Shloka 61

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

यो नित्यं भस्मपूतांगो शिवपूजोन्मुखो भवेत् । स तरत्येव संसारमपारमतिदारुणम्

Transliteration

yo nityaṃ bhasmapūtāṃgo śivapūjonmukho bhavet | sa taratyeva saṃsāramapāramatidāruṇam

Translation

Wer seinen Leib stets mit heiliger Asche (Bhasma) reinigt und im Herzen der Verehrung des Herrn Śiva zugewandt bleibt—der überschreitet wahrlich den grenzenlosen und überaus furchtbaren Kreislauf des Saṃsāra.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: Avyaya usage as adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘always’

• भस्मपूताङ्गः: having limbs purified with sacred ash
• भस्मपूताङ्गः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘yaḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म + पूत + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; bahuvrīhi: ‘whose limbs are purified with ash’

• शिवपूजोन्मुखः: eager/turned toward worship of Śiva
• शिवपूजोन्मुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘yaḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + पूजा + उन्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘inclined toward Śiva-worship’

• भवेत्: may be; becomes
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; correlative pronoun

• तरति: crosses over
• तरति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• एव: indeed; certainly
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)

• संसारम्: saṃsāra; worldly existence
• संसारम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• अपारम्: boundless
• अपारम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies ‘saṃsāram’

• अतिदारुणम्: extremely dreadful
• अतिदारुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; avyayībhāva with ‘ati’ = ‘exceedingly terrible’; qualifies ‘saṃsāram’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Bhasma-dhāraṇa with Śiva-pūjā-bhāva is presented as a direct upāya for saṃsāra-taraṇa (crossing bondage), emphasizing inner purity and Śiva-anugraha over mere external merit.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that steady Shaiva discipline—purifying oneself with bhasma and keeping the mind oriented to Śiva-pūjā—becomes a liberating force, enabling the soul to transcend the seemingly endless and painful saṃsāra by Śiva’s grace.

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

Being “śivapūjonmukha” implies regular, embodied worship of Saguna Śiva—commonly through Śiva-liṅga pūjā with reverence—so that outward ritual purity (bhasma/Tripuṇḍra) supports inward remembrance and surrender to Śiva as Pati, the bestower of liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily application of sacred ash (vibhūti/bhasma), traditionally as Tripuṇḍra, along with consistent Śiva-pūjā and inward orientation to Śiva (often supported by japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).