Shloka 39

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

भस्मस्नानेन यावंतः कणाः स्वाण्गे प्रतिष्ठिताः । तावंति शिवलिंगानि तनौ धत्ते हि धारकः

Transliteration

bhasmasnānena yāvaṃtaḥ kaṇāḥ svāṇge pratiṣṭhitāḥ | tāvaṃti śivaliṃgāni tanau dhatte hi dhārakaḥ

Translation

Wenn man mit Bhasma, der heiligen Asche, badet, so viele Körnchen sich am eigenen Leib festsetzen, so viele Śiva-Liṅgas trägt der Träger wahrhaft an seinem Körper.

Word by Word

• bhasma-snānena: by bathing with ash
• bhasma-snānena: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘भस्मना स्नानम्’/‘भस्मस्नान’ (bath with ash)

• yāvantaḥ: as many as
• yāvantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक-विशेषण (as many as)

• kaṇāḥ: particles (grains)
• kaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (particles/grains)

• sva-aṅge: on (one’s) body
• sva-aṅge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘स्वस्य अङ्गे’ (on one’s own body)

• pratiṣṭhitāḥ: settled/placed
• pratiṣṭhitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agreeing with kaṇāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√sthā (धातु) + kta (प्रत्यय) → pratiṣṭhita (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘स्थिताः/स्थापिताः’ (settled/placed)

• tāvanti: so many
• tāvanti: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक (so many)

• śiva-liṅgāni: Śiva-liṅgas
• śiva-liṅgāni: Karma (कर्म/object borne)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘शिवस्य लिङ्गानि’ (Śiva-liṅgas)

• tanau: on the body
• tanau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (in/on the body)

• dhatte: bears/holds
• dhatte: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; ‘धत्ते’ (bears/holds)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• dhārakaḥ: the bearer (wearer)
• dhārakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (the wearer/bearer)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse sacralizes the devotee’s body as a field of liṅgas through bhasma, aligning personal practice with the Kāśī ideal where Śiva is immanent and grants liberation.

Significance: Transforms the practitioner into a mobile kṣetra: each ash-particle becomes a liṅga, intensifying merit and Śiva-proximity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Bhasma

FAQs

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

It teaches that bhasma is not merely symbolic: each ash-particle on the devotee’s body is revered as a living mark of Śiva’s presence, turning the body into a field of liṅga-consciousness and remembrance of Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse links external practice to Saguna worship: applying bhasma is treated as carrying countless Śiva-liṅgas, reinforcing liṅga-bhakti and constant proximity to Śiva through a sanctified bodily discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Bhasma-snāna (or reverent application of sacred ash, often as Tripuṇḍra) is recommended as a daily Shaiva practice, ideally done with mantra-remembrance such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).