Upanishads · Bhasmajābāla 2.13
॥
Devanāgarī
ततश्चैकादशगुणरुद्रो जपनीयः । एकगुणोऽनन्तः । षडक्षरोऽष्टाक्षरो वा शैवो मन्त्रो जपनीयः । ओमित्यग्रे व्याहरेत् । नम इति पश्चात्
Transliteration (IAST)
tataścaikādaśaguṇarudro japanīyaḥ | ekaguṇo'nantaḥ | ṣaḍakṣaro'ṣṭākṣaro vā śaivo mantro japanīyaḥ | omityagre vyāharet | nama iti paścāt
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ततः च एकादश-गुण-रुद्रः जपनीयःtataḥ ca ekādaśa-guṇa-rudraḥ japanīyaḥthen let «Rudra» be repeated elevenfold
एक-गुणः अनन्तःeka-guṇaḥ anantaḥsingle — infinite
षट्-अक्षरः अष्ट-अक्षरः वाṣaṭ-akṣaraḥ aṣṭa-akṣaraḥ vāthe six-syllable or eight-syllable
शैवः मन्त्रः जपनीयःśaivaḥ mantraḥ japanīyaḥthe śaiva mantra let him repeat
Translation
«Then let «Rudra» be repeated elevenfold; single — infinite. The six-syllable or eight-syllable śaiva mantra let him repeat. Let him utter «om» first; «namaḥ» — after».
Version
7ecde7e9ebc8 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Ekādaśa-guṇa-rudra, «Rudra elevenfold», is named — that is, the reading of the Śatarudrīya eleven times, rudri-ekādaśinī, one of the most solemn Śaiva rites. Worth noting the proviso: eka-guṇaḥ anantaḥ, «single — infinite». That is, recited once, it bears infinite fruit.
This proviso is always present in such books, and it is worth saying for whom it is made. The elevenfold recitation requires hours and priests; the single recitation is available to anyone. And the book, having prescribed the solemn, at once adds that a small amount suffices too.
This device, to my mind, is among the most humane in ritual books, and it was discussed when reading the first chapter (1.10, 1.23): every time an «or» occurs, it is worth seeing to whom it opens the door. The Vaishnava side takes this to its limit and makes it foundational. The Bhāgavatam says that the Name uttered once — even by chance, in mockery, in jest — already works; and the story of Ajāmila is told for exactly this reason.
The difference between «eleven times, but one will do» and «one suffices» is not a difference of counting but of what the means is calculated for: for the capable, or for everyone.