Shloka 30

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

Sūta’s Return to Kāśī and the Observances of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

प्रांशुः कमण्डलूद्दण्डकृष्णाजिनधरस्स्वयम् । भस्मावदातसर्वाङ्गस्सर्वलक्षणलक्षितः

Transliteration

prāṃśuḥ kamaṇḍalūddaṇḍakṛṣṇājinadharassvayam | bhasmāvadātasarvāṅgassarvalakṣaṇalakṣitaḥ

Translation

He Himself was tall and radiant, bearing a water-pot (kamaṇḍalu), a staff, and a black antelope-skin. His entire body was made pure and bright with sacred ash (bhasma), and He was marked by all the auspicious signs—revealing the visible, saguna form of the Supreme Lord who bestows liberation upon devotees.

Word by Word

• प्रांशुः: tall, lofty
• प्रांशुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रांशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (tall/upright)

• कमण्डलु-उद्दण्ड-कृष्णाजिन-धरः: bearing a water-pot, staff, and black antelope-skin
• कमण्डलु-उद्दण्ड-कृष्णाजिन-धरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्णाजिन (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘कमण्डलुं च उद्दण्डं च कृष्णाजिनं च धरति’ इति (one who bears a water-pot, staff, and black antelope-skin)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/स्वतन्त्र-क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb: ‘himself/indeed’)

• भस्म-अवदात-सर्वाङ्गः: whose whole body is whitened with ash
• भस्म-अवदात-सर्वाङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अवदात (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्वाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः—‘भस्मना अवदातं सर्वाङ्गं यस्य’ (whose whole body is whitened by ash)

• सर्व-लक्षण-लक्षितः: marked by all (auspicious) characteristics
• सर्व-लक्षण-लक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षित (कृदन्त; √लक्ष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘सर्वैः लक्षणैः लक्षितः’ (marked by all auspicious signs)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva’s ascetic, yogic form—staff, kamaṇḍalu, and antelope-skin—showing that detachment and purity (symbolized by bhasma) are marks of the Lord who leads the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation under His grace (Pati).

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

While the Liṅga points to Shiva’s nirguṇa transcendence, this verse emphasizes His saguna manifestation with recognizable emblems, supporting personal devotion (bhakti) and contemplative worship where the devotee meditates on Shiva’s visible form and qualities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests reverent use of sacred ash (bhasma/Tripuṇḍra) and meditation on Shiva as the supreme yogin; devotees may combine this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while cultivating vairāgya (dispassion).