Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 11 — Chapter 7

DB 11 7.1

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

rudrākṣamāhātmyavarṇanam śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca evaṃ nārada ṣaḍvaktro giriśena vibodhitaḥ | rudrākṣamahimānaṃ ca jñātvāsītsa kṛtārthakaḥ

The Description of the Greatness of the Rudrākṣa. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Thus, O Nārada, the six-faced one (Kārttikeya) was instructed by Giriśa, and having learned the greatness of the rudrākṣa, he became one whose purpose was fulfilled.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.2

इत्थं भूतानुभावोऽयं रुद्राक्षो वर्णितो मया । सदाचारप्रसङ्गेन शृणु चान्यत्समाहितः

itthaṃ bhūtānubhāvo'yaṃ rudrākṣo varṇito mayā | sadācāraprasaṅgena śṛṇu cānyatsamāhitaḥ

Thus this rudrākṣa, of such power, has been described by me in connection with (the topic of) good conduct; now listen attentively to something else.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.3

यथा रुद्राक्षमहिमा वर्णितोऽनन्तपुण्यदः । लक्षणं मन्त्रविन्यासं तथाहं वर्णयामि ते

yathā rudrākṣamahimā varṇito'nantapuṇyadaḥ | lakṣaṇaṃ mantravinyāsaṃ tathāhaṃ varṇayāmi te

As the glory of the rudrākṣa, giver of endless merit, has been described, so I shall describe to you its characteristics and the arrangement of its mantras.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.4

लक्षं तु दर्शनात्युण्यं कोटिस्तत्स्पर्शनाद्भवेत् । तस्य कोटिगुणं पुण्यं लभते धारणान्नरः

lakṣaṃ tu darśanātyuṇyaṃ koṭistatsparśanādbhavet | tasya koṭiguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ labhate dhāraṇānnaraḥ

There is a lakh (of merit) from seeing it, and a crore from touching it; and a man obtains merit a crore times that from wearing it.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.5

लक्षकोटिसहस्राणि लक्षकोटिशतानि च । तज्जपाल्लभते पुण्यं नरो रुद्राक्षधारणात्

lakṣakoṭisahasrāṇi lakṣakoṭiśatāni ca | tajjapāllabhate puṇyaṃ naro rudrākṣadhāraṇāt

A man obtains, from reciting with it, merit (amounting to) thousands of lakhs and crores and hundreds of lakhs and crores — (more than) from (merely) wearing the rudrākṣa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 11 7.6

रुद्राक्षाणां तु भद्राक्षधारणात्स्यान्महाफलम् । धात्रीफलप्रमाणं यच्छ्रेष्ठमेतदुदाहृतम्

rudrākṣāṇāṃ tu bhadrākṣadhāraṇātsyānmahāphalam | dhātrīphalapramāṇaṃ yacchreṣṭhametadudāhṛtam

Among rudrākṣas, great fruit comes from wearing an auspicious bead (bhadrākṣa); that which is the size of an emblic-myrobalan fruit is declared to be the best.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.7

बदरीफलमात्रं तु प्रोच्यते मध्यमं बुधैः । अधमं चणमात्रं स्यात्प्रतिज्ञैषा मयोदिता रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः

badarīphalamātraṃ tu procyate madhyamaṃ budhaiḥ | adhamaṃ caṇamātraṃ syātpratijñaiṣā mayoditā rudrākṣamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma saptamo'dhyāyaḥ

One only the size of a jujube fruit is called middling by the wise; the lowest would be one only the size of a chickpea. This is the statement declared by me. — The seventh chapter, called The Description of the Greatness of the Rudrākṣa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.8

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

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāśceti śivājñayā | vṛkṣā jātāḥ pṛthivyāṃ tu tajjātīyāḥ śubhākṣakāḥ

Brahmins, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras — thus, by Śiva's command, trees arose on the earth, and the auspicious beads (rudrākṣas) belong to those same classes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 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 are to be known as brahmins, the red-coloured as kṣatriyas; the yellow are to be known as vaiśyas, and the black are declared to be śūdras.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 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, and a king should wear the red; a vaiśya should wear the yellow, and a śūdra should wear the black.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.11

समाः स्निग्धा दृढास्तद्वत्कण्टकैः संयुताः शुभाः । कृमिदष्टाञ्छिन्नभिन्नान्कण्टकैरहितांस्तथा

samāḥ snigdhā dṛḍhāstadvatkaṇṭakaiḥ saṃyutāḥ śubhāḥ | kṛmidaṣṭāñchinnabhinnānkaṇṭakairahitāṃstathā

