Shloka 9

Sūtasya Punargamanaṃ Kāśyāṃ—Bhasma-Rudrākṣa-Tripuṇḍra-Vidhiśca

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

Devanagari script

रुद्राक्षमालाभरणः कृतनित्यक्रियस्सुधी । यथोक्तांगेषु विधिना त्रिपुण्ड्रं रचति स्म ह

Transliteration

rudrākṣamālābharaṇaḥ kṛtanityakriyassudhī | yathoktāṃgeṣu vidhinā tripuṇḍraṃ racati sma ha

Translation

Wearing a rosary of Rudrākṣa beads, the wise devotee—having duly completed the daily rites—then, according to the prescribed rule, applied the Tripuṇḍra, the three sacred ash lines, upon the limbs as enjoined.

Word by Word

• रुद्राक्ष-माला-आभरणः: wearing a rudrākṣa garland as ornament
• रुद्राक्ष-माला-आभरणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: रुद्राक्ष-माला-आभरण (तत्पुरुष; ‘one whose ornament is a rudrākṣa-garland’)

• कृत-नित्य-क्रियः: having performed the daily rites
• कृत-नित्य-क्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √कृ) + नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: कृत-नित्य-क्रिय (तत्पुरुष; ‘one who has performed daily rites’); कर्तृविशेषण

• सुधीः: the wise man
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक संज्ञा

• यथा-उक्त-अङ्गेषु: on the limbs as prescribed
• यथा-उक्त-अङ्गेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √वच्) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: यथोक्त (अव्ययीभाव; ‘as said’), अङ्गेषु = नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• विधिना: by the proper method
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: the tripuṇḍra (three ash lines)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘three stripes/marks’)

• रचति: makes/draws
• रचति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्म: indeed/used to (in past narration)
• स्म: Tense marker (भूतार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; भूतार्थे/अनुस्मरणार्थे निपात (particle indicating past narrative)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa are identity-marks (liṅga) of the Paśu devoted to Pati; they function as daily reminders of detachment and as protective observances against pāśa (bondage).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal of disciplined devotion: after completing nitya-kriyā (daily duties), the devotee sanctifies body and mind through Rudrākṣa and Tripuṇḍra—outer signs that support inner remembrance of Pati (Śiva) and loosening of pāśa (bondage).

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

Rudrākṣa and Tripuṇḍra are traditional preparations for Saguna-Śiva worship, including Liṅga-pūjā; they mark the body as dedicated to Śiva and make the worshipper fit (adhikārin) for ritual approach, mantra-japa, and offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform daily rites, wear a Rudrākṣa mālā for japa, and apply Tripuṇḍra bhasma on the prescribed body-points, maintaining steady Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance), ideally with pañcākṣarī mantra japa.