The Glory of the Rudraksha and the Greatness of Shiva's Name

Verse 1 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत महाभाग व्यासशिष्य नमोऽस्तु ते । तदेव व्यासतो ब्रूहि भस्ममाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ 23.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sūta mahābhāga vyāsaśiṣya namo’stu te tadeva vyāsato brūhi bhasmamāhātmyamuttamam

The sages said: O Suta, Suta, most fortunate disciple of Vyasa, salutation to you! Tell us that supreme greatness of Bhasma, as heard from Vyasa.

Verse 2 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.2)

तथा रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं नाममाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । त्रितयं ब्रूहि सुप्रीत्या ममानन्दय मानसम् ॥ 23.2 ॥

tathā rudrākṣamāhātmyaṁ nāmamāhātmyamuttamam tritayaṁ brūhi suprītyā mamānandaya mānasam

And likewise the greatness of the rudraksha, and the supreme greatness of Shiva's Name — tell us these three with great pleasure, and gladden our minds.

Verse 3 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.3)

सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्टं भवद्भिश्च लोकानां हितकारकम् । भवन्तो वै महाधन्याः पवित्राः कुलभूषणाः ॥ 23.3 ॥

sūta uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ bhavadbhiśca lokānāṁ hitakārakam bhavanto vai mahādhanyāḥ pavitrāḥ kulabhūṣaṇāḥ

Suta said: You have asked an excellent question, beneficial for the welfare of the world; you are truly most fortunate, pure, and ornaments of your lineage.

Verse 4 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.4)

येषां चैव शिवः साक्षाद् दैवतं परमं शुभम् । सदाशिवकथा लोके वल्लभा भवतां सदा ॥ 23.4 ॥

yeṣāṁ caiva śivaḥ sākṣād daivataṁ paramaṁ śubham sadāśivakathā loke vallabhā bhavatāṁ sadā

For those to whom Shiva himself is directly the supreme, auspicious deity, the story of Sadashiva is always dear in this world — as it is to you.

Verse 5 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.5)

ते धन्याश्च कृतार्थाश्च सफलं देहधारणम् । उद्धृतं च कुलं तेषां ये शिवं समुपासते ॥ 23.5 ॥

te dhanyāśca kṛtārthāśca saphalaṁ dehadhāraṇam uddhṛtaṁ ca kulaṁ teṣāṁ ye śivaṁ samupāsate

Those who worship Shiva are blessed and fulfilled; the bearing of their body becomes fruitful, and their lineage is uplifted.

Verse 6 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.6)

शिवनाम मुखे यस्य सदा शिवशिवेति च । पापानि न स्पृशन्त्येव खदिराङ्गारकं यथा ॥ 23.6 ॥

śivanāma mukhe yasya sadā śivaśiveti ca pāpāni na spṛśantyeva khadirāṅgārakaṁ yathā

One in whose mouth Shiva's name, 'Shiva, Shiva,' always dwells is never touched by sin at all — just as nothing can cling to a burning ember of khadira wood.

Verse 7 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.7)

श्रीशिवाय नमस्तुभ्यं मुखं व्याहरते यदा । तन्मुखं पावनं तीर्थं सर्वपापविनाशनम् ॥ 23.7 ॥

śrīśivāya namastubhyaṁ mukhaṁ vyāharate yadā tanmukhaṁ pāvanaṁ tīrthaṁ sarvapāpavināśanam

When the mouth utters 'Salutation to glorious Shiva,' that very mouth becomes a purifying tirtha, destroying all sin.

Verse 8 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.8)

तन्मुखं च तथा यो वै पश्यति प्रीतिमान्नरः । तीर्थजन्यं फलं तस्य भवतीति सुनिश्चितम् ॥ 23.8 ॥

tanmukhaṁ ca tathā yo vai paśyati prītimānnaraḥ tīrthajanyaṁ phalaṁ tasya bhavatīti suniścitam

And whoever gazes upon that mouth with delight, for him too, most certainly, arises the very fruit that comes from pilgrimage.

Verse 9 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.9)

यत्र त्रयं सदा तिष्ठेदेतच्छुभतरं द्विजाः । तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण वेणीस्नानफलं लभेत् ॥ 23.9 ॥

yatra trayaṁ sadā tiṣṭhedetacchubhataraṁ dvijāḥ tasya darśanamātreṇa veṇīsnānaphalaṁ labhet

Where these three — the Name, the ash, and the rudraksha — always abide together, that is more auspicious still, O brahmins; by the mere sight of such a person, one obtains the fruit of bathing at the sacred confluence.

