Shloka 55

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

भस्मधारी विशेषेण स्त्रीगोहत्यादिपातकैः । वीरहत्याश्वहत्याभ्यां मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

bhasmadhārī viśeṣeṇa strīgohatyādipātakaiḥ | vīrahatyāśvahatyābhyāṃ mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Wer die heilige Asche (bhasma) in besonderer Weise trägt, wird von schwersten Sünden befreit, wie dem Töten einer Frau und einer Kuh, und ebenso von den Sünden des Tötens eines Helden und eines Pferdes — daran besteht kein Zweifel.

Word by Word

• bhasma-dhārī: the ash-bearer
• bhasma-dhārī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक; from dhṛ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘one who bears ash’)

• viśeṣeṇa: especially
• viśeṣeṇa: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनं क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental used adverbially): ‘especially’

• strī-go-hatyā-ādi-pātakaiḥ: from sins such as killing a woman or a cow
• strī-go-hatyā-ādi-pātakaiḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + go (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘sins such as woman-killing and cow-killing’)

• vīra-hatyā-aśva-hatyābhyām: from (the sins of) killing a hero and killing a horse
• vīra-hatyā-aśva-hatyābhyām: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (वीरहत्या + अश्वहत्या)

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

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here/in this matter)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vidyeshvara Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Hyperbolic mahātmyā style: even mahāpātakas are said to be neutralized by bhasma-dhāraṇa, underscoring Śiva’s capacity to sever pāśa (bondage) through grace when the devotee adopts Śaiva identity and discipline.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the extraordinary purifying potency of Śaiva observance—especially bearing bhasma—as a sign of surrender to Pati (Śiva) and a means of cleansing even heavy karmic stains through devotion and sanctified discipline.

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

Bhasma-dhāraṇa is a visible Śaiva mark associated with daily worship of Saguna Śiva—often alongside Linga-pūjā—signifying one’s consecrated body as a temple of Śiva and remembrance of His presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply bhasma as Tripuṇḍra with reverence (ideally after Śiva-pūjā), maintaining purity of conduct and steady remembrance of Śiva—commonly supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”