Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

चतुर्वक्त्रः स्वयंब्रह्मानरहत्यांव्यपोहति दर्शनात्स्पर्शनात्सद्यश्चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदः

The four-faced Rudrākṣa is Brahmā himself; it destroys the sin of killing a man, and by seeing or touching it, immediately grants the four aims of life.

पञ्चवक्त्रः स्वयंरुद्रः कालाग्निर्नामतः प्रभुः सर्वमुक्तिप्रदश्चैवसर्वकामफलप्रदः

The five-faced, self-manifest Rudra, called Kālāgni, the Lord, grants liberation to all and bestows the fruits of all desires.

अगम्यागमनंपापमभक्ष्यस्य च भक्षणम् इत्यादि सर्वपापानि पञ्चवक्त्रोव्यपोहति

All sins, such as approaching the forbidden, committing wrongs, and consuming what should not be eaten, are removed by the five-faced one.

षड्वक्त्रःकार्तिकेयस्तुधारणाद्दक्षिणेभुजे ब्रह्महत्यादिकैः पापैर्मुच्यतेनात्र संशयः

Kārtikeya, with six faces, when worn on the right arm, frees one from sins like killing a Brahmin; there is no doubt about this.

सप्तवक्त्रोमहेशानि ह्यनंगोनामनामतः धारणात्तस्य देवेशिदरिद्रोपीश्वरोभवेत्

The seven-faced Maheśāni, named Anaṅga, when worn, makes even a poor person become a lord among gods.

रुद्राक्षश्चाष्टवक्त्रश्च वसुमूर्तिश्च भैरवः धारणात्तस्य पूर्णायुर्मृतो भवति शूलभृत्

The eight-faced Rudrākṣa, the form of Vasu and Bhairava, when worn, grants full lifespan; even the dead become bearers of the trident.

भैरवोनववक्त्रश्च कपिलश्चमुनिःस्मृतः दुर्गावातदधिष्ठात्री नवरूपामहेश्वरी

Bhairava is nine-faced, and Kapila is remembered as a sage; Durgā is the presiding goddess, and Maheśvarī has nine forms.

तं धारयेद्वामहस्ते रुद्राक्षंभक्तितत्परः सर्वेश्वरोभवेन्नूनंमम तुल्यो न संशयः

Whoever wears that Rudrākṣa on the left hand with devotion becomes the Lord of all, certainly equal to me, without doubt.

दशवक्त्रो महेशानि स्वयं देवो जनार्दनः धारणात्तस्य देवेशि सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

The ten-faced Maheśāni is the god Janārdana himself; when worn, O Lady of the Gods, one attains all desires.

एकादशमुखोयस्तुरुद्राक्षःपरमेश्वरि सरुद्रोधारणात्तस्यसर्वत्रविजयीभवेत्

The eleven-faced Rudrākṣa, O Supreme Lady, when worn with Rudra, makes one victorious everywhere.

द्वादशास्यं तु रुद्राक्षं धारयेत्केशदेशके आदित्याश्चैव ते सर्वेद्वादशैव स्थितास्तथा

The twelve-faced Rudrākṣa should be worn on the head; all twelve Adityas are established therein.

त्रयोदशमुखो विश्वेदेवस्तद्धारणान्नरः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति सौभाग्यं मंगलंलभेत्

The thirteen-faced Rudrākṣa is Viśvedeva; by wearing it, a person attains all desires, good fortune, and auspiciousness.

चतुर्दशमुखो यो हि रुद्राक्षः परमःशिवः धारयेन्मूर्ध्नि तं भक्त्यासर्वपापं प्रणश्यति

The fourteen-faced Rudrākṣa is the supreme Śiva; when worn on the head with devotion, all sins are destroyed.

इतिरुद्राक्षभेदा हि प्रोक्तावैमुखभेदतः

Thus, the types of Rudrākṣa have been described according to the distinction of faces.

भक्तिश्रद्धायुतश्चैव सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये रुद्राक्षान्धारयेन्मंत्रैर्देवनालस्य वर्जितः

One should wear Rudrākṣas with devotion and faith, accompanied by mantras, for the attainment of all desired goals, avoiding laziness toward the gods.

विना मंत्रेण हो धत्ते रुद्राक्षं भुविमानवः स याति नरकं घोरं यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश

If a person wears Rudrākṣa on earth without a mantra, he goes to terrible hell for as long as the fourteen Indras.

रुद्राक्षमालिनंदृष्ट्वा भूतप्रेतपिशाचकाः डाकिनीशाकिनी चैव ये चान्ये द्रोहकारकाः

Upon seeing one adorned with Rudrākṣa, ghosts, spirits, fiends, ḍākinīs, śākinīs, and other harmful beings flee.

कृत्रिमं चैव यत्किंचिदभिचारादिकंचयात् तत्सर्वंदूरतोयातिदृष्ट्वा शंकितविग्रहम्

Any artificial or magical harm, such as sorcery, seeing the one adorned with Rudrākṣa, departs far away, fearing his form.

रुद्राक्षमालिनं दृष्ट्वा शिवो विष्णुः प्रसीदति देवीगणपतिस्सूर्यःसुराश्चान्येपिपार्वति

Upon seeing one adorned with Rudrākṣa, Śiva, Viṣṇu, the goddess, Gaṇapati, Sūrya, and other gods, O Pārvatī, become pleased.

एवंज्ञात्वातुमाहात्म्यंरुद्राक्षस्यमहेश्वरि सम्यग्धार्यास्समंत्राश्चभक्त्याधर्मविवृद्धये

Thus knowing the greatness of the Rudraksha, O Great Goddess, it should be properly worn with mantras and devotion, for the increase of righteousness.

इत्युक्तंगिरिजाग्रेहिशिवेनपरमात्मना भस्मरूद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्

So was spoken, at the beginning, to Girija by Shiva, the Supreme Self: the greatness of ash and Rudraksha, which bestows both enjoyment and liberation.

शिवस्यातिप्रियौज्ञेयौ भस्मरुद्राक्षधारिणौ तद्धारणप्रभावद्धि भुक्तिर्मुक्तिर्न संशयः

Know that the wearer of ash and Rudraksha is exceedingly dear to Shiva; by the power of wearing them, enjoyment and liberation are attained without doubt.

भस्मरुद्राक्षधारी यः शिवभक्तस्स उच्यते पञ्चाक्षरजपासक्तः परिपूर्णश्चसन्मुखे

He who wears ash and Rudraksha and is devoted to Shiva, engaged in reciting the five-syllabled mantra, is said to be completely fulfilled and facing the auspicious.

विनाभस्मत्रिपुंड्रेणविनारुद्राक्षमालया पूजितोपिमहादेवोनाभीष्टफलदायकः

Without the three lines of ash and without the Rudraksha garland, even if worshipped, the great god does not grant the desired fruits.

तत्सर्वं च समाख्यातं यत्पृष्टंहिमुनीश्वर भस्मरुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं सर्वकामसमृद्धिदम्

All that you asked, O lord of sages, has been explained: the greatness of ash and Rudraksha, which brings fulfillment of all desires.

एतद्यःशृणुयान्नित्यंमाहात्म्यपरमंशुभम् रुद्राक्षभस्मनोर्भक्त्यासर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

Whoever hears daily this supreme and auspicious greatness of Rudraksha and ash, with devotion, attains all desires.

इह सर्वसुखं भुक्त्वा पुत्रपौत्रादिसंयुतः लभेत्परत्र सन्मोक्षं शिवस्यातिप्रियो भवेत्

Here, enjoying all happiness together with sons and grandsons, he attains supreme liberation hereafter and becomes exceedingly dear to Shiva.

विद्येश्वरसंहितेयं कथिता वो मुनीश्वराः सर्वसिद्धिप्रदा नित्यंमुक्तिदा शिवशासनात्

This has been told to you, O best of sages, from the Vidyeshvara Samhita; it always grants all accomplishments and liberation, by Shiva's command.

नमश्शिवाय सोमाय सगणाय ससूनवे प्रधानपुरुषेशाय सर्गस्थित्यंतहेतवे

Salutations to Shiva, to Soma, to him with his attendants and sons, to the lord of Pradhana and Purusha, the cause of creation, preservation, and destruction.