Shloka 22

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

अकृत्वा भस्मना स्नानं न जपेद्वै षडक्षरम् । त्रिपुंड्रं च रचित्वा तु विधिना भस्मना जपेत्

Transliteration

akṛtvā bhasmanā snānaṃ na japedvai ṣaḍakṣaram | tripuṃḍraṃ ca racitvā tu vidhinā bhasmanā japet

Translation

ভস্মস্নান না করে ষড়ক্ষর মন্ত্র জপ করিবে না। কিন্তু বিধিমতো ভস্মে ত্রিপুণ্ড্র অঙ্কন করে তারপর জপ করিবে।

Word by Word

• अ-कृत्वा: without doing / not having done
• अ-कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive): ‘not having done’

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• षट्-अक्षरम्: the six-syllable (mantra)
• षट्-अक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; द्विगुसमास (षडक्षरम् = six-syllabled (mantra))

• त्रि-पुण्ड्रम्: the tripuṇḍra (three lines)
• त्रि-पुण्ड्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; द्विगुसमास

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रचित्वा: having made
• रचित्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रच् (धातु) → रचित्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive): having made/arranged

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक अव्यय (particle)

• विधिना: according to rule / by the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse functions as ritual-grammar within the Kāśī/Viśveśvara teaching milieu: purification by bhasma precedes mantra-japa; the place where such rule is followed becomes Śiva’s sphere.

Significance: Establishes a daily discipline: bhasma-snāna and tripuṇḍra as prerequisites for mantra practice, emphasizing purity, eligibility (adhikāra), and Śiva’s grace through right observance.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-japa should be supported by outer and inner purification. Bhasma and Tripuṇḍra symbolize detachment (vairāgya) and the burning of impurity, aligning the devotee with Shiva as Pati, the purifier of the bound soul (paśu).

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

Tripuṇḍra and bhasma are classic marks of Saguna Shiva worship, preparing the body as a consecrated seat for devotion before approaching the Linga and before reciting Shiva-mantras.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform bhasma-snāna (or purificatory use of bhasma), apply Tripuṇḍra properly, and then undertake japa of the six-syllabled Shiva-mantra with discipline and reverence.