ततोऽजगवमासज्य बाणमंतकसन्निभम्। धृत्वा तं च जघानाथ दृष्टं दिव्येन चक्षुषा
When all the worlds were threatened with destruction, the steadfast one, by the boon of Brahmā, heard from the gods, as reported by the Lord, the dreadful news.
स पपात महीपृष्ठे महोल्केव च्युतो दिवः। घटनव्याकुलाद्रुद्रात्पतिताः स्वेदबिंदवः
He fell upon the surface of the earth like a great meteor fallen from the sky, as sweat-drops fall from Rudra, agitated in fierce exertion.
तत्राश्रुबिंदुतो जातो महारुद्राक्षकः क्षितौ। अस्यैव च फलं जीवा न जानंत्यतिगुह्यतः
There, from a drop of his tears, a great Rudraksha grew on the earth; truly, living beings do not know its fruit, for it is exceedingly secret.
ततः कैलासशिखरे देवदेवं महेश्वरम्। प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ स्कंदो वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, on the summit of Kailasa, Skanda bowed with his head to the ground before the god of gods, Maheshvara, and spoke these words.
रुद्राक्षस्य फलं नाथ ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। जप्येथ धारणे चैव दर्शने स्पर्शनेपि वा
"O Lord, I wish to know the true fruit of the Rudraksha—whether by recitation, by wearing, by seeing, or even by touching it."
ईश्वर उवाच-। लक्षं तु दर्शनात्पुण्यं कोटिर्वै स्पर्शनेन च। दशकोटिफलं पुण्यं धारणाल्लभते नरः
Ishvara said: "A hundred thousand merits come from seeing it, ten million from touching it; by wearing it, a man obtains the merit of a hundred million."
लक्षकोटिसहस्राणि लक्षकोटिशतानि च। जप्त्वास्य लभते पुण्यं नात्र कार्या विचारणा
"By reciting with it, one obtains merit equal to hundreds of thousands of millions and hundreds of thousands of millions of hundreds; about this, there should be no doubt."
उच्छिष्टो वा विकर्मस्थो युक्तो वा सर्वपातकैः। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो रुद्राक्षधारणेन वै
"Whether one is impure, engaged in forbidden acts, or afflicted by all sins, by wearing Rudraksha, one is freed from all sins."
कंठे रुद्राक्षमादाय श्वापदो म्रियते यदि। सोपि रुद्रत्वमाप्नोति किं पुनर्मानुषादयः
"If even a beast of prey dies with Rudraksha on its neck, it attains the state of Rudra—how much more so, then, for humans and others!"
ध्यानधारणहीनोपि रुद्राक्षं यदि धारयेत्। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः स याति परमां गतिम्
"Even if one is lacking in meditation and concentration, if he wears Rudraksha, he is freed from all sins and attains the highest state."
कार्तिकेय उवाच-। एकवक्त्रं द्वित्रिचतुःपंचषड्वक्त्रमेव च। सप्ताष्टनववक्त्रं च दशैकादशवक्त्रकम्
Karttikeya said: "One-faced, two-, three-, four-, five-, six-faced, as well as seven-, eight-, nine-faced, and ten- and eleven-faced—"
रुद्राक्षं द्वादशास्यं च त्रयोदशमुखं तथा। चतुर्दशास्यसंयुक्तं स्वयमुक्तं च शंकरम्
"Rudraksha with twelve faces, and also thirteen-faced, and joined with fourteen faces, and the self-manifested Shankara—"
तेषां च तन्मुखानां च देवताः काश्च तद्वद। गुणो वा कीदृशस्तेषां दोषो वा जगदीश्वर
"Of these and of their faces, tell me, O Lord of the world, which deities are associated with them, what are their qualities, and what faults, if any."
यदि मेनुग्रहोवास्ति कथयस्व यथार्थतः। ईश्वर उवाच-। एकवक्त्रः शिवः साक्षाद्ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति
"If you are inclined to favor me, tell me truly." Ishvara said: "The one-faced is Shiva himself; it removes the sin of killing a Brahmin."
तस्मात्तु धारयेद्देहे सर्वपापक्षयाय च। शिवलोकं स गच्छेच्च शिवेन सह मोदते
"Therefore, one should wear it on the body for the destruction of all sins; he goes to the world of Shiva and rejoices there with Shiva."
