Shloka 77

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्फलम् । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति भस्मस्नानकरो नरः

Transliteration

sarvatīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṃ sarvatīrtheṣu yatphalam | tatphalaṃ samavāpnoti bhasmasnānakaro naraḥ

Translation

Welches Verdienst und welche geistige Frucht man durch das Bad an allen heiligen Tīrthas erlangt, eben diese Frucht erlangt vollständig der Mensch, der das Bhasma-Bad nach śaivischer Weise vollzieht.

Word by Word

• सर्वतीर्थेषु: in all sacred places
• सर्वतीर्थेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन (plural)

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वतीर्थेषु: in all sacred places
• सर्वतीर्थेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; फलम् इति विशेषण (demonstrative)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• समवाप्नोति: attains fully
• समवाप्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भस्मस्नानकरः: one who performs ash-bath
• भस्मस्नानकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मस्नान + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• नरः: man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Declares bhasma-snāna as equivalent to the aggregate merit of bathing at all tīrthas—an internalized ‘sarva-tīrtha’ doctrine typical of Śaiva dharma instruction.

Significance: Promises ‘sarva-tīrtha-phala’ through daily Śaiva observance, emphasizing accessibility of grace over geographic pilgrimage.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse elevates bhasma-snāna (ash bath/anointing) as a direct Shaiva purifier: by orienting the body-mind toward Pati (Shiva), one gains the aggregate merit attributed to visiting all tīrthas, emphasizing inner consecration over mere travel.

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

Bhasma is a hallmark of Saguna Shiva worship and Linga-upāsanā—applied as Tripuṇḍra and used in ritual preparation—signifying surrender to Shiva, remembrance of impermanence, and readiness for Linga-pūjā with mantra and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform bhasma-snāna or anoint the body with sacred ash (often with Tripuṇḍra), ideally while remembering Shiva and reciting Shaiva mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as part of daily worship or Mahāśivarātri observance.