Verse 10 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.10)

शिवनाम विभूतिश्च तथा रुद्राक्ष एव च । एतत्त्रयं महापुण्यं त्रिवेणीसदृशं स्मृतम् ॥ 23.10 ॥

śivanāma vibhūtiśca tathā rudrākṣa eva ca etattrayaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ triveṇīsadṛśaṁ smṛtam

Shiva's Name, sacred ash, and likewise the rudraksha — these three are held to be of great merit, comparable to the Triveni confluence.

Verse 11 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.11)

एतत्त्रयं शरीरे च यस्य तिष्ठति नित्यशः । तस्यैव दर्शनं लोके दुर्लभं पापहारकम् ॥ 23.11 ॥

etattrayaṁ śarīre ca yasya tiṣṭhati nityaśaḥ tasyaiva darśanaṁ loke durlabhaṁ pāpahārakam

One in whose body these three constantly abide — the very sight of him is rare in this world, and it removes sin.

Verse 12 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.12)

तद्दर्शनं यथा वेणी नोभयोरन्तरं मनाक् । एवं यो न विजानाति स पापिष्ठो न संशयः ॥ 23.12 ॥

taddarśanaṁ yathā veṇī nobhayorantaraṁ manāk evaṁ yo na vijānāti sa pāpiṣṭho na saṁśayaḥ

Just as at that confluence there remains not the slightest distance between the two rivers, so too, whoever fails to recognize this truth is, without doubt, exceedingly sinful.

Verse 13 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.13)

विभूतिर्यस्य नो भाले नाङ्गे रुद्राक्षधारणम् । नास्ये शिवमयी वाणी तं त्यजेदधमं यथा ॥ 23.13 ॥

vibhūtiryasya no bhāle nāṅge rudrākṣadhāraṇam nāsye śivamayī vāṇī taṁ tyajedadhamaṁ yathā

One on whose forehead there is no sacred ash, on whose limbs no rudraksha is worn, and in whose mouth there is no speech filled with Shiva — such a one should be shunned as base.

Verse 14 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.14)

शैवं नाम यथा गङ्गा विभूतिर्यमुना मता । रुद्राक्षं विधिजा प्रोक्ता सर्वपापविनाशिनी ॥ 23.14 ॥

śaivaṁ nāma yathā gaṅgā vibhūtiryamunā matā rudrākṣaṁ vidhijā proktā sarvapāpavināśinī

The Shaiva Name is held to be like the Ganga, sacred ash is held to be like the Yamuna, and the rudraksha, born by divine ordinance, is declared to be like the Sarasvati — together destroying all sin.

Verse 15 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.15)

शरीरे च त्रयं यस्य तत्फलं चैकतः स्थितम् । एकतो वेणिकायाश्च स्नानजं तु फलं बुधैः ॥ 23.15 ॥

śarīre ca trayaṁ yasya tatphalaṁ caikataḥ sthitam ekato veṇikāyāśca snānajaṁ tu phalaṁ budhaiḥ

The fruit belonging to one in whose body these three abide stands on one side; and on the other side, the wise place merely the fruit born of bathing at the sacred confluence.

Verse 16 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.16)

तदेवं तुलितं पूर्वं ब्रह्मणा हितकारिणा । समानं चैव तज्जातं तस्माद् धार्यं सदा बुधैः ॥ 23.16 ॥

tadevaṁ tulitaṁ pūrvaṁ brahmaṇā hitakāriṇā samānaṁ caiva tajjātaṁ tasmād dhāryaṁ sadā budhaiḥ

Thus these two were formerly weighed and compared by Brahma, who wished well for all; they were found equal — therefore the wise should always wear these three.

Verse 17 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.17)

तद्दिनं हि समारभ्य ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिः सुरैः । धार्यते त्रितयं तच्च दर्शनात्पापहारकम् ॥ 23.17 ॥

taddinaṁ hi samārabhya brahmaviṣṇvādibhiḥ suraiḥ dhāryate tritayaṁ tacca darśanātpāpahārakam

From that very day, this triad has been worn even by Brahma, Vishnu, and the other gods; and by the mere sight of it, sin is removed.

Verse 18 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.18)

ऋष्य ऊचुः । ईदृशं हि फलं प्रोक्तं नामादित्रितयोद्भवम् । तन्माहात्म्यं विशेषेण वक्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत ॥ 23.18 ॥

ṛṣya ūcuḥ īdṛśaṁ hi phalaṁ proktaṁ nāmāditritayodbhavam tanmāhātmyaṁ viśeṣeṇa vaktumarhasi suvrata

The sages said: Such is the fruit you have declared, arising from this triad beginning with the Name; now, O one of excellent vows, please tell us its greatness in particular detail.