महतापुण्ययोगेन हरानुग्रहकारणात्। एकवक्त्रं लभेन्मर्त्यो कैलासं च षडानन
"By great accumulation of merit and by the grace of Hara, a mortal obtains the one-faced Rudraksha, and, O six-faced one, Kailasa as well."
देवदेवो द्विवक्त्रं च यस्तु धारयते नरः। सर्वपापक्षयं याति यद्गुह्यंगोवधादिकम्
"The god of gods—whoever wears the two-faced Rudraksha, he is freed from all sins, even the most secret, such as killing a cow."
स्वर्गं चाक्षयमाप्नोति द्विवक्त्रधारणात्ततः। त्रिवक्त्रमनलस्साक्षाद्यस्यदेहे प्रतिष्ठति१५० 1.59.
"By wearing the two-faced Rudraksha, he attains inexhaustible heaven; the three-faced, which is verily fire itself, is established in his body."
तस्य जन्मार्जितं पापं दहत्यग्निरिवेंधनम्। स्त्रीहत्या ब्रह्महत्याभ्यां बहूनां चैव हत्यया
The sin accumulated from his birth is burned up like fire consumes fuel—whether it be the killing of a woman, the slaying of a Brahmin, or the killing of many others.
यत्पापं लभते मर्त्यः सर्वं नश्यति तत्क्षणात्। यत्फलं वह्निपूजायामग्निकार्ये घृताहुतौ
Whatever sin a mortal acquires, all of it is instantly destroyed; and whatever merit arises from worship of fire, fire rituals, or offerings of ghee into the fire,
तत्फलं लभते धीरः स्वर्गं चानंतमश्नुते। त्रिवक्त्रं धारयेद्यस्तु स च ब्रह्मसमो भुवि
That very merit is gained by the steadfast one, and he attains endless heaven; whoever wears the three-faced form becomes equal to Brahma on earth.
निचितं दुष्कृतं सर्वं दहेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि। न चोदरे भवेद्रोगो न चैवापटुतां व्रजेत्
All accumulated evil deeds are burned up in every birth; he will not suffer disease in the belly, nor will he ever become weak.
पराजयं न लभते नाग्निना दह्यते गृहम्। एतान्यन्यानि सर्वाणि वज्रादेश्च निवारणम्
He does not experience defeat, nor is his house burned by fire; all these and other calamities, even those like thunderbolts, are warded off.
नाशुभं विद्यते किंचित्त्रिवक्त्रस्य तु धारणात्। चतुर्वक्त्रः स्वयं ब्रह्मा यस्य देहे प्रतिष्ठति
No inauspicious thing whatsoever befalls one who wears the three-faced form; Brahma himself, with four faces, is established in his body.
स भवेत्सर्वशास्त्रज्ञो द्विजो वेदविदां वरः। सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञः स्मार्तः पौराणिको भवेत्
He becomes knower of all scriptures, a twice-born best among Veda-knowers; he understands the essence of all dharma and artha, and becomes learned in Smriti and Purana.
यत्पापं नरहत्यायां बहुसत्त्वेषु वेश्मसु। तत्सर्वं दहते शीघ्रं चतुर्वक्त्रस्य धारणात्
Whatever sin arises from killing humans, or in houses full of many beings—all that is quickly burned up by wearing the four-faced form.
महेशस्तुष्यते नित्यं भूतानामधिपो भवेत्। सद्योजातस्तथेशानस्तत्पुरुषोऽघोर एव च
Mahesha is always pleased, and he becomes lord of beings; Sadyojata, Ishana, Tatpurusha, and Aghora as well.
वामदेव इमे देवा वक्त्रैः पंचभिराश्रिताः। अतः सर्वत्र भूयिष्ठाः पंचवक्त्रो धरातले
Vamadeva and these other deities are established in the five faces; therefore, the five-faced form is supreme everywhere on earth.
रुद्रस्यात्मजरूपोयं तस्मात्तं धारयेद्बुधः। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च
This is the very form of Rudra's own son; therefore, the wise should wear it. For a thousand crore aeons, and hundreds of crore aeons,
तावत्कालं शिवस्याग्रे पूजनीयः सुरासुरैः। सार्वभौमो भवेद्भूमौ शर्वतेजाः शिवालये
For that length of time, he is to be worshipped before Shiva by gods and demons; he becomes sovereign on earth, radiant with Shiva's splendor, in Shiva's abode.