Eleventh Skandha · Chapter 6
Sourceरुद्राक्षमाहात्म्ये गुणनिधिमोक्षवर्णनम् ईश्वर उवाच महासेन कुशग्रन्थिपुत्राजीवादयः परे । रुद्राक्षस्य तु नैकोऽपि कलामर्हति षोडशीम् ॥ १ ॥ पुरुषाणां यथा विष्णुर्ग्रहाणां च यथा रविः । नदीनां तु यथा गङ्गा मुनीनां कश्यपो यथा ॥ २ ॥ उच्चैःश्रवा यथाश्वानां देवानामीश्वरो यथा । देवीनां तु यथा गौरी तद्वच्छ्रेष्ठमिदं भवेत् ॥ ३ ॥ नातः परतरं स्तोत्रं नातः परतरं व्रतम् । अक्षय्येषु च दानेषु रुद्राक्षस्तु विशिष्यते ॥ ४ ॥ शिवभक्ताय शान्ताय दद्याद्रुद्राक्षमुत्तमम् । तस्य पुण्यफलस्यान्तं न चाहं वक्तुमुत्सहे ॥ ५ ॥ धृतरुद्राक्षकण्ठाय यस्त्वन्नं सम्प्रयच्छति । त्रिसप्तकुलमुद्धृत्य रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति ॥ ६ ॥ यस्य भाले विभूतिर्न नाङ्गे रुद्राक्षधारणम् । न शम्भोर्भवने पूजा स विप्रः श्वपचाधमः ॥ ७ ॥ खादन्मांसं पिबन्मद्यं सङ्गच्छन्नन्त्यजानपि । पातकेभ्यो विमुच्येत रुद्राक्षं शिरसि स्थिते ॥ ८ ॥ सर्वयज्ञतपोदानवेदाभ्यासैश्च यत्फलम् । तत्फलं लभते सद्यो रुद्राक्षस्य तु धारणात् ॥ ९ ॥ वेदैश्चतुर्भिर्यत्पुण्यं पुराणपठनेन च । यत्तीर्थसेवनेनैव सर्वविद्यादिभिस्तथा ॥ १० ॥ तत्पुण्यं लभते सद्यो रुद्राक्षस्य तु धारणात् । प्रयाणकाले रुद्राक्षं बन्धयित्वा म्रियेद्यदि ॥ ११ ॥ स रुद्रत्वमवाप्नोति पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते । रुद्राक्षं धारयेत्कण्ठे बाह्वोर्वा म्रियते यदि ॥ १२ ॥ कुलैकविंशमुत्तार्य रुद्रलोके वसेन्नरः । ब्राह्मणो वापि चाण्डालो निर्गुणः सगुणोऽपि च ॥ १३ ॥ भस्मरुद्राक्षधारी यः स देवत्वं शिवं व्रजेत् । शुचिर्वाप्यशुचिर्वापि तथाभक्ष्यस्य भक्षकः ॥ १४ ॥ म्लेच्छो वाप्यथ चाण्डालो युतो वा सर्वपातकैः । रुद्राक्षधारणादेव स रुद्रो नात्र संशयः ॥ १५ ॥ शिरसा धारिते कोटिः कर्णयोर्दशकोटयः । शतकोटिर्गले बद्धो मूर्ध्नि कोटिसहस्रकम् ॥ १६ ॥ अयुतं चोपवीते तु लक्षकोटिर्भुजे स्थिते । मणिबन्धे तु रुद्राक्षो मोक्षसाधनकः परः ॥ १७ ॥ रुद्राक्षधारको भूत्वा यत्किञ्चित्कर्म वैदिकम् । कुर्वन्विप्रः सदा भक्त्या महदाप्नोति तत्फलम् ॥ १८ ॥ रुद्राक्षमालिकां कण्ठे धारयेद्भक्तिवर्जितः । पापकर्मा तु यो नित्यं स मुक्तः सर्वबन्धनात् ॥ १९ ॥ रुद्राक्षार्पितचेता यो रुद्राक्षस्तु न वै धृतः । असौ माहेश्वरो लोके नमस्यः स तु लिङ्गवत् ॥ २० ॥ अविद्यो वा सविद्यो वा रुद्राक्षस्य तु धारणात् । शिवलोकं प्रपद्येत कीकटे गर्दभो यथा ॥ २१ ॥ स्कन्द उवाच रुद्राक्षान्सन्दधे देव गर्दभः केन हेतुना । कीकटे केन वा दत्तस्तद्ब्रूहि परमेश्वर ॥ २२ ॥ श्रीभगवानुवाच शृणु पुत्र पुरावृत्तं गर्दभो विन्ध्यपर्वते । धत्ते रुद्राक्षभारं तु वाहितः पथिकेन तु ॥ २३ ॥ श्रान्तोऽसमर्थस्तद्भारं वोढुं पतितवान्भुवि । प्राणैस्त्वक्तस्त्रिनेत्रस्तु शूलपाणिर्महेश्वरः ॥ २४ ॥ मत्प्रसादान्महासेन मदन्तिकमुपागतः । यावद्वक्त्रस्य संख्यानं रुद्राक्षाणां सुदुर्लभम् ॥ २५ ॥ तावद्युगसहस्राणि शिवलोके महीयते । स्वशिष्येभ्यस्तु वक्तव्यं नाशिष्येभ्यः कदाचन ॥ २६ ॥ अभक्तेभ्योऽपि मूर्खेभ्यः कदाचिन्न प्रकाशयेत् । अभक्तो वास्तु भक्तो वा नीचो नीचतरोऽपि वा ॥ २७ ॥ रुद्राक्षान्धारयेद्यस्तु मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः । रुद्राक्षधारणं पुण्यं केन वा सदृशं भवेत् ॥ २८ ॥ महाव्रतमिदं प्राहुर्मुनयस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः । सहस्रं धारयेद्यस्तु रुद्राक्षाणां धृतव्रतः ॥ २९ ॥ तं नमन्ति सुराः सर्वे यथा रुद्रस्तथैव सः । अभावे तु सहस्रस्य बाह्वोः षोडश षोडश ॥ ३० ॥ एकं शिखायां करयोर्द्वादश द्वादशैव तु । द्वात्रिंशत्कण्ठदेशे तु चत्वारिंशच्च मस्तके ॥ ३१ ॥ एकैकं कर्णयोः षट् षट् वक्षस्यष्टोत्तरं शतम् । यो धारयति रुद्राक्षान् रुद्रवत्स तु पूज्यते ॥ ३२ ॥ मुक्ताप्रवालस्कटिकरौप्यवैदूर्यकाञ्चनैः । समेतान्धारयेद्यस्तु रुद्राक्षान्स शिवो भवेत् ॥ ३३ ॥ केवलानपि रुद्राक्षान्यद्यालस्याद्बिभर्ति यः । तं न स्पृशन्ति पापानि तमांसीव विभावसुम् ॥ ३४ ॥ रुद्राक्षमालया मन्त्रो जप्तोऽनन्तफलप्रदः । यस्याङ्गे नास्ति रुद्राक्ष एकोऽपि बहुपुण्यदः ॥ ३५ ॥ तस्य जन्म निरर्थं स्यात्त्रिपुण्ड्ररहितं यथा । रुद्राक्षं मस्तके धृत्वा शिरःस्नानं करोति यः ॥ ३६ ॥ गङ्गास्नानफलं तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः । एकवक्त्रः पञ्चवक्त्र एकादशमुखाः परे ॥ ३७ ॥ चतुर्दशमुखाः केचिद्रुद्राक्षा लोकपूजिताः । भक्त्या संपूज्यते नित्यं रुद्राक्षः शङ्करात्मकः ॥ ३८ ॥ दरिद्रं वापि पुरुषं राजानं कुरुते भुवि । अत्र ते कथयिष्यामि पुराणं मतमुत्तमम् ॥ ३९ ॥ कोसलेषु द्विजः कश्चिद्गिरिनाथ इति श्रुतः । महाधनी च धर्मात्मा वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः ॥ ४० ॥ यज्ञकृद्दीक्षितस्तस्य तनयः सुन्दराकृतिः । नाम्ना गुणनिधिः ख्यातस्तरुणः कामसुन्दरः ॥ ४१ ॥ गुरोः सुधिषणस्याथ पत्नीं मुक्तावलीमथ । मोहयामास रूपेण यौवनेन मदेन च ॥ ४२ ॥ सङ्गतस्तु तया सार्धं कञ्चित्कालं ततो भिया । विषं ददौ च गुरवे येभे पश्चात्तु निर्भयः ॥ ४३ ॥ यदा माता पिता कर्म किञ्चिज्जानाति यत्क्षणे । मातरं पितरं चापि मारयामास तद्विषात् ॥ ४४ ॥ नानाविलासभोगैश्च जाते द्रव्यव्यये ततः । ब्राह्मणानां गृहे चौर्यं चकार स तदा खलः ॥ ४५ ॥ सुरापानमदोन्मत्तस्तदा ज्ञातिबहिष्कृतः । ग्रामान्निष्कासितः सर्वैस्तदा सोऽभूद्वनेचरः ॥ ४६ ॥ मुक्तावल्या तया सार्धं जगाम गहनं वनम् । मार्गे स्थितो द्रव्यलोभाज्जघान ब्राह्मणान्बहून् ॥ ४७ ॥ एवं बहुगते काले ममार स तदाधमः । नेतुं तं यमदूताश्च समाजग्मुः सहस्रशः ॥ ४८ ॥ शिवलोकाच्छिवगणास्तथैव च समागताः । तयोः परस्परं वादो बभूव गिरिजासुत ॥ ४९ ॥ यमदूतास्तदा प्रोचुः पुण्यमस्य किमस्ति हि । ब्रुवन्तु सेवकाः शम्भोर्यद्येनं नेतुमिच्छथ ॥ ५० ॥ शिवदूतास्तदा प्रोचुरयं यस्मिन्स्थले मृतः । दशहस्तादधो भूमे रुद्राक्षस्तत्र चास्ति हि ॥ ५१ ॥ तत्प्रभावेण हे दूता नेष्यामः शिवसन्निधिम् । ततो विमानमारुह्य दिव्यरूपधरो द्विजः ॥ ५२ ॥ गतो गुणनिधिर्दूतैः सहितः शङ्करालयम् । इति रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं कथितं तव सुव्रत ॥ ५३ ॥ एवं रुद्राक्षमहिमा समासात्कथितो मया । सर्वपापक्षयकरो महापुण्यफलप्रदः ॥ ५४ ॥
rudrākṣamāhātmye guṇanidhimokṣavarṇanam īśvara uvāca mahāsena kuśagranthiputrājīvādayaḥ pare | rudrākṣasya tu naiko'pi kalāmarhati ṣoḍaśīm || 1 || puruṣāṇāṃ yathā viṣṇurgrahāṇāṃ ca yathā raviḥ | nadīnāṃ tu yathā gaṅgā munīnāṃ kaśyapo yathā || 2 || uccaiḥśravā yathāśvānāṃ devānāmīśvaro yathā | devīnāṃ tu yathā gaurī tadvacchreṣṭhamidaṃ bhavet || 3 || nātaḥ parataraṃ stotraṃ nātaḥ parataraṃ vratam | akṣayyeṣu ca dāneṣu rudrākṣastu viśiṣyate || 4 || śivabhaktāya śāntāya dadyādrudrākṣamuttamam | tasya puṇyaphalasyāntaṃ na cāhaṃ vaktumutsahe || 5 || dhṛtarudrākṣakaṇṭhāya yastvannaṃ samprayacchati | trisaptakulamuddhṛtya rudralokaṃ sa gacchati || 6 || yasya bhāle vibhūtirna nāṅge rudrākṣadhāraṇam | na śambhorbhavane pūjā sa vipraḥ śvapacādhamaḥ || 7 || khādanmāṃsaṃ pibanmadyaṃ saṅgacchannantyajānapi | pātakebhyo vimucyeta rudrākṣaṃ śirasi sthite || 8 || sarvayajñatapodānavedābhyāsaiśca yatphalam | tatphalaṃ labhate sadyo rudrākṣasya tu dhāraṇāt || 9 || vedaiścaturbhiryatpuṇyaṃ purāṇapaṭhanena ca | yattīrthasevanenaiva sarvavidyādibhistathā || 10 || tatpuṇyaṃ labhate sadyo rudrākṣasya tu dhāraṇāt | prayāṇakāle rudrākṣaṃ bandhayitvā mriyedyadi || 11 || sa rudratvamavāpnoti punarjanma na vidyate | rudrākṣaṃ dhārayetkaṇṭhe bāhvorvā mriyate yadi || 12 || kulaikaviṃśamuttārya rudraloke vasennaraḥ | brāhmaṇo vāpi cāṇḍālo nirguṇaḥ saguṇo'pi ca || 13 || bhasmarudrākṣadhārī yaḥ sa devatvaṃ śivaṃ vrajet | śucirvāpyaśucirvāpi tathābhakṣyasya bhakṣakaḥ || 14 || mleccho vāpyatha cāṇḍālo yuto vā sarvapātakaiḥ | rudrākṣadhāraṇādeva sa rudro nātra saṃśayaḥ || 15 || śirasā dhārite koṭiḥ karṇayordaśakoṭayaḥ | śatakoṭirgale baddho mūrdhni koṭisahasrakam || 16 || ayutaṃ copavīte tu lakṣakoṭirbhuje sthite | maṇibandhe tu rudrākṣo mokṣasādhanakaḥ paraḥ || 17 || rudrākṣadhārako bhūtvā yatkiñcitkarma vaidikam | kurvanvipraḥ sadā bhaktyā mahadāpnoti tatphalam || 18 || rudrākṣamālikāṃ kaṇṭhe dhārayedbhaktivarjitaḥ | pāpakarmā tu yo nityaṃ sa muktaḥ sarvabandhanāt || 19 || rudrākṣārpitacetā yo rudrākṣastu na vai dhṛtaḥ | asau māheśvaro loke namasyaḥ sa tu liṅgavat || 20 || avidyo vā savidyo vā rudrākṣasya tu dhāraṇāt | śivalokaṃ prapadyeta kīkaṭe gardabho yathā || 21 || skanda uvāca rudrākṣānsandadhe deva gardabhaḥ kena hetunā | kīkaṭe kena vā dattastadbrūhi parameśvara || 22 || śrībhagavānuvāca śṛṇu putra purāvṛttaṃ gardabho vindhyaparvate | dhatte rudrākṣabhāraṃ tu vāhitaḥ pathikena tu || 23 || śrānto'samarthastadbhāraṃ voḍhuṃ patitavānbhuvi | prāṇaistvaktastrinetrastu śūlapāṇirmaheśvaraḥ || 24 || matprasādānmahāsena madantikamupāgataḥ | yāvadvaktrasya saṃkhyānaṃ rudrākṣāṇāṃ sudurlabham || 25 || tāvadyugasahasrāṇi śivaloke mahīyate | svaśiṣyebhyastu vaktavyaṃ nāśiṣyebhyaḥ kadācana || 26 || abhaktebhyo'pi mūrkhebhyaḥ kadācinna prakāśayet | abhakto vāstu bhakto vā nīco nīcataro'pi vā || 27 || rudrākṣāndhārayedyastu mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ | rudrākṣadhāraṇaṃ puṇyaṃ kena vā sadṛśaṃ bhavet || 28 || mahāvratamidaṃ prāhurmunayastattvadarśinaḥ | sahasraṃ dhārayedyastu rudrākṣāṇāṃ dhṛtavrataḥ || 29 || taṃ namanti surāḥ sarve yathā rudrastathaiva saḥ | abhāve tu sahasrasya bāhvoḥ ṣoḍaśa ṣoḍaśa || 30 || ekaṃ śikhāyāṃ karayordvādaśa dvādaśaiva tu | dvātriṃśatkaṇṭhadeśe tu catvāriṃśacca mastake || 31 || ekaikaṃ karṇayoḥ ṣaṭ ṣaṭ vakṣasyaṣṭottaraṃ śatam | yo dhārayati rudrākṣān rudravatsa tu pūjyate || 32 || muktāpravālaskaṭikaraupyavaidūryakāñcanaiḥ | sametāndhārayedyastu rudrākṣānsa śivo bhavet || 33 || kevalānapi rudrākṣānyadyālasyādbibharti yaḥ | taṃ na spṛśanti pāpāni tamāṃsīva vibhāvasum || 34 || rudrākṣamālayā mantro japto'nantaphalapradaḥ | yasyāṅge nāsti rudrākṣa eko'pi bahupuṇyadaḥ || 35 || tasya janma nirarthaṃ syāttripuṇḍrarahitaṃ yathā | rudrākṣaṃ mastake dhṛtvā śiraḥsnānaṃ karoti yaḥ || 36 || gaṅgāsnānaphalaṃ tasya jāyate nātra saṃśayaḥ | ekavaktraḥ pañcavaktra ekādaśamukhāḥ pare || 37 || caturdaśamukhāḥ kecidrudrākṣā lokapūjitāḥ | bhaktyā saṃpūjyate nityaṃ rudrākṣaḥ śaṅkarātmakaḥ || 38 || daridraṃ vāpi puruṣaṃ rājānaṃ kurute bhuvi | atra te kathayiṣyāmi purāṇaṃ matamuttamam || 39 || kosaleṣu dvijaḥ kaścidgirinātha iti śrutaḥ | mahādhanī ca dharmātmā vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ || 40 || yajñakṛddīkṣitastasya tanayaḥ sundarākṛtiḥ | nāmnā guṇanidhiḥ khyātastaruṇaḥ kāmasundaraḥ || 41 || guroḥ sudhiṣaṇasyātha patnīṃ muktāvalīmatha | mohayāmāsa rūpeṇa yauvanena madena ca || 42 || saṅgatastu tayā sārdhaṃ kañcitkālaṃ tato bhiyā | viṣaṃ dadau ca gurave yebhe paścāttu nirbhayaḥ || 43 || yadā mātā pitā karma kiñcijjānāti yatkṣaṇe | mātaraṃ pitaraṃ cāpi mārayāmāsa tadviṣāt || 44 || nānāvilāsabhogaiśca jāte dravyavyaye tataḥ | brāhmaṇānāṃ gṛhe cauryaṃ cakāra sa tadā khalaḥ || 45 || surāpānamadonmattastadā jñātibahiṣkṛtaḥ | grāmānniṣkāsitaḥ sarvaistadā so'bhūdvanecaraḥ || 46 || muktāvalyā tayā sārdhaṃ jagāma gahanaṃ vanam | mārge sthito dravyalobhājjaghāna brāhmaṇānbahūn || 47 || evaṃ bahugate kāle mamāra sa tadādhamaḥ | netuṃ taṃ yamadūtāśca samājagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ || 48 || śivalokācchivagaṇāstathaiva ca samāgatāḥ | tayoḥ parasparaṃ vādo babhūva girijāsuta || 49 || yamadūtāstadā procuḥ puṇyamasya kimasti hi | bruvantu sevakāḥ śambhoryadyenaṃ netumicchatha || 50 || śivadūtāstadā procurayaṃ yasminsthale mṛtaḥ | daśahastādadho bhūme rudrākṣastatra cāsti hi || 51 || tatprabhāveṇa he dūtā neṣyāmaḥ śivasannidhim | tato vimānamāruhya divyarūpadharo dvijaḥ || 52 || gato guṇanidhirdūtaiḥ sahitaḥ śaṅkarālayam | iti rudrākṣamāhātmyaṃ kathitaṃ tava suvrata || 53 || evaṃ rudrākṣamahimā samāsātkathito mayā | sarvapāpakṣayakaro mahāpuṇyaphalapradaḥ || 54 ||
English translation
1-21. Is'vara said O Kartikeya! Kus'agranthi, JTvapattn and other rosaries cannot compare to one-sixteenth part of the Rudraksa rosary. As Visnu is the best of all the Purusas, the Ganga is the best of all the rivers, Kas'yapa, amongst the Munis, Uchchaihsrava amongst the horses, Maha Deva amongst the Devas, Bhagavati amongst the Devis, so the Rudraksam rosary is the best of all the rosaries. All the fruits that occur by reading the stotras and holding all the Vratas, are obtained by wearing the Rudraksam bead. At the time of making the Aksaya gift, the Rudraksam bead is capable of giving high merits. The merit that accrues by giving Rudraksam to a peaceful devotee of S’iva, cannot be expressed in words. If anybody gives food to a man holding the Rudraksam rosary, his twenty one generations are uplifted and he ultimately becomes able to live in the Rudra Loka. He who does not apply ashes on his forehead and who does not hold Rudraksam and is averse to the worship of S’iva is inferior to a chandala. If Rudraksam be placed on the head then the flesh-eaters, drunkards, and the associates with the vicious become freed of their sins. Whatever fruits are obtained by performing various sacrifices, asceticism and the study of the Vedas are easily attained by simply holding the Rudraksam rosary. Whatever merits are obtained by reading the four Vedas and all the Puranas and bathing in all the Tirthas and the results that are obtained by immense practice in learning all are obtained by wearing Rudraksam. If at the time of death, one wears Rudraksam and dies, one attains Rudrahood. One has not to take again one's birth. If anybody dies by holding Rudraksam on his neck or on his two arms, he uplifts his twenty-one generations and lives in the Rudra Loka. Be he a Brahman or a Chandala, be he with qualities or without qualities, if he applies ashes to his body and holds Rudraksam he surely attains S’ivahood. Be he pure or impure; whether he eats uneatables or be he a MIechha or a Chandala or a Great Sinner, any
body if he holds Rudraksam is surely equal to Rudra. There is no doubt in this.
If any body holds Rudraksam on his head he gets Koti times the fruit; on his ears, ten Koti times the fruit, on his neck, one hundred Koti times the fruit; on his holy thread, ayuta times the fruit; on his arm, one lakh Koti times the fruit and if one wears Rudraksam on one's wrist, one attains Moksa. Whatever acts, mentioned in the Vedas be performed with Rudraksam on, the fruits obtained are unbounded. Even if a man be without any Bhakti and if he wears on his neck the Rudraksa rosary though he does always vicious acts, he becomes freed of the bondage of this world. Even if a man does not hold Rudraksa but if he be always full of devotion towards the Rudraksam, he attains the fruit that is got by wearing the Rudraksam and he attains the S’iva Loka and is honoured like S’iva. As in the country of Kikata, an ass which used to carry Rudraksam seed got S’ivahood after his death, so any man, whether he be a Jhani (wise) or Ajnani (unwise), gets S’ivahood if he holds Rudraksam. There is no doubt in this.
22-28. Skanda said “O God! How is it that in the country of Kikata (Bihar), an ass had to carry Rudraksa; who gave him the Rudraksams! And what for did he hold that?”
Bhagavan Is'vara said O Son! Now hear the history of the case. In the Bindhya mountain one ass used to carry the load of Rudraksam of a traveller. Once the ass felt tired and became unable to carry the load and fell down on the road and died. After his death the ass came to Me by My Grace, becoming Mahes'vara with trident in his hand and with three eyes. O Kartikeya! As many faces as there are in the Rudraksam, for so many thousand Yugas the holder resides with honour in the S’iva Loka. One should declare the greatness of
Rudraksam to one's own disciple; never to disclose its glories to one who is not a disciple nor a devotee of Rudraksam nor to him who is an illiterate brute. Be he a Bhakta or not a Bhakta, be be low or very low, if he holds Rudraksam then he is freed from all sins. No equal can be to the merit of him who holds the Rudraksams.
29-39. The Munis, the Seers of truth, describe this holding on of Rudraksam as a very great vow. He who makes a vow to hold one thousand Rudraksams, becomes like Rudra; the Devas bow down before him. If thousand Rudraksams be not obtained, one should hold at least sixteen Rudraksams on each arm, one Rudraksam on the crown hair; on the two hands, twelve on each; thirty-two on the neck; forty on the head; six on each ear and one hundred and eight Rudraksams on the breast; and then he becomes entitled to worship like Rudra. If any body holds Rudraksam together with pearls, Prabala, crystal, silver, gold and gem (lapis lazuli), he becomes a manifestation of S'iva. If a body, through laziness even, holds Rudraksam, the sin cannot touch him as darkness cannot come near light. If any body makes japam of a mantram with a Rudraksa rosary, he gets unbounded results. Such a merit giving Rudraksam, if one such Rudraksam be not found in any one's body, his life becomes useless, like a man who is void of Tripundrak (three curved horizontal marks made on the forehead by the worshippers of S'iva). If any body simply washes his head all over with Rudraksam on, he gets the fruit of bathing in the Ganges. There is no doubt in this. One faced Rudraksam, the five faced, eleven faced and fourteen faced Rudraksams are highly meritorious and entitled to worship by all.
The Rudraksam is S'ankara made manifest; so it is always worshipped with devotion. The greatness of Rudraksam is such as it can make a king out of a poor man. On this point, I will tell you an excellent Puranic anecdote.
40-49. There was a Brahmin, named Girinatha in the country of Kosala. He was proficient in the Vedas and Vedamgas, religious and very rich. He used to perform sacrifices. He had a beautiful son named Gunanidhi. The son gradually entered into his youth and looked beautiful like Kandarpa, the God of Love. While he was studying at his Guru Sudhisana's house, he, by his beauty and youth captivated the mind of his Guru's wife named Muktavali. The Guru's wife became so much enchanted by his extraordinary beauty that she, being unable to control herself, mixed with him and for some time remained with him in secret enjoyment. Then feeling inconveniences, due to the fear of. his Guru, to enjoy her freely, used poison to the Guru, killed him and then he began to live freely with her. Next when his father, mother came to know about this, he put to death instantly his father and mother, administering poison to them. He became addicted to various pleasures and his wealth was exhausted gradually. He began to steal in Brahmans' houses and became addicted very much to drinking. His relatives outcasted him from the society for his bad behaviour and banished him outside the town. He then went into a dense forest with Muktavali; and he began to kill the Brahmins for their wealth. Thus a long time passed away; when at last he fell into the jaws of death.
50-54. Then to take him to the region of Death, thousands of the Yama's messengers came; at the same time the S’iva's messengers came from S’iva Loka. O Kartikeya! A quarrel then ensued between both the parties of Yama and S’iva. The Yama's messengers then said “O Servers of S’ambhu! What are the merits of this man that you have come to take him? First speak to us of his merits.” S’iva's messengers spoke “Fifteen feet below the ground where this man died, there exists the Rudraksam. O Yama's messengers! By the influence of that Rudraksam, all his sins are destroyed; and we have come to take him to S’iva.” Then the Brahmin Gunanidhi assumed a divine form and, getting on an aerial car went with S'iva's messengers before S'iva. O One of good vows! Thus I have
described briefly to you the greatness of Rudraksam. This is capable to remove all sorts of sins and yield great merits.
Here ends the Sixth Chapter of the Eleventh Book on the Greatness of Rudraksams in the Mahapuranam S'ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24057, revision 84652 (2016-10-07T17:12:54Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk11ch06.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.