्महाश्रीमान्महदारोग्यमुत्तमम्
The four-faced Rudraksha is the form of the grandfather (Brahma); by wearing it, one attains great prosperity and supreme health.
महती ज्ञानसम्पत्तिः शुद्धये धारयेन्नरः । पञ्चमुखस्तु रुद्राक्षः पञ्चब्रह्मस्वरूपकः
A person should wear it for great attainment of knowledge and purification; the five-faced Rudraksha is the form of the five Brahmas.
तस्य धारणमात्रेण सन्तुष्यति महेश्वरः । षड्वक्त्रश्चैव रुद्राक्षः कार्तिकेयाधिदैवतः
By merely wearing it, the great Lord is pleased; the six-faced Rudraksha is presided over by Kartikeya.
विनायकं चापि देवं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । सप्तवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षः सप्तमात्राधिदैवतः
Wise men declare that the deity Vinayaka is associated with it; the seven-faced Rudraksha is presided over by the Seven Mothers.
सप्ताश्वदैवतश्चैव मुनिसप्तकदैवतः । तद्धारणान्महाश्रीः स्यान्महदारोग्यमुत्तमम्
It is also presided over by the Seven Horses and the Seven Sages; by wearing it, one attains great prosperity and supreme health.
महती ज्ञानसम्पत्तिः शुचिर्वै धारयेन्नरः । अष्टवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षोऽप्यष्टमात्राधिदैवतः
A person who wears it attains great wealth of knowledge and purity; the eight-faced Rudraksha is presided over by the Eight Mothers.
वस्वष्टकप्रीतिकरो गङ्गाप्रीतिकरः शुभः । तद्धारणादिमे प्रीता भवेयुः सत्यवादिनः
It brings the favor of the eight Vasus and of Ganga, and is auspicious; by wearing it, these truthful beings become pleased.
नववक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षो यमदेव उदाहृतः । तद्धारणाद्यमभयं न भवत्येव सर्वथा
The nine-faced Rudraksha is said to be associated with Yama; by wearing it, there is never any fear from Yama in any way.
दशवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षो दशाशादैवतः स्मृतः । दशाशाप्रीतिजनको धारणे नात्र संशयः
The ten-faced Rudraksha is known to be presided over by the ten directions; there is no doubt that it brings the favor of the guardians of the ten directions when worn.
एकादशमुखस्त्वक्षो रुद्रैकादशदैवतः । तमिन्द्रदैवतं चाहुः सदा सौख्यविवर्धनम्
The eleven-faced Rudraksha is presided over by the eleven Rudras; it is also said to be associated with Indra and always increases happiness.