Verse 19 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.19)

सूत उवाच । ऋषयो हि महाप्राज्ञाः सच्छैवा ज्ञानिनां वराः । तन्माहात्म्यं हि सद्भक्त्या शृणुतादरतो द्विजाः ॥ 23.19 ॥

sūta uvāca ṛṣayo hi mahāprājñāḥ sacchaivā jñānināṁ varāḥ tanmāhātmyaṁ hi sadbhaktyā śaṛṇutādarato dvijāḥ

Suta said: The sages are indeed of great wisdom, true Shaivas, the best among the wise; O brahmins, hear that greatness with true devotion and reverence.

Verse 20 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.20)

सुगूढमपि शास्त्रेषु पुराणेषु श्रुतिष्वपि । भवत्स्नेहान्मया विप्राः प्रकाशः क्रियतेऽधुना ॥ 23.20 ॥

sugūḍhamapi śāstreṣu purāṇeṣu śrutiṣvapi bhavatsnehānmayā viprāḥ prakāśaḥ kriyate’dhunā

Though it is deeply hidden even in the scriptures, the Puranas, and the Shrutis, out of affection for you, O brahmins, I now bring it into the light.

Verse 21 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.21)

कस्तत्त्रितयमाहात्म्यं सञ्जानाति द्विजोत्तमाः । महेश्वरं विना सर्वं ब्रह्माण्डे सदसत्परम् ॥ 23.21 ॥

kastattritayamāhātmyaṁ sañjānāti dvijottamāḥ maheśvaraṁ vinā sarvaṁ brahmāṇḍe sadasatparam

O best of brahmins, who can fully know the greatness of that triad? Apart from Maheshvara, all that exists or does not exist in the universe is limited.

Verse 22 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.22)

वच्म्यहं नाममाहात्म्यं यथाभक्ति समासतः । शृणुत प्रीतितो विप्राः सर्वपापहरं परम् ॥ 23.22 ॥

vacmyahaṁ nāmamāhātmyaṁ yathābhakti samāsataḥ śaṛṇuta prītito viprāḥ sarvapāpaharaṁ param

I shall tell, according to my own devotion, the greatness of Shiva's Name, in brief; hear it with delight, O brahmins — it is supreme, removing all sin.

Verse 23 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.23)

शिवेति नामदावाग्नेर्महापातकपर्वताः । भस्मीभवन्त्यनायासात्सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः ॥ 23.23 ॥

śiveti nāmadāvāgnermahāpātakaparvatāḥ bhasmībhavantyanāyāsātsatyaṁ satyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

By the wildfire that is the name 'Shiva,' even mountains of great sin are reduced to ashes without effort — this is true, truly true, without any doubt.

Verse 24 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.24)

पापमूलानि दुःखानि विविधान्यपि शौनक । शिवनामैकनश्यानि नान्यनश्यानि सर्वथा ॥ 23.24 ॥

pāpamūlāni duḥkhāni vividhānyapi śaunaka śivanāmaikanaśyāni nānyanaśyāni sarvathā

O Shaunaka, the various sorrows rooted in sin are destroyed by the Shiva-name alone; by no other means whatsoever are they destroyed.

Verse 25 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.25)

स वैदिकः स पुण्यात्मा स धन्यः स बुधो मतः । शिवनामजपासक्तो यो नित्यं भुवि मानवः ॥ 23.25 ॥

sa vaidikaḥ sa puṇyātmā sa dhanyaḥ sa budho mataḥ śivanāmajapāsakto yo nityaṁ bhuvi mānavaḥ

On this earth, that man who is ever devoted to the repetition of Shiva's Name — he alone is truly Vedic, he alone is of pure soul, he alone is blessed, he alone is deemed wise.

Verse 26 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.26)

भवन्ति विविधा धर्मास्तेषां सद्यः फलोन्मुखाः । येषां भवति विश्वासः शिवनामजपे मुने ॥ 23.26 ॥

bhavanti vividhā dharmāsteṣāṁ sadyaḥ phalonmukhāḥ yeṣāṁ bhavati viśvāsaḥ śivanāmajape mune

O sage, for those who have faith in the repetition of Shiva's Name, various acts of dharma become immediately fruit-bearing.

