Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 91

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

रुद्राग्निर्यत्परं वीर्यन्तद्भस्म परिकीर्तितम् । तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु वीर्यवान्भस्मसंयुतः

Transliteration

rudrāgniryatparaṃ vīryantadbhasma parikīrtitam | tasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu vīryavānbhasmasaṃyutaḥ

Translation

إنّ القوّة العُليا التي لِنارِ رُدرا قد أُعلِنَتْ أنها البَسْمَةُ، أي الرمادُ المقدّس. فلذلك، في كل زمان، من تزيّن بالبَسْمَة صار ذا بأسٍ وثبات.

Word by Word

• रुद्र-अग्निः: Rudra-fire (the fire of Rudra)
• रुद्र-अग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular); कर्मधारय (रुद्ररूपः अग्निः)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Relative pronoun; Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); विशेषण of वीर्यम्

• वीर्यम्: power; potency
• वीर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Demonstrative pronoun; Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed/called
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) → परिकीर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयभावे (predicative)

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति पञ्चमी-रूपेण हेत्वर्थे अव्ययवत् (ablative used adverbially: 'therefore/from that')

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Locative plural); विशेषण of कालेषु

• कालेषु: times
• कालेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Locative, Plural)

• वीर्यवान्: powerful
• वीर्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• भस्म-संयुतः: joined with ash; ash-endowed
• भस्म-संयुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त, क्त; √युज् with सम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular); तत्पुरुष (भस्मना संयुतः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Identifies bhasma as Rudra’s fiery vīrya—linking the pilgrim’s external mark to the cosmic dissolving power that burns impurities; wearing bhasma becomes a portable ‘tīrtha’ of Rudra’s fire.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic fire principle (Rudrāgni) invoked as archetype of dissolution/purification.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies bhasma as the manifest sign of Rudra’s supreme energy, teaching that remembrance of Shiva through bhasma strengthens inner tapas, dispassion, and orientation to liberation (Pati) over bondage (pāśa).

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

Bhasma is a Shaiva mark of belonging to Shiva and is used as an external aid for Saguna worship—preparing the body-mind as a temple for Linga-pūjā while contemplating Shiva as the indwelling Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regularly wear/apply bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) with devotion, ideally while remembering Rudra and reciting Shaiva mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating steady spiritual vigor.