Shloka 65

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

अन्ये मंत्राश्च देवानां सर्वसौख्यकरा मुने । ते सर्वे तस्य वश्याः स्युर्यो बिभर्ति त्रिपुंड्रकम्

Transliteration

anye maṃtrāśca devānāṃ sarvasaukhyakarā mune | te sarve tasya vaśyāḥ syuryo bibharti tripuṃḍrakam

Translation

أيها الحكيم، إنّ سائر المانترا الخاصة بالآلهة، التي تمنح كل صنوف السعادة الدنيوية، تصبح كلّها خاضعةً تمامًا لمن يحمل التِّرِيبُونْدْرَا (ثلاثة خطوط الرماد المقدّس) لشيفا.

Word by Word

• anye: other
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mantrāḥ: mantras
• mantrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvasaukhya-karāḥ: bringing all happiness
• sarvasaukhya-karāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + saukhya + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘makers of all happiness’

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaśyāḥ: submissive/under control
• vaśyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate adjective

• syuḥ: would be / become
• syuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्/Vidhi-liṅ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• bibharti: wears/bears
• bibharti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्/Laṭ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tripuṇḍrakam: tripuṇḍra mark
• tripuṇḍrakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + puṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara

Sthala Purana: Oṃkāreśvara is associated with the supremacy of Śiva as the inner controller; the verse’s claim that other deva-mantras become ‘vaśya’ to the tripuṇḍra-bearer reflects Śiva’s overlordship (pati) and the harmonization of other devatās under Śiva-tattva.

Significance: Reinforces Śiva as mantra-śekhara (crown of mantras) and grants confidence that Śiva-bhakti integrates and subordinates other ritual pursuits.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bearing Śiva’s Tripuṇḍra is not merely external symbolism but an act of Shaiva alignment; through devotion to Pati (Śiva), other deity-mantras and their fruits become secondary and supportive to the devotee.

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

Tripuṇḍra is a visible Shaiva vrata (observance) that complements Saguna worship of Śiva—especially Liṅga-pūjā—by marking the body as dedicated to Śiva and reinforcing single-pointed devotion during ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply sacred ash (vibhūti/bhasma) as Tripuṇḍra with reverence—ideally alongside Śiva-mantra japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and Liṅga worship—keeping the mind established in Śiva.