Description of the Glory of the Rudraksha (facets and deities)

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.11.7.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । एवं नारद षड्वक्त्रो गिरिशेन विबोधितः । रुद्राक्षमहिमानं च ज्ञात्वासीत्स कृतार्थकः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca evaṁ nārada ṣaḍvaktro giriśena vibodhitaḥ rudrākṣamahimānaṁ ca jñātvāsītsa kṛtārthakaḥ

Shri Narayana said: Thus, O Narada, the six-faced Kartikeya was instructed by Girisha, and having learned the greatness of the rudraksha, he became fulfilled.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.11.7.2)

इत्थं भूतानुभावोऽयं रुद्राक्षो वर्णितो मया । सदाचारप्रसङ्गेन शृणु चान्यत्समाहितः

itthaṁ bhūtānubhāvo'yaṁ rudrākṣo varṇito mayā sadācāraprasaṅgena śṛṇu cānyatsamāhitaḥ

Thus have I described the true power of this rudraksha, in the context of right conduct. Now listen further, with a composed mind, to what remains.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.11.7.3)

यथा रुद्राक्षमहिमा वर्णितोऽनन्तपुण्यदः । लक्षणं मन्त्रविन्यासं तथाहं वर्णयामि ते

yathā rudrākṣamahimā varṇito'nantapuṇyadaḥ lakṣaṇaṁ mantravinyāsaṁ tathāhaṁ varṇayāmi te

Just as the boundless-merit-giving greatness of the rudraksha has been described, so shall I now describe to you its further characteristics and the placement of mantras upon it.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.11.7.4)

लक्षं तु दर्शनात्युण्यं कोटिस्तत्स्पर्शनाद्भवेत् । तस्य कोटिगुणं पुण्यं लभते धारणान्नरः

lakṣaṁ tu darśanātyuṇyaṁ koṭistatsparśanādbhavet tasya koṭiguṇaṁ puṇyaṁ labhate dhāraṇānnaraḥ

A hundred-thousand-fold merit comes from mere sight of it, a crore-fold from touching it, and a crore times that merit again a man obtains from wearing it.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.11.7.5)

लक्षकोटिसहस्राणि लक्षकोटिशतानि च । तज्जपाल्लभते पुण्यं नरो रुद्राक्षधारणात्

lakṣakoṭisahasrāṇi lakṣakoṭiśatāni ca tajjapāllabhate puṇyaṁ naro rudrākṣadhāraṇāt

Thousands upon thousands, and hundreds upon hundreds, of hundred-thousand-crore-fold merit — a man obtains through japa performed while wearing the rudraksha.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.11.7.6)

रुद्राक्षाणां तु भद्राक्षधारणात्स्यान्महाफलम् । धात्रीफलप्रमाणं यच्छ्रेष्ठमेतदुदाहृतम्

rudrākṣāṇāṁ tu bhadrākṣadhāraṇātsyānmahāphalam dhātrīphalapramāṇaṁ yacchreṣṭhametadudāhṛtam

Among rudrakshas, wearing an auspicious one yields great fruit. That which is the size of an amalaka fruit is declared to be the finest.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.11.7.7)

बदरीफलमात्रं तु प्रोच्यते मध्यमं बुधैः । अधमं चणमात्रं स्यात्प्रतिज्ञैषा मयोदिता

badarīphalamātraṁ tu procyate madhyamaṁ budhaiḥ adhamaṁ caṇamātraṁ syātpratijñaiṣā mayoditā

That which is only the size of a jujube fruit is said by the wise to be middling; that of the size of a gram is the lowest — this rule has been declared by me.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.11.7.8)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चेति शिवाज्ञया । वृक्षा जाताः पृथिव्यां तु तज्जातीयाः शुभाक्षकाः

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāśceti śivājñayā vṛkṣā jātāḥ pṛthivyāṁ tu tajjātīyāḥ śubhākṣakāḥ

By Shiva's command, trees corresponding to the brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, and shudra classes arose upon the earth, and the auspicious beads take the kind of their respective tree.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.11.7.9)