Even (beads) which are even, smooth, firm, and likewise furnished with thorn-like points are auspicious; but those eaten by worms, cut, split, and likewise lacking their thorny points—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.12

व्रणयुक्तानावृतांश्च षड्रुद्राक्षांस्तु वर्जयेत् । स्वयमेव कृतद्वारो रुद्राक्षः स्यादिहोत्तमः

vraṇayuktānāvṛtāṃśca ṣaḍrudrākṣāṃstu varjayet | svayameva kṛtadvāro rudrākṣaḥ syādihottamaḥ

—and those with sores, and those (badly) covered: one should avoid these six (kinds of) rudrākṣas. A rudrākṣa whose hole is made of itself is here the best.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.13

यत्तु पौरुषयत्नेन कृतं तन्मध्यमं भवेत् । समान्स्निग्धान्दृढान्वृत्तान्क्षौमसूत्रेण धारयेत्

yattu pauruṣayatnena kṛtaṃ tanmadhyamaṃ bhavet | samānsnigdhāndṛḍhānvṛttānkṣaumasūtreṇa dhārayet

But that (hole) which is made by human effort is of middling quality. One should wear (beads that are) even, smooth, firm, and round, on a silk thread.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.14

सर्वगात्रेषु साम्येन समानातिविलक्षणा । निर्घर्षे हेमलेखाभा यत्र लेखा प्रदृश्यते

sarvagātreṣu sāmyena samānātivilakṣaṇā | nirgharṣe hemalekhābhā yatra lekhā pradṛśyate

(A bead) evenly (formed) in all its parts, most distinguished among the even ones, without roughness, where a line appears with the sheen of a golden streak—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.15

तदक्षमुत्तमं विद्यात्स धार्यः शिवपूजकैः । शिखायामेकरुद्राक्षं त्रिंशद्वै शिरसा वहेत्

tadakṣamuttamaṃ vidyātsa dhāryaḥ śivapūjakaiḥ | śikhāyāmekarudrākṣaṃ triṃśadvai śirasā vahet

—that bead one should know to be the best; it is to be worn by worshippers of Śiva. On the tuft (one should wear) a single rudrākṣa, and thirty one should carry on the head.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.16

षट्त्रिंशच्च गले धार्या बाह्वोः षोडश षोडश । मणिबन्धे द्वादशाक्षान्स्कन्धे पञ्चाशतं भवेत्

ṣaṭtriṃśacca gale dhāryā bāhvoḥ ṣoḍaśa ṣoḍaśa | maṇibandhe dvādaśākṣānskandhe pañcāśataṃ bhavet

And thirty-six are to be worn on the neck, sixteen on each of the two arms; twelve beads on the wrist, and on the shoulder there should be fifty.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.17

अष्टोत्तरशतैर्मालोपवीतं च प्रकल्पयेत् । द्विसरं त्रिसरं वापि बिभृयात्कण्ठदेशतः

aṣṭottaraśatairmālopavītaṃ ca prakalpayet | dvisaraṃ trisaraṃ vāpi bibhṛyātkaṇṭhadeśataḥ

And with one hundred and eight one should make a garland and a sacred thread; or one may wear a two-stranded or three-stranded (string) about the throat.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.18

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

kuṇḍale mukuṭe caiva karṇikāhārakeṣu ca | keyūre kaṭake caiva kukṣivaṃśe tathaiva ca

And on the earring and on the crown, and on the ear-ornaments and necklaces, and on the armlet and the bracelet, and likewise on the girdle at the waist—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 11 7.19

सुप्ते पीते सर्वकालं रुद्राक्षं धारयेन्नरः । त्रिशतं त्वधमं पञ्चशतं मध्यममुच्यते

supte pīte sarvakālaṃ rudrākṣaṃ dhārayennaraḥ | triśataṃ tvadhamaṃ pañcaśataṃ madhyamamucyate

—while asleep and while drinking, at all times, a man should wear the rudrākṣa. Three hundred is the lowest, five hundred is said to be middling.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.20

सहस्रमुत्तमं प्रोक्तं चैवं भेदेन धारयेत् । शिरसीशानमन्त्रेण कर्णे तत्पुरुषेण च

sahasramuttamaṃ proktaṃ caivaṃ bhedena dhārayet | śirasīśānamantreṇa karṇe tatpuruṣeṇa ca

A thousand is declared the highest; thus one should wear them by these distinctions. On the head with the Īśāna mantra, and on the ear with the Tatpuruṣa (mantra);

