Shloka 31

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

Sūta’s Return to Kāśī and the Observances of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

त्रिपुण्ड्रविलसद्भालो रुद्राक्षालङ्कृताकृतिः । पद्मपत्रारुणायामविस्तीर्णनयनद्वयः

Transliteration

tripuṇḍravilasadbhālo rudrākṣālaṅkṛtākṛtiḥ | padmapatrāruṇāyāmavistīrṇanayanadvayaḥ

Translation

كان جبينُه يتلألأ بالتِّرِيبونْدْرا، خطوطِ الرماد المقدّس الثلاثة؛ وهيئتُه مزدانةٌ بحَبّات الرودراكشا؛ وعيناه الاثنتان محمرّتان كبتلات اللوتس، طويلتان واسعتا الامتداد.

Word by Word

• त्रि-पुण्ड्र-विलसत्-भालः: having a forehead shining with the tripuṇḍra
• त्रि-पुण्ड्र-विलसत्-भालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विलसत् (कृदन्त; √विलस् धातु, शतृ) + भाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘त्रिपुण्ड्रेण विलसद् भालं यस्य’ (whose forehead shines with the three ash-marks)

• रुद्राक्ष-अलङ्कृत-आकृतिः: whose form is adorned with rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्ष-अलङ्कृत-आकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त; √अलङ्कृ धातु, क्त) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘रुद्राक्षैः अलङ्कृता आकृतिः यस्य’ (whose form is adorned with rudrākṣa beads)

• पद्म-पत्र-अरुण-आयाम-विस्तीर्ण-नयन-द्वयः: having two eyes, reddish like lotus petals, long and wide
• पद्म-पत्र-अरुण-आयाम-विस्तीर्ण-नयन-द्वयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त; √स्तॄ/स्तृ धातु, क्त) + नयन (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘पद्मपत्रवत् अरुणे, आयामेन विस्तीर्णे नयने यस्य (द्वये)’ (having two eyes, reddish like lotus-petals, long and wide)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa teachings and descriptions to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse presents Shiva’s auspicious Saguna form marked by tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa—outer signs of inner Shaiva orientation: purity through sacred ash (detachment from ego and impermanence) and steadfast devotion protected by Rudra’s grace.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa are classical Shaiva identifiers used while worshipping the Śiva-liṅga and meditating on Saguna Shiva—supporting focused devotion (bhakti) and reverent approach to the Lord as Pati (the liberating Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear rudrākṣa with reverence, apply tripuṇḍra (vibhūti/bhasma) as a sacred mark, and meditate on Shiva’s compassionate gaze while repeating the Panchakshara mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—especially in daily pūjā and Mahāśivarātri observance.