Shloka 52

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

त्रिपुण्ड्रं कुरुते यस्तु भस्मना विधिपूर्वकम् । महापातकसंघातैर्मुच्यते चोपपातकैः

Transliteration

tripuṇḍraṃ kurute yastu bhasmanā vidhipūrvakam | mahāpātakasaṃghātairmucyate copapātakaiḥ

Translation

Wer nach der vorgeschriebenen Weise mit heiliger Asche (bhasma) die Tripuṇḍra zeichnet, wird von der angesammelten Last großer Sünden befreit und ebenso von Nebenvergehen.

Word by Word

• tripuṇḍram: tripuṇḍra (three ash-marks)
• tripuṇḍram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripuṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular

• kurute: does/makes
• kurute: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (but/indeed)

• bhasmanā: with ash
• bhasmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• vidhi-pūrvakam: according to the prescribed method
• vidhi-pūrvakam: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (according to rule)

• mahā-pātaka-saṃghātaiḥ: from heaps of great sins
• mahā-pātaka-saṃghātaiḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘masses of great sins’)

• mucyate: is freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• upapātakaiḥ: from minor sins
• upapātakaiḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upapātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural (used with mucyate: ‘from’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-rules to the sages of Naimisharanya within the Vidyeshvara/Viśveśvara section)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes ‘vidhi’ (proper method) as spiritually efficacious: correct Tripuṇḍra-dhāraṇa functions as a daily expiatory act, aligning the bound soul toward Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Tripuṇḍra made with bhasma is not merely an outer mark but a Shaiva sacramental act that purifies karmic impurity and turns the devotee toward Pati (Shiva) for liberation.

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

Tripuṇḍra is a visible sign of allegiance to Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upasana—signifying consecration of the body as a temple and readiness for Shiva’s grace through disciplined observance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply sacred ash as Tripuṇḍra strictly according to vidhi (cleanliness, mantra-remembrance, and reverence), using it as a daily practice of purification and Shaiva identity before japa, puja, or dhyana.