Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

त्रिनेत्रंत्रिगुणाधारंत्रिवेदजनकंशिवम् स्मरन्नमः शिवायेति ललाटे तु त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्

Remembering Shiva, the three-eyed, the foundation of the three guṇas, the origin of the three Vedas, and saying 'Salutations to Shiva,' one should apply the tripuṇḍra on the forehead.

ईशाभ्यांनम इत्युक्त्वापार्श्वयोश्च त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् बीजाभ्यां नम इत्युक्त्वाधारयेत्तुप्रकोष्ठयोः

Saying 'namaḥ' with the two syllables 'īśā' on both sides, one should apply the tripuṇḍra; saying 'namaḥ' with the two seed syllables, one should apply it on both forearms.

कुर्यादधः पितृभ्यां च उमेशाभ्यांतथोपरि भीमायेतिततःपृष्ठेशिरसःपश्चिमेतथा

One should make it below with the two syllables for the ancestors, above with those for Umā and Īśa, and likewise on the back and the rear of the head, as prescribed.

शैनकर्षे महाप्राज्ञशिवरूपमहापते शृणुरुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं समासात्कथयाम्यहम्

O wise Śainaka, great lord in the form of Shiva, listen as I briefly recount to you the greatness of the Rudrākṣa.

शिवप्रियतमोज्ञेयो रुद्राक्षः परपावनः दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाज्जाप्यात्सर्वपापहरःस्मृतः

Rudrākṣa, most beloved of Shiva and supremely purifying, is said to remove all sins by sight, touch, or recitation.

पुरारुद्राक्षमहिमादेव्यग्रेकथितोमुने लोकोपकरणार्थायशिवेन परमात्मना

O sage, the greatness of Rudrākṣa was first told by the supreme soul Shiva to the goddess, for the benefit of the worlds.

शृणुदेविमहेशानिरुद्राक्षमहिमाशिवे कथयामितवप्रीत्याभक्तानांहितकाम्यया

Listen, O goddess, to the greatness of Rudrākṣa as told by Maheshāni Shiva, for your pleasure and for the welfare of devotees.

दिव्यवर्षसहस्राणि महेशानिपुनःपुरा तपःप्रकुर्वतस्त्रस्तंमनः संयम्यवै मम

O Maheshāni, long ago, for thousands of divine years, my mind, restrained and trembling, engaged in austerity.

स्वतंत्रेण परेशेन लोकोपकृतिकारिणा लीलयापरमेशानि चक्षुरुन्मीलितंमया

By his own will, the supreme lord, acting for the benefit of the worlds, playfully opened my eyes, O Parameśāni.

पुटाभ्यांचारुचक्षुर्भ्यांपतिताजलबिंदवः तत्राश्रुबिन्दवोजातावृक्षारुद्राक्षसंज्ञकाः

From both beautiful eyes, drops of water fell; there, those drops of tears became known as the Rudrākṣa tree.

स्थावरत्वमनुप्राप्यभक्तानुग्रहकारणात् ते दत्ताविष्णुभक्तेभ्यश्चतुर्वर्णेभ्य एव च

Attaining the state of a tree, for the sake of blessing devotees, they were given to the devotees of Vishnu and to all four castes.

भूमौगौंडोद्भवांश्चक्रेरुद्राक्षाञ्छिववल्लभान् मथुरायामयोध्यायालंकायांमलये तथा

He produced Rudrākṣas, dear to Shiva, from the earth, from water, and from the land of Gauḍa, as well as in Mathurā, Ayodhyā, Laṅkā, and Malaya.

सह्याद्रौचतथाकाश्यांदशेष्वन्येषुवातथा परानसह्यपापौघभेदनाञ्छ्रुतिनोदनात्

Also in the Sahya mountains, Kāśī, and in ten other places, as well as in other regions; these are known to destroy great heaps of sin and are praised in the scriptures.

ब्राह्मणाःक्षत्रियावैश्याःशूद्राजाताममाज्ञया रुद्राक्षास्तेपृथिव्यांतुतज्जातीयाः शुभाक्षकाः

By command, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras—those born on earth—should wear Rudrākṣas of their own kind, which are auspicious.

श्वेतरक्ताः पीतकृष्णावर्णाज्ञेयाः क्रमाद्बुधैः स्वजातीयंनृभिर्धार्यं रुद्राक्षंवर्णतः क्रमात्

White, red, yellow, and black are the colors to be known in order; wise men say that people should wear Rudrākṣas of their own color, according to their caste.

वर्णैस्तुतत्फलंधार्यंभुक्तिमुक्तिफलेप्सुभिः शिवभक्तैर्विशेषेणशिवयोः प्रीतयेसदा

The fruit to be obtained from them should be worn by those desiring enjoyment or liberation, especially by devotees of Shiva, always for the pleasure of Shiva and Pārvatī.

धात्रीफलप्रमाणंयच्छ्रेष्ठमेतदुदाहृतम् बदरीफलमात्रंतुमध्यमंसंप्रकीर्तितम्

That which is the size of an amla fruit is said to be the best; that which is the size of a jujube fruit is considered medium.

अधमंचणमात्रंस्यात्प्रक्रियैषापरोच्यते शृणुपार्वतिसुप्रीत्याभक्तानांहितकाम्यया

This is the procedure described for the lowest, merely a single bead; listen, Parvati, with great delight, for those who are undevoted and seek harm.

बदरीफलमात्रंचयत्स्यात्किलमहेश्वरि तथापिफलदंलोकेसुखसौभाग्यवर्धनम्

If it is equal to the size of a jujube fruit, O Great Goddess, even so, it grants fruit in the world, increasing happiness and good fortune.

धात्रीफलसमंयत्स्यात्सर्वारिष्टविनाशनम् गुंजयासदृशंयत्स्यात्सर्वार्थफलसाधनम्

If it is equal to the size of an amla fruit, it destroys all calamities; if it is like a gunja seed, it accomplishes all desired results.

यथायथालघुःस्याद्वैतथाधिकफलप्रदम् एकैकतःफलंप्रोक्तंदशांशैरधिकंबुधैः

The lighter it is, the greater the fruit it bestows; each bead is said by the wise to yield ten times more benefit.

रुद्राक्षधारणंप्रोक्तंपापनाशनहेतवे तस्माच्चधारणीयोवैसर्वार्थसाधनोध्रुवम्

Wearing Rudraksha is prescribed as a means for destroying sin; therefore, it should certainly be worn for accomplishing all aims.

यथाचदृश्यतेलोकेरुद्राक्षफलदः शुभः नतथादृश्यते ऽन्याचमालिकापरमेश्वरि

As the Rudraksha garland is auspicious and fruitful in the world, O Supreme Goddess, so no other garland is seen to be so.

समाःस्निग्धादृढाःस्थूलाःकंटकैःसंयुताःशुभाः रुद्राक्षाःकामदादेविभुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाः सदा

Rudraksha beads that are smooth, firm, large, and adorned with thorns are auspicious, O Devi, always granting desires, enjoyment, and liberation.

क्रिमिदुष्टंछिन्नभिन्नंकंटकैर्हीनमेवच व्रणयुक्तमवृत्तंचरुद्राक्षान्षड्विवर्जयेत्

One should avoid Rudraksha beads that are infested with worms, broken, split, lacking thorns, wounded, or misshapen.

स्वयमेवकृतद्वारंरुद्राक्षंस्यदिहोत्तमम् यत्तुपौरुषयत्नेनकृतंतन्मध्यमंभवेत्

A Rudraksha bead with a naturally formed hole is considered excellent; one made by human effort is regarded as middling.

रुद्राक्षधारणंप्राप्तंमहापातकनाशनम् रुद्रसंख्याशतंधृत्वरुद्ररूपोभवेन्नरः

Wearing Rudraksha brings the destruction of great sins; if a hundred beads are worn, a person becomes like Rudra in form.

एकादशशतानीहधृत्वायत्फलमाप्यते तत्फलंशक्यतेनैव वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि

By wearing eleven hundred beads, one attains the fruit; even in a hundred years, that fruit cannot be fully described.

शतार्धेनयुतेः पञ्चशतैर्वै मुकुटं मतम् रुद्राक्षैर्विरचेत्सम्यग्भक्तिमान्पुरुषो वरः

A crown made of five hundred and fifty Rudraksha beads is considered proper; the best devotee should fashion it correctly.