Shloka 74

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

विभूतिं निंदते यो वै ब्राह्मणः सोन्यजातकः । याति च नरके घोरे यावद्ब्रह्मा चतुर्मुखः

Transliteration

vibhūtiṃ niṃdate yo vai brāhmaṇaḥ sonyajātakaḥ | yāti ca narake ghore yāvadbrahmā caturmukhaḥ

Translation

وأيُّ براهمن يسبّ الفيبهوُتي (الرماد المقدّس) فليُعَدّ كأنّه مولود من غير سلالة، أي ساقط عن براهمنيّته الحقّة. ويذهب إلى جحيمٍ مروّع ما دام برهما ذو الوجوه الأربعة قائمًا.

Word by Word

• विभूतिम्: sacred ash (vibhūti)
• विभूतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निन्दते: reviles
• निन्दते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यः-सम्बन्धे विशेष्यः

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्-सर्वनाम (correlative)

• अन्यजातकः: born as another (not truly a Brahmin)
• अन्यजातकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य-जातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies सः/ब्राह्मणः); समासः कर्मधारयः (अन्यः जातकः)

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नरके: in hell
• नरके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies नरके)

• यावत्: as long as / until
• यावत्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक (until/as long as)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुर्मुखः: four-faced
• चतुर्मुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य) — epithet of Brahmā

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Punishment is measured by Brahmā’s endurance (‘yāvad brahmā caturmukhaḥ’), using cosmic time to intensify the deterrent.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vibhuti (Bhasma)

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Vibhuti (Bhasma) as a Shaiva sacred marker of inner purity and surrender to Pati (Shiva). To revile it is to reject a central sign of Shaiva dharma and thus incur severe spiritual demerit.

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

Bhasma is traditionally applied while worshipping the Shiva-Linga and contemplating Saguna Shiva through prescribed observances. The verse warns that contempt for such Shaiva emblems undermines Linga-upasana and the devotee’s alignment with Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain reverence for Vibhuti, apply it as Tripundra according to Shaiva custom, and pair the observance with Shiva-japa—especially the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namah Shivaya")—as an act of disciplined devotion.