O Supreme Goddess, listen as the greatness of Rudraksha is revealed. When a Rudraksha bead is as large as an amla fruit, it dispels every calamity; even one the size of a gunja seed fulfills all desires. The lighter the bead, the more abundant the blessings it bestows; indeed, the wise declare that each bead grants tenfold merit. Rudraksha is prescribed as a means to destroy sin, and so it must be worn by those who seek to accomplish all their aims. No other garland in this world matches the Rudraksha in auspiciousness and fruitfulness, O Devi. The beads that are smooth, solid, large, and naturally adorned with thorns are especially auspicious. Such Rudrakshas, O Goddess, grant both worldly enjoyment and ultimate liberation. Yet, one should avoid beads that are infested by worms, broken, split, lacking thorns, wounded, or misshapen, for these are not auspicious. A Rudraksha with a naturally formed hole is considered excellent, while one drilled by human hands is regarded as of middling quality. When Rudraksha is worn, it destroys even the gravest sins. Wearing a garland of a hundred beads, one attains a form akin to Rudra himself. If a person wears eleven hundred beads, the fruits are so immense that even in a hundred years they cannot be fully described. The best devotee should fashion a crown of five hundred and fifty beads, and with three sets of three hundred and sixty beads, a sacred thread should be made by the devoted. Three beads are prescribed for the topknot, O Great Goddess, and six for each ear. A hundred and one beads should be worn around the neck and arms, in accordance with the number of Rudras, and at the elbows a gem should be tied again. Three sacred threads should be worn by devotees of Shiva, and the remaining five beads should be worn at the waist. O Supreme Goddess, Rudraksha beads worn in this manner are to be honored and praised by all, just as Mahesha is worshipped. When one, seated properly, meditates on such a form and utters the name 'Shiva' upon seeing it, one is freed from all sins. The arrangement for wearing more than a thousand beads has thus been declared. If this is not possible, another auspicious method is given: one bead in the hair tuft, thirty on the head, fifty on the neck, and sixteen on each arm. Twelve should be on each wrist, two on each shoulder, and five hundred worn overall. With one hundred and eight beads, a garland and sacred thread should be fashioned. Whoever, with firm discipline, wears a thousand Rudrakshas in this way is honored by all the gods as they honor Rudra himself. Alternatively, one bead may be worn in the hair tuft, forty on the crown, thirty-two at the throat, and one hundred and eight on the chest. One bead on each ear, six on each arm, sixteen on each forearm, and twice that number on the hands, O lord of sages. He who wears Rudraksha with devotion and proper count, even if born a Shaiva, is to be worshipped like Shiva and revered by all. On the head, the Ishana mantra should be recited; on the ears, the Tatpurusha mantra; on the neck, the Aghora mantra; and on the heart, likewise. On the hands, the Aghora seed mantra is used, and on the abdomen, the wise employ the fifteen-syllable mantra of Vamadeva. With the five Brahma mantras, one may wear thirty garlands and five or seven, or with the root mantra of Vama, all the beads may be worn. Afterward, certain foods and substances must be avoided: wine, meat, garlic, onion, horse gram, phlegm-causing foods, excrement, and boar. For Brahmins, a hundred thousand Rudrakshas are prescribed; for Kshatriyas, red ones; for ascetics, joyful ones; for Vaishyas, those repeatedly soaked; and for Shudras, black ones as stated in the scriptures, as well as elephantine beads. All four castes, householders, and ascetics should wear Rudraksha with discipline. This supreme secret should never be neglected by anyone according to birth. Only the virtuous attain the right to wear Rudraksha; abandoning it leads to all hells. First, those beads lighter than amalaki are to be chosen. Those afflicted, bitten by thorns, eaten by worms, or defective by holes should be avoided by those seeking auspiciousness. Even so, Rudraksha the size of chickpeas, and especially those without blemish, are always praised as subtle and auspicious. By Shiva’s command, Rudraksha should always be worn by all orders and castes, including women and Shudras, especially with the Pranava. Those who wear them by day with rituals for night, or by night with rituals for day, are freed from all sins at morning, midday, and evening. Those who wear the tripundra, those who bear matted hair, and those who wear Rudraksha alone attain this world. Those who wear a single Rudraksha on the head, tripundra on the forehead, and recite the five-syllable mantra are truly to be honored by the virtuous. One who does not have Rudraksha on their body, tripundra on the forehead, or the five-syllable mantra on their lips—bring such a person to the house of Yama. Whether or not they know the power of Rudraksha and sacred ash, those who wear them are always to be honored and never insulted. Thus did Kala command his own attendants, and understanding this, all stood silent, filled with wonder. Therefore, O great goddess, Rudraksha destroys great sins; it is dear to me, pure, and greatly sanctifying, O Parvati. Whoever wears Rudraksha on the hand, arm, or head is inviolable to all beings and moves on earth in the very form of Rudra. Such a one is always revered by all gods and demons; he is to be worshipped, and even seeing him destroys sin, just as it is with Shiva.