Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

त्रिभिः शतैः षष्टियुक्तैस्त्रिरावृत्त्या तथा पुनः रुद्राक्षैरुपवीतं व निर्मीयाद्भक्तितत्परः

With three hundred and sixty beads, repeated three times, a devotee intent on devotion should make a sacred thread.

शिखायांचत्रयंप्रोक्तंरुद्रक्षाणां महेश्वरि कर्णयोः षट् च षट्चैववामदक्षिणयोस्तथा

Three Rudraksha beads are prescribed for the topknot, O Great Goddess; six each for the left and right ears.

शतमेकोत्तरंकंठेबाह्वोर्वैरुद्रसंख्यया कूर्परद्वारयोस्तत्रमणिबंधेतथापुनः

A hundred and one beads should be worn on the neck and arms according to the number of Rudras; at the elbows, a gem should be tied again.

उपवीतेत्रयंधार्यंशिवभक्तिरतैर्नरैः शेषानुर्वरितान्पञ्चसम्मितान्धारयेत्कटौ

Three sacred threads should be worn by those devoted to Shiva; the remaining beads, counted as five, should be worn at the waist.

एतत्संख्याधृतायेनरुद्राक्षाः परमेश्वरि तद्रूपं तु प्रणम्यंहिस्तुत्यंसर्वैर्महेशवत्

O Supreme Goddess, Rudraksha beads worn in this manner must be honored and praised by all, as one would worship Mahesha.

एवंभूतंस्थितंध्यानेयदाकृत्वासनैर्जनम् शिवेतिव्याहरंश्चैवदृष्ट्वापापैः प्रमुच्यते

When one meditates on such a form, having assumed the proper seat, and utters 'Shiva' upon seeing it, one is freed from sins.

शतादिकसहस्रस्यविधिरेषप्रकीर्तितः तदभावेप्रकारोन्यः शुभः संप्रोच्यतेमया

The prescription for more than a thousand is thus declared; in its absence, another auspicious method is now explained by me.

शिखायामेकरुद्राक्षंशिरसात्रिंशतंवहेत् पञ्चाशच्चगलेदध्याद्बाह्वोः षोडशषोडश

One Rudraksha should be worn in the hair tuft, thirty on the head, fifty on the neck, and sixteen each on the arms.

मणिबंधे द्वादशद्विस्कंधे पञ्चशतंवहेत् अष्टोत्तरशतैर्माल्यमुपवीतंप्रकल्पयेत्

Twelve on the wrist, two on the shoulders, five hundred should be worn; with one hundred and eight, a garland and sacred thread should be arranged.

एवंसहस्ररुद्राक्षान्धारयेद्योदृढव्रतः तंनमंतिसुराःसर्वेयथारुद्रस्तथैव सः

Thus, whoever wears a thousand Rudrakshas with firm discipline, all the gods honor him just as they honor Rudra.