Shloka 36

Brahmā Counsels the Demigods; Journey to Kailāsa; Śiva’s Tranquility and Brahmā’s Praise

Devanagari script

लिङ्गं च तापसाभीष्टं भस्मदण्डजटाजिनम् । अङ्गेन सन्ध्याभ्ररुचा चन्द्रलेखां च बिभ्रतम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

liṅgaṁ ca tāpasābhīṣṭaṁ bhasma-daṇḍa-jaṭājinam aṅgena sandhyābhra-rucā candra-lekhāṁ ca bibhratam

Translation

He bore the emblems cherished by ascetics—the sign of the liṅga, sacred ash, staff, matted locks, and deerskin. Smeared with ash, his body shone like an evening cloud, and in his hair he carried the mark of the crescent moon.

Synonyms

• लिङ्गम्: the emblem/mark (ascetic insignia)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• तापसाभीष्टम्: desired by ascetics
• तापसाभीष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तापसाभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक: तापस+अभीष्ट)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; लिङ्गम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भस्मदण्डजटाजिनम्: (having) ash, staff, matted hair, and deerskin
• भस्मदण्डजटाजिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मदण्डजटाजिन (प्रातिपदिक: भस्म+दण्ड+जटा+अजिन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; लिङ्गम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम् (a set of insignia)

• अङ्गेन: with (his) body/limb
• अङ्गेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental)

• सन्ध्याभ्ररुचा: with the radiance of twilight-clouds
• सन्ध्याभ्ररुचा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्याभ्ररुचि (प्रातिपदिक: सन्ध्या+अभ्र+रुचि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental); अङ्गेन इत्यस्य विशेषण-रूपेण

• चन्द्रलेखाम्: the crescent moon
• चन्द्रलेखाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रलेखा (प्रातिपदिक: चन्द्र+लेखा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• बिभ्रतम्: bearing
• बिभ्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम्/शिवम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Purport

Lord Śiva’s symptoms of austerity are not exactly those of a Vaiṣṇava. Lord Śiva is certainly the number one Vaiṣṇava, but he exhibits a feature for a particular class of men who cannot follow the Vaiṣṇava principles. The Śaivites, the devotees of Lord Śiva, generally dress like Lord Śiva, and sometimes they indulge in smoking and taking intoxicants. Such practices are never accepted by the followers of Vaiṣṇava rituals.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Lord Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva’s ascetic symbols like bhasma, jata, and ajina?

This verse describes Śiva as bearing the signs beloved to ascetics—sacred ash, staff, matted locks, and deerskin—showing his role as the archetypal renunciant and yogī.

Why is Lord Shiva described with a crescent moon in the Bhagavatam?

The verse notes the crescent moon as an ornament on Śiva, highlighting his divine identity and recognizable iconography while portraying his serene, transcendental beauty.

How can devotees apply the lesson of Lord Shiva’s simple, austere appearance in modern life?

Śiva’s austere marks encourage simplicity, self-discipline, and inner devotion—valuing spiritual qualities over external luxury while remaining steady in worship and duty.