श्वेतास्तु ब्राह्मणा ज्ञेयाः क्षत्रिया रक्तवर्णकाः । पीता वैश्यास्तु विज्ञेयाः कृष्णाः शूद्राः प्रकीर्तिताः

śvetāstu brāhmaṇā jñeyāḥ kṣatriyā raktavarṇakāḥ pītā vaiśyāstu vijñeyāḥ kṛṣṇāḥ śūdrāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

The white ones should be known as brahmin; the red-colored as kshatriya; the yellow should be known as vaishya; and the black are declared to be shudra.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.11.7.10)

ब्राह्मणो बिभृयाच्छ्वेतान् रक्तान् राजा तु धारयेत् । पीतान्वैश्यस्तु बिभृयात्कृष्णान् शूद्रस्तु धारयेत्

brāhmaṇo bibhṛyācchvetān raktān rājā tu dhārayet pītānvaiśyastu bibhṛyātkṛṣṇān śūdrastu dhārayet

A brahmin should wear the white ones; a king should wear the red; a vaishya should wear the yellow; and a shudra should wear the black.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.11.7.11)

समाः स्निग्धा दृढास्तद्वत्कण्टकैः संयुताः शुभाः । कृमिदष्टाञ्छिन्नभिन्नान्कण्टकैरहितांस्तथा

samāḥ snigdhā dṛḍhāstadvatkaṇṭakaiḥ saṁyutāḥ śubhāḥ kṛmidaṣṭāñchinnabhinnānkaṇṭakairahitāṁstathā

Auspicious beads are those that are even, smooth, firm, and furnished with their natural thorny points. Those bitten by worms, broken or split,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.11.7.12)

व्रणयुक्तानावृतांश्च षड्रुद्राक्षांस्तु वर्जयेत् । स्वयमेव कृतद्वारो रुद्राक्षः स्यादिहोत्तमः

vraṇayuktānāvṛtāṁśca ṣaḍrudrākṣāṁstu varjayet svayameva kṛtadvāro rudrākṣaḥ syādihottamaḥ

those devoid of their thorny points, those with blemishes, and those artificially covered — these six kinds of rudraksha should be rejected. A rudraksha whose hole for stringing has formed by itself is the best kind.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.11.7.13)

यत्तु पौरुषयत्नेन कृतं तन्मध्यमं भवेत् । समान्स्निग्धान्दृढान्वृत्तान्क्षौमसूत्रेण धारयेत्

yattu pauruṣayatnena kṛtaṁ tanmadhyamaṁ bhavet samānsnigdhāndṛḍhānvṛttānkṣaumasūtreṇa dhārayet

That whose hole is made through human effort is of the middling kind. One should string beads that are even, smooth, firm, and round, upon a linen thread.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.11.7.14)

सर्वगात्रेषु साम्येन समानातिविलक्षणा । निर्घर्षे हेमलेखाभा यत्र लेखा प्रदृश्यते

sarvagātreṣu sāmyena samānātivilakṣaṇā nirgharṣe hemalekhābhā yatra lekhā pradṛśyate

The best beads are uniform in every part, evenly matched and yet each strikingly distinct; when rubbed, a bead on which a streak resembling a golden line appears —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.11.7.15)

तदक्षमुत्तमं विद्यात्स धार्यः शिवपूजकैः । शिखायामेकरुद्राक्षं त्रिंशद्वै शिरसा वहेत्

tadakṣamuttamaṁ vidyātsa dhāryaḥ śivapūjakaiḥ śikhāyāmekarudrākṣaṁ triṁśadvai śirasā vahet

that bead should be known as the best; it should be worn by worshippers of Shiva. One should wear a single rudraksha on the tuft of hair, and thirty upon the head.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.11.7.16)

षट्त्रिंशच्च गले धार्या बाह्वोः षोडश षोडश । मणिबन्धे द्वादशाक्षान्स्कन्धे पञ्चाशतं भवेत्

ṣaṭtriṁśacca gale dhāryā bāhvoḥ ṣoḍaśa ṣoḍaśa maṇibandhe dvādaśākṣānskandhe pañcāśataṁ bhavet

Thirty-six should be worn at the throat; sixteen and sixteen on the two arms; twelve beads at the wrist; and fifty upon the shoulder.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.11.7.17)

अष्टोत्तरशतैर्मालोपवीतं च प्रकल्पयेत् । द्विसरं त्रिसरं वापि बिभृयात्कण्ठदेशतः

aṣṭottaraśatairmālopavītaṁ ca prakalpayet dvisaraṁ trisaraṁ vāpi bibhṛyātkaṇṭhadeśataḥ

With one hundred and eight beads one should fashion a rosary worn as the sacred thread. One may also wear, at the throat, a double or triple strand.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.11.7.18)

कुण्डले मुकुटे चैव कर्णिकाहारकेषु च । केयूरे कटके चैव कुक्षिवंशे तथैव च

kuṇḍale mukuṭe caiva karṇikāhārakeṣu ca keyūre kaṭake caiva kukṣivaṁśe tathaiva ca

In earrings, in a crown, in ear-ornaments and necklaces, in armlets, in bracelets, and likewise around the waist —

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.11.7.19)

सुप्ते पीते सर्वकालं रुद्राक्षं धारयेन्नरः । त्रिशतं त्वधमं पञ्चशतं मध्यममुच्यते

supte pīte sarvakālaṁ rudrākṣaṁ dhārayennaraḥ triśataṁ tvadhamaṁ pañcaśataṁ madhyamamucyate

a man should wear the rudraksha at all times — while sleeping, while drinking. Three hundred beads is called the lowest measure, five hundred the middling,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.11.7.20)

सहस्रमुत्तमं प्रोक्तं चैवं भेदेन धारयेत् । शिरसीशानमन्त्रेण कर्णे तत्पुरुषेण च

sahasramuttamaṁ proktaṁ caivaṁ bhedena dhārayet śirasīśānamantreṇa karṇe tatpuruṣeṇa ca

and a thousand is declared the best; one should wear them accordingly, in these grades. On the head, with the Ishana mantra; on the ear, with the Tatpurusha mantra;

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.11.7.21)

अघोरेण ललाटे तु तेनैव हृदयेऽपि च । अघोरबीजमन्त्रेण करयोर्धारयेत्पुनः

aghoreṇa lalāṭe tu tenaiva hṛdaye'pi ca aghorabījamantreṇa karayordhārayetpunaḥ

on the forehead, with the Aghora mantra, and likewise on the heart with that same mantra; and again, on the two hands, with the Aghora seed-mantra.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.11.7.22)

पञ्चाशदक्षग्रथितां वामदेवेन चोदरे । पञ्चब्रह्मभिरङ्गैश्चाप्येवं रुद्राक्षधारणम्

pañcāśadakṣagrathitāṁ vāmadevena codare pañcabrahmabhiraṅgaiścāpyevaṁ rudrākṣadhāraṇam

On the belly, a strand of fifty beads strung together, with the Vamadeva mantra. Thus is the wearing of rudraksha performed together with the five Brahma-mantras and their auxiliary limbs.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.11.7.23)

ग्रथितान्मूलमन्त्रेण सर्वानक्षांस्तु धारयेत् । एकवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षः परतत्त्वप्रकाशकः

grathitānmūlamantreṇa sarvānakṣāṁstu dhārayet ekavaktrastu rudrākṣaḥ paratattvaprakāśakaḥ

One should wear all the beads, strung together, with the root mantra. The one-faced rudraksha is the revealer of the Supreme Truth;

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.11.7.24)

परतत्त्वधारणाच्च जायते तत्प्रकाशनम् । द्विवक्त्रस्तु मुनिश्रेष्ठ अर्धनारीश्वरो भवेत्

paratattvadhāraṇācca jāyate tatprakāśanam dvivaktrastu muniśreṣṭha ardhanārīśvaro bhavet

through wearing it, the revelation of the Supreme Truth is born. O best of sages, the two-faced is the form of Ardhanarishvara;

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.11.7.25)

धारणादर्धनारीशः प्रीयते तस्य नित्यशः । त्रिवक्त्रस्त्वनलः साक्षात्स्त्रीहत्यां दहति क्षणात्

dhāraṇādardhanārīśaḥ prīyate tasya nityaśaḥ trivaktrastvanalaḥ sākṣātstrīhatyāṁ dahati kṣaṇāt

through wearing it, Ardhanarishvara becomes ever pleased with him. The three-faced is Agni himself, and instantly burns away the sin of killing a woman.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.11.7.26)

त्रिमुखश्चैव रुद्राक्षोऽप्यग्नित्रयस्वरूपकः । तद्धारणाच्च हुतभुक् तस्य तुष्यति नित्यशः

trimukhaścaiva rudrākṣo'pyagnitrayasvarūpakaḥ taddhāraṇācca hutabhuk tasya tuṣyati nityaśaḥ

The three-faced rudraksha is also of the very form of the three sacred fires; through wearing it, Agni becomes ever pleased with him.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.11.7.27)

चतुर्मुखस्तु रुद्राक्षः पितामहस्वरूपकः । तद्धारणान्महाश्रीमान्महदारोग्यमुत्तमम्

caturmukhastu rudrākṣaḥ pitāmahasvarūpakaḥ taddhāraṇānmahāśrīmānmahadārogyamuttamam

The four-faced rudraksha is of the very form of the Grandsire Brahma; by wearing it one gains great prosperity and excellent, robust health,

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.11.7.28)

महती ज्ञानसम्पत्तिः शुद्धये धारयेन्नरः । पञ्चमुखस्तु रुद्राक्षः पञ्चब्रह्मस्वरूपकः

mahatī jñānasampattiḥ śuddhaye dhārayennaraḥ pañcamukhastu rudrākṣaḥ pañcabrahmasvarūpakaḥ

and great wealth of knowledge. A man should wear it for the sake of purity. The five-faced rudraksha is of the very form of the five Brahma-aspects of Shiva;

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.11.7.29)

तस्य धारणमात्रेण सन्तुष्यति महेश्वरः । षड्वक्त्रश्चैव रुद्राक्षः कार्तिकेयाधिदैवतः

tasya dhāraṇamātreṇa santuṣyati maheśvaraḥ ṣaḍvaktraścaiva rudrākṣaḥ kārtikeyādhidaivataḥ

by the mere wearing of it, Maheshvara becomes pleased. The six-faced rudraksha has Kartikeya as its presiding deity;

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.11.7.30)

विनायकं चापि देवं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । सप्तवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षः सप्तमात्राधिदैवतः

vināyakaṁ cāpi devaṁ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ saptavaktrastu rudrākṣaḥ saptamātrādhidaivataḥ

the wise also declare it to be associated with the god Vinayaka. The seven-faced rudraksha has the seven Matrikas as its presiding deities,

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.11.7.31)

सप्ताश्वदैवतश्चैव मुनिसप्तकदैवतः । तद्धारणान्महाश्रीः स्यान्महदारोग्यमुत्तमम्

saptāśvadaivataścaiva munisaptakadaivataḥ taddhāraṇānmahāśrīḥ syānmahadārogyamuttamam

and likewise the seven horses of the Sun and the seven sages as its deities; by wearing it one gains great prosperity and excellent, robust health,

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.11.7.32)

महती ज्ञानसम्पत्तिः शुचिर्वै धारयेन्नरः । अष्टवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षोऽप्यष्टमात्राधिदैवतः

mahatī jñānasampattiḥ śucirvai dhārayennaraḥ aṣṭavaktrastu rudrākṣo'pyaṣṭamātrādhidaivataḥ

and great wealth of knowledge. A pure man should wear it. The eight-faced rudraksha has the eight Matrikas as its presiding deities,

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.11.7.33)

वस्वष्टकप्रीतिकरो गङ्गाप्रीतिकरः शुभः । तद्धारणादिमे प्रीता भवेयुः सत्यवादिनः

vasvaṣṭakaprītikaro gaṅgāprītikaraḥ śubhaḥ taddhāraṇādime prītā bhaveyuḥ satyavādinaḥ

and is auspicious, pleasing the eight Vasus and pleasing the Ganga. By wearing it, these truthful deities become pleased with the wearer.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.11.7.34)

नववक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षो यमदेव उदाहृतः । तद्धारणाद्यमभयं न भवत्येव सर्वथा

navavaktrastu rudrākṣo yamadeva udāhṛtaḥ taddhāraṇādyamabhayaṁ na bhavatyeva sarvathā

The nine-faced rudraksha is declared to be the god Yama; by wearing it, fear of Yama never arises at all.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.11.7.35)

दशवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षो दशाशादैवतः स्मृतः । दशाशाप्रीतिजनको धारणे नात्र संशयः

daśavaktrastu rudrākṣo daśāśādaivataḥ smṛtaḥ daśāśāprītijanako dhāraṇe nātra saṁśayaḥ

The ten-faced rudraksha is remembered as having the ten directions as its deities; wearing it brings about the pleasure of the ten directions — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.11.7.36)

एकादशमुखस्त्वक्षो रुद्रैकादशदैवतः । तमिन्द्रदैवतं चाहुः सदा सौख्यविवर्धनम्

ekādaśamukhastvakṣo rudraikādaśadaivataḥ tamindradaivataṁ cāhuḥ sadā saukhyavivardhanam

The eleven-faced bead has the Eleven Rudras as its deities; they also call it presided over by Indra, ever increasing happiness.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.11.7.37)

रुद्राक्षो द्वादशमुखो महाविष्णुस्वरूपकः । द्वादशादित्यदैवश्च बिभर्त्येव हि तत्परः

rudrākṣo dvādaśamukho mahāviṣṇusvarūpakaḥ dvādaśādityadaivaśca bibhartyeva hi tatparaḥ

The twelve-faced rudraksha is of the very form of Maha-Vishnu, and has the twelve Adityas as its deities; one devoted to that deity wears it.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.11.7.38)

त्रयोदशमुखश्चाक्षः कामदः सिद्धिदः शुभः । तस्य धारणमात्रेण कामदेवः प्रसीदति

trayodaśamukhaścākṣaḥ kāmadaḥ siddhidaḥ śubhaḥ tasya dhāraṇamātreṇa kāmadevaḥ prasīdati

The thirteen-faced bead grants desires, bestows accomplishment, and is auspicious; by the mere wearing of it, Kamadeva becomes pleased.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.11.7.39)

चतुर्दशमुखश्चाक्षो रुद्रनेत्रसमुद्भवः । सर्वव्याधिहरश्चैव सर्वारोग्यप्रदायकः

caturdaśamukhaścākṣo rudranetrasamudbhavaḥ sarvavyādhiharaścaiva sarvārogyapradāyakaḥ

The fourteen-faced bead arose from the eye of Rudra; it removes every disease and bestows complete health.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.11.7.40)

मद्यं मांसं च लशुनं पलाण्डुं शिग्रुमेव च । श्लेष्मातकं विड्वराहं भक्षणे वर्जयेत्ततः

madyaṁ māṁsaṁ ca laśunaṁ palāṇḍuṁ śigrumeva ca śleṣmātakaṁ viḍvarāhaṁ bhakṣaṇe varjayettataḥ

The wearer of rudraksha should thereafter avoid, in eating, liquor, meat, garlic, onion, the drumstick tree, the shleshmataka fruit, and the flesh of the scavenging pig.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.11.7.41)

ग्रहणे विषुवे चैव सङ्क्रमे त्वयने तथा । दर्शे च पौर्णमासे च पुण्येषु दिवसेष्वपि । रुद्राक्षधारणात्सद्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

grahaṇe viṣuve caiva saṅkrame tvayane tathā darśe ca paurṇamāse ca puṇyeṣu divaseṣvapi rudrākṣadhāraṇātsadyaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

During an eclipse, at the equinox, at a solar transit, at a solstice, on the new-moon day, on the full-moon day, and on other sacred days as well — by wearing the rudraksha one is instantly released from all sins.