Shloka 60

प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva

Devanagari script

ततो गुरुः समादाय विरजानलजं शितम् । भस्म तेनैव तं शिष्यं समुद्धृत्य यथाविधि

Transliteration

tato guruḥ samādāya virajānalajaṃ śitam | bhasma tenaiva taṃ śiṣyaṃ samuddhṛtya yathāvidhi

Translation

Then the Guru took the cool sacred ash (bhasma) born of the pure (virajā) fire, and with that very ash he duly consecrated and uplifted the disciple according to the prescribed rite.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of sequence

• guruḥ: the guru
• guruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• samādāya: having taken
• samādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having taken up

• viraja-anala-jam: born from the smokeless fire
• viraja-anala-jam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viraja (प्रातिपदिक) + anala (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies 'bhasma'

• śitam: white/bright
• śitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies 'bhasma'

• bhasma: sacred ash
• bhasma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tena: with that (ash)
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• tam: that (him)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śiṣyam: disciple
• śiṣyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to 'tam'

• samuddhṛtya: having taken up (and applied)
• samuddhṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having lifted/raised (and applied)

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed method
• yathā-vidhi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; manner adverb: 'according to rule'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa teachings as received in the Shiva Purana tradition)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights guru-kripā expressed through bhasma: the disciple is ritually purified and inwardly “uplifted,” symbolizing the burning of impurities (pāśa) and the turning of the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through right method (vidhi).

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

Sacred ash is a key Shaiva marker used in Linga-upāsanā and Saguna Shiva devotion; it signifies the sanctified residue of fire-offerings and the truth that all forms dissolve into Shiva, supporting disciplined worship under a guru’s guidance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests the prescribed Shaiva practice of receiving and applying consecrated bhasma (often as tripuṇḍra) under proper initiation/ritual procedure, as a purification aid and as a constant remembrance of Shiva and impermanence.