Shloka 48

शिशुकस्य शिवशास्त्रप्राप्तिः (Śiśuka’s Attainment of Śaiva Teaching and Grace)

Devanagari script

भस्मेदन्तु मया लब्धं पितुरेव तवोत्तमम् । विरजानलसंसिद्धं महाव्यापन्निवारणम्

Transliteration

bhasmedantu mayā labdhaṃ pitureva tavottamam | virajānalasaṃsiddhaṃ mahāvyāpannivāraṇam

Translation

“But this sacred ash (bhasma) I have obtained—supremely excellent, indeed from your own father. Perfected in the fire free from passion and impurity, it is a great remover of calamity and distress.”

Word by Word

• भस्म: sacred ash
• भस्म: कर्म/विधेय (प्रसङ्गानुसार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (भस्म-सम्बद्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (contrast/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (कर्तृ-निर्देश; passive context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• लब्धम्: obtained
• लब्धम्: विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध (कृदन्त; √लभ् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; agrees with भस्म/इदम्

• पितुः: of (my/your) father
• पितुः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; genitive singular

• उत्तमम्: best, excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (भस्म-सम्बद्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; superlative ‘best’

• विरज-अनल-संसिद्धम्: perfected/processed in the pure fire
• विरज-अनल-संसिद्धम्: विशेषण (भस्म-सम्बद्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरज (प्रातिपदिक) + अनल (प्रातिपदिक) + संसिद्ध (कृदन्त; √सिध् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘विरजस्य अनलेन संसिद्धम्’/‘विरजानले संसिद्धम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; qualifies भस्म

• महा-व्यापत्-निवारणम्: remover of great calamity
• महा