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 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, and with that same one also on the heart; and again with the Aghora seed-mantra one should wear them on the two hands.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.22

पञ्चाशदक्षग्रथितां वामदेवेन चोदरे । पञ्चब्रह्मभिरङ्गैश्चाप्येवं रुद्राक्षधारणम्

pañcāśadakṣagrathitāṃ vāmadevena codare | pañcabrahmabhiraṅgaiścāpyevaṃ rudrākṣadhāraṇam

And on the belly, (a string) strung with fifty beads, with the Vāmadeva (mantra); with the five Brahma-mantras and the aṅga-mantras—such is the wearing of rudrākṣas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.23

ग्रथितान्मूलमन्त्रेण सर्वानक्षांस्तु धारयेत् । एकवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षः परतत्त्वप्रकाशकः

grathitānmūlamantreṇa sarvānakṣāṃstu dhārayet | ekavaktrastu rudrākṣaḥ paratattvaprakāśakaḥ

One should wear all the beads strung with the root mantra. The one-faced rudrākṣa is the revealer of the supreme reality.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.24

परतत्त्वधारणाच्च जायते तत्प्रकाशनम् । द्विवक्त्रस्तु मुनिश्रेष्ठ अर्धनारीश्वरो भवेत्

paratattvadhāraṇācca jāyate tatprakāśanam | dvivaktrastu muniśreṣṭha ardhanārīśvaro bhavet

And from wearing the supreme reality there arises the manifestation of it. But the two-faced one, O best of sages, is Ardhanārīśvara.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.25

धारणादर्धनारीशः प्रीयते तस्य नित्यशः । त्रिवक्त्रस्त्वनलः साक्षात्स्त्रीहत्यां दहति क्षणात्

dhāraṇādardhanārīśaḥ prīyate tasya nityaśaḥ | trivaktrastvanalaḥ sākṣātstrīhatyāṃ dahati kṣaṇāt

From wearing it Ardhanārīśa is constantly pleased with him. The three-faced one is fire itself: it burns up in an instant the killing of a woman.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.26

त्रिमुखश्चैव रुद्राक्षोऽप्यग्नित्रयस्वरूपकः । तद्धारणाच्च हुतभुक् तस्य तुष्यति नित्यशः

trimukhaścaiva rudrākṣo'pyagnitrayasvarūpakaḥ | taddhāraṇācca hutabhuk tasya tuṣyati nityaśaḥ

And the three-mouthed rudrākṣa also has the form of the three fires; and from wearing it the fire-god is constantly satisfied with him.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.27

चतुर्मुखस्तु रुद्राक्षः पितामहस्वरूपकः । तद्धारणान्महाश्रीमान्महदारोग्यमुत्तमम्

caturmukhastu rudrākṣaḥ pitāmahasvarūpakaḥ | taddhāraṇānmahāśrīmānmahadārogyamuttamam

But the four-faced rudrākṣa has the form of the Grandfather (Brahmā); from wearing it (comes) great prosperity, great and excellent health,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.28

महती ज्ञानसम्पत्तिः शुद्धये धारयेन्नरः । पञ्चमुखस्तु रुद्राक्षः पञ्चब्रह्मस्वरूपकः

mahatī jñānasampattiḥ śuddhaye dhārayennaraḥ | pañcamukhastu rudrākṣaḥ pañcabrahmasvarūpakaḥ

(and) great attainment of knowledge; for purification a man should wear it. But the five-faced rudrākṣa has the form of the five Brahmans.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.29

तस्य धारणमात्रेण सन्तुष्यति महेश्वरः । षड्वक्त्रश्चैव रुद्राक्षः कार्तिकेयाधिदैवतः

tasya dhāraṇamātreṇa santuṣyati maheśvaraḥ | ṣaḍvaktraścaiva rudrākṣaḥ kārtikeyādhidaivataḥ

Merely by wearing it Maheśvara is well pleased. And the six-faced rudrākṣa has Kārtikeya as its presiding deity;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.30

विनायकं चापि देवं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । सप्तवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षः सप्तमात्राधिदैवतः

vināyakaṃ cāpi devaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ | saptavaktrastu rudrākṣaḥ saptamātrādhidaivataḥ

The wise also declare (its) deity to be the god Vināyaka. But the six-faced rudrākṣa has the seven Mothers as its deity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.31

सप्ताश्वदैवतश्चैव मुनिसप्तकदैवतः । तद्धारणान्महाश्रीः स्यान्महदारोग्यमुत्तमम्

saptāśvadaivataścaiva munisaptakadaivataḥ | taddhāraṇānmahāśrīḥ syānmahadārogyamuttamam

