Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites

Devanagari script

निवृत्त्याजानुसंबद्धमानाभेश्च प्रतिष्ठया । आकंठं विद्यया तद्वदाललाटं तु शांतया

Transliteration

nivṛttyājānusaṃbaddhamānābheśca pratiṣṭhayā | ākaṃṭhaṃ vidyayā tadvadālalāṭaṃ tu śāṃtayā

Translation

Von den Knien bis zum Nabel soll man die heilige Asche im Geist der Abkehr vom Weltlichen (nivṛtti) festsetzen (auftragen). Vom Nabel aufwärts trage man sie mit Standhaftigkeit (pratiṣṭhā) auf; bis zur Kehle mit vidyā, geistigem Wissen; und ebenso auf die Stirn mit stiller Friedenruhe (śānti).

Word by Word

• nivṛttyā: by (the kalā) Nivṛtti
• nivṛttyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrumental sg.; ‘by/with Nivṛtti (kalā)’)

• ā-jānu-saṃbaddham: connected/extended up to the knees
• ā-jānu-saṃbaddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग) + jānu (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbaddha (कृदन्त; √bandh धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (ā-jānu = ‘up to the knees’) + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण saṃbaddha (neuter acc./nom. sg.; ‘connected/extended up to the knees’)

• mānābheḥ: from the mānābhi (measuring-navel/central point)
• mānābheḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक) + nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (mānasya nābhiḥ) ‘navel of measure’ (ablative sg.; ‘from the mānābhi’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• pratiṣṭhayā: by (the kalā) Pratiṣṭhā
• pratiṣṭhayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratiṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrumental sg.; ‘by/with Pratiṣṭhā (kalā)’)

• ā-kaṃṭham: up to the throat
• ā-kaṃṭham: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग) + kaṃṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-अव्यय; अवधिक-क्रियाविशेषण (limit-adverb) (indeclinable: ‘up to the throat’)

• vidyayā: by (the kalā) Vidyā
• vidyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrumental sg.; ‘by/with Vidyā (kalā)’)

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक/तुल्यार्थक (indeclinable: ‘likewise, similarly’)

• ā-lalāṭam: up to the forehead
• ā-lalāṭam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग) + lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-अव्यय; अवधिक-क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable: ‘up to the forehead’)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• śāṃtayā: by (the kalā) Śāntā/Peace
• śāṃtayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāṃtā/śānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrumental sg.; ‘by/with Śāntā/Śānti (kalā)’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: kavaca

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that applying bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) is not mere outer marking: each region is sanctified by an inner state—nivṛtti (turning from bondage), pratiṣṭhā (steadfast discipline), vidyā (true knowledge), and śānti (peace)—leading the soul toward Shiva (Pati) and liberation.

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

Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is a key Shaiva sign of devotion to Saguna Shiva and the Linga; the verse links the external rite to internal transformation, making the worship of the Linga a living yoga of purification rather than a purely ceremonial act.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While applying bhasma/Tripuṇḍra, contemplate nivṛtti (detachment) for the lower body, pratiṣṭhā (firm resolve) for the mid-region, vidyā (Shiva-knowledge) up to the throat, and śānti (calm absorption) on the forehead—ideally alongside Shaiva japa such as the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).