Verse 27 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.27)

पातकानि विनश्यन्ति यावन्ति शिवनामतः । भुवि तावन्ति पापानि क्रियन्ते न नरैर्मुने ॥ 23.27 ॥

pātakāni vinaśyanti yāvanti śivanāmataḥ bhuvi tāvanti pāpāni kriyante na narairmune

O sage, as many sins as are destroyed by Shiva's Name, that many sins are, in practice, never even committed by men on this earth.

Verse 28 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.28)

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां राशीनप्रमितान्मुने । शिवनाम द्रुतं प्रोक्तं नाशयत्यखिलान्नरैः ॥ 23.28 ॥

brahmahatyādipāpānāṁ rāśīnapramitānmune śivanāma drutaṁ proktaṁ nāśayatyakhilānnaraiḥ

O sage, the Shiva-name is declared to swiftly destroy, for men, even the immeasurable heaps of sins beginning with the slaying of a brahmin.

Verse 29 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.29)

शिवनामतरीं प्राप्य संसाराब्धिं तरन्ति ये । संसारमूलपापानि तानि नश्यन्त्यसंशयम् ॥ 23.29 ॥

śivanāmatarīṁ prāpya saṁsārābdhiṁ taranti ye saṁsāramūlapāpāni tāni naśyantyasaṁśayam

Those who cross the ocean of worldly existence, having found the boat that is Shiva's Name, have the sins rooted in that existence destroyed, without doubt.

Verse 30 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.30)

संसारमूलभूतानां पातकानां महामुने । शिवनामकुठारेण विनाशो जायते ध्रुवम् ॥ 23.30 ॥

saṁsāramūlabhūtānāṁ pātakānāṁ mahāmune śivanāmakuṭhāreṇa vināśo jāyate dhruvam

O great sage, sins that lie at the very root of worldly existence are, without doubt, destroyed by the axe that is Shiva's Name.

Verse 31 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.31)

शिवनामामृतं पेयं पापदावानलार्दितैः । पापदावाग्नितप्तानां शान्तिस्तेन विना न हि ॥ 23.31 ॥

śivanāmāmṛtaṁ peyaṁ pāpadāvānalārditaiḥ pāpadāvāgnitaptānāṁ śāntistena vinā na hi

The nectar of Shiva's Name is to be drunk by those tormented by the wildfire of sin; for those scorched by the fire of sin, there is no peace without it.

Verse 32 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.32)

शिवेति नामपीयूषवर्षधारापरिप्लुताः । संसारदवमध्येऽपि न शोचन्ति कदाचन ॥ 23.32 ॥

śiveti nāmapīyūṣavarṣadhārāpariplutāḥ saṁsāradavamadhye’pi na śocanti kadācana

Those drenched by the streams of the nectar-rain that is the name 'Shiva' never grieve, even amid the wildfire of worldly existence.

Verse 33 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.33)

शिवनाम्नि महद्भक्तिर्जाता येषां महात्मनाम् । तद्विधानां तु सहसा मुक्तिर्भवति सर्वथा ॥ 23.33 ॥

śivanāmni mahadbhaktirjātā yeṣāṁ mahātmanām tadvidhānāṁ tu sahasā muktirbhavati sarvathā

For those great souls in whom great devotion to Shiva's Name has arisen, liberation, for such ones, comes about swiftly and completely.

Verse 34 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.34)

अनेकजन्मभिर्येन तपस्तप्तं मुनीश्वर । शिवनाम्नि भवेद्भक्तिः सर्वपापापहारिणी ॥ 23.34 ॥

anekajanmabhiryena tapastaptaṁ munīśvara śivanāmni bhavedbhaktiḥ sarvapāpāpahāriṇī

O lord of sages, one by whom austerity has been performed across many births — in him alone arises devotion to Shiva's Name, which removes all sin.

Verse 35 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.35)

यस्यासाधारणी शम्भुनाम्नि भक्तिरखण्डिता । तस्यैव मोक्षः सुलभो नान्यस्येति मतिर्मम ॥ 23.35 ॥

yasyāsādhāraṇī śambhunāmni bhaktirakhaṇḍitā tasyaiva mokṣaḥ sulabho nānyasyeti matirmama

Whoever has unbroken, unparalleled devotion to Shambhu's Name — for him alone, in my view, is liberation easily attained, and for no one else.

Verse 36 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.36)

कृत्वाप्यनेकपापानि शिवनामजपादरः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो भवत्येव न संशयः ॥ 23.36 ॥

kṛtvāpyanekapāpāni śivanāmajapādaraḥ sarvapāpavinirmukto bhavatyeva na saṁśayaḥ

Even having committed many sins, a man devoted to the repetition of Shiva's Name is, without doubt, completely freed from all sin.

Verse 37 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.37)

भवन्ति भस्मसाद् वृक्षा दवदग्धा यथा वने । तथा तावन्ति दग्धानि पापानि शिवनामतः ॥ 23.37 ॥

bhavanti bhasmasād vṛkṣā davadagdhā yathā vane tathā tāvanti dagdhāni pāpāni śivanāmataḥ

Just as trees burned by a wildfire in the forest are reduced to ashes, so too, just so many sins are burned away by Shiva's Name.

Verse 38 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.38)

यो नित्यं भस्मपूताङ्गः शिवनामजपादरः । स तरत्येव संसारमघोरमपि शौनक ॥ 23.38 ॥

yo nityaṁ bhasmapūtāṅgaḥ śivanāmajapādaraḥ sa taratyeva saṁsāramaghoramapi śaunaka

O Shaunaka, whoever, his limbs ever purified by sacred ash, remains devoted to the repetition of Shiva's Name, crosses over even the most terrible worldly existence.

Verse 39 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.39)

ब्रह्मस्वहरणं कृत्वा हत्वापि ब्राह्मणान्बहून् । न लिप्यते नरः पापैः शिवनामजपादरः ॥ 23.39 ॥

brahmasvaharaṇaṁ kṛtvā hatvāpi brāhmaṇānbahūn na lipyate naraḥ pāpaiḥ śivanāmajapādaraḥ

Even having stolen a brahmin's wealth, even having killed many brahmins, a man devoted to the repetition of Shiva's Name is not tainted by those sins.

Verse 40 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.40)

विलोक्य वेदानखिलान् शिवनामजपः परः । संसारतरणोपाय इति पूर्वैर्विनिश्चितम् ॥ 23.40 ॥

vilokya vedānakhilān śivanāmajapaḥ paraḥ saṁsārataraṇopāya iti pūrvairviniścitam

Having examined all the Vedas, the ancients concluded that the repetition of Shiva's Name is the supreme means of crossing over worldly existence.

Verse 41 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.41)

किं बहूक्त्या मुनिश्रेष्ठाः श्लोकेनैकेन वच्म्यहम् । शिवाभिधानमाहात्म्यं सर्वपापापहारणम् ॥ 23.41 ॥

kiṁ bahūktyā muniśreṣṭhāḥ ślokenaikena vacmyaham śivābhidhānamāhātmyaṁ sarvapāpāpahāraṇam

What need is there of saying more, O best of sages — in a single verse I shall tell you the greatness of Shiva's Name, which removes all sin.

Verse 42 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.42)

पापानां हरणे शम्भोर्नाम्नः शक्तिर्हि यावती । शक्नोति पातकं तावत्कर्तुं नापि नरः क्वचित् ॥ 23.42 ॥

pāpānāṁ haraṇe śambhornāmnaḥ śaktirhi yāvatī śaknoti pātakaṁ tāvatkartuṁ nāpi naraḥ kvacit

However great the power of Shambhu's Name is in removing sin, a man is never able, anywhere, to commit sin to that same extent.

Verse 43 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.43)

शिवनामप्रभावेण लेभे सद्गतिमुत्तमाम् । इन्द्रद्युम्ननृपः पूर्वं महापापयुतो मुने ॥ 23.43 ॥

śivanāmaprabhāveṇa lebhe sadgatimuttamām indradyumnanṛpaḥ pūrvaṁ mahāpāpayuto mune

O sage, in ancient times King Indradyumna, though laden with great sin, attained the highest, blessed state by the power of Shiva's Name.

Verse 44 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.44)

तथा काचिद् द्विजा योषाऽसौ मुने बहुपापिनी । शिवनामप्रभावेण लेभे सद्गतिमुत्तमाम् ॥ 23.44 ॥

tathā kācid dvijā yoṣā’sau mune bahupāpinī śivanāmaprabhāveṇa lebhe sadgatimuttamām

O sage, likewise a certain brahmin woman too, though greatly sinful, attained the highest, blessed state by the power of Shiva's Name.

Verse 45 (shiva.vidyeshvara.23.45)

इत्युक्तं वो द्विजश्रेष्ठा नाममाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । शृणुध्वं भस्ममाहात्म्यं सर्वपावनपावनम् ॥ 23.45 ॥

ityuktaṁ vo dvijaśreṣṭhā nāmamāhātmyamuttamam śaṛṇudhvaṁ bhasmamāhātmyaṁ sarvapāvanapāvanam

O best of brahmins, thus has the supreme greatness of the Name been told to you; now hear the greatness of Bhasma, which purifies even the purifiers.