And its deity is the seven horses, and its deity is the group of seven sages; by wearing it there comes great prosperity and great, excellent freedom from disease.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.32

महती ज्ञानसम्पत्तिः शुचिर्वै धारयेन्नरः । अष्टवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षोऽप्यष्टमात्राधिदैवतः

mahatī jñānasampattiḥ śucirvai dhārayennaraḥ | aṣṭavaktrastu rudrākṣo'pyaṣṭamātrādhidaivataḥ

(There is) great attainment of knowledge; a man should wear it while pure. And the eight-faced rudrākṣa has the eight Mothers as its deity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.33

वस्वष्टकप्रीतिकरो गङ्गाप्रीतिकरः शुभः । तद्धारणादिमे प्रीता भवेयुः सत्यवादिनः

vasvaṣṭakaprītikaro gaṅgāprītikaraḥ śubhaḥ | taddhāraṇādime prītā bhaveyuḥ satyavādinaḥ

It gives pleasure to the eight Vasus, and it is auspicious, giving pleasure to Gaṅgā; by wearing it these, and the speakers of truth, would be pleased.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.34

नववक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षो यमदेव उदाहृतः । तद्धारणाद्यमभयं न भवत्येव सर्वथा

navavaktrastu rudrākṣo yamadeva udāhṛtaḥ | taddhāraṇādyamabhayaṃ na bhavatyeva sarvathā

But the nine-faced rudrākṣa is said to have Yama himself (as its deity); by wearing it fear of Yama does not arise at all, in any way.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.35

दशवक्त्रस्तु रुद्राक्षो दशाशादैवतः स्मृतः । दशाशाप्रीतिजनको धारणे नात्र संशयः

daśavaktrastu rudrākṣo daśāśādaivataḥ smṛtaḥ | daśāśāprītijanako dhāraṇe nātra saṃśayaḥ

And the ten-faced rudrākṣa is held to have the ten directions as its deities; when worn it produces the favour of the ten directions — there is no doubt in this.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.36

एकादशमुखस्त्वक्षो रुद्रैकादशदैवतः । तमिन्द्रदैवतं चाहुः सदा सौख्यविवर्धनम्

ekādaśamukhastvakṣo rudraikādaśadaivataḥ | tamindradaivataṃ cāhuḥ sadā saukhyavivardhanam

But the eleven-faced bead has the eleven Rudras as its deities; and they call it one whose deity is Indra, always increasing happiness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.37

रुद्राक्षो द्वादशमुखो महाविष्णुस्वरूपकः । द्वादशादित्यदैवश्च बिभर्त्येव हि तत्परः

rudrākṣo dvādaśamukho mahāviṣṇusvarūpakaḥ | dvādaśādityadaivaśca bibhartyeva hi tatparaḥ

The twelve-faced rudrākṣa has the form of the great Viṣṇu, and its deities are the twelve Ādityas; one devoted to that should indeed wear it.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.38

त्रयोदशमुखश्चाक्षः कामदः सिद्धिदः शुभः । तस्य धारणमात्रेण कामदेवः प्रसीदति

trayodaśamukhaścākṣaḥ kāmadaḥ siddhidaḥ śubhaḥ | tasya dhāraṇamātreṇa kāmadevaḥ prasīdati

And the thirteen-faced bead is auspicious, granting desires and granting attainments; merely by wearing it Kāmadeva is pleased.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.39

चतुर्दशमुखश्चाक्षो रुद्रनेत्रसमुद्भवः । सर्वव्याधिहरश्चैव सर्वारोग्यप्रदायकः

caturdaśamukhaścākṣo rudranetrasamudbhavaḥ | sarvavyādhiharaścaiva sarvārogyapradāyakaḥ

And the fourteen-faced bead arises from Rudra's eye; it removes all diseases and bestows complete health.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 7.40

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

madyaṃ māṃsaṃ ca laśunaṃ palāṇḍuṃ śigrumeva ca | śleṣmātakaṃ viḍvarāhaṃ bhakṣaṇe varjayettataḥ

Therefore one should avoid eating liquor, meat, garlic, onion, and the drumstick plant, the śleṣmātaka fruit, and the dung-eating pig.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 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

At an eclipse, at an equinox, at a solstice-transit and likewise at a solstice, at the new moon and at the full moon, and on holy days too — by wearing the rudrākṣa one is at once released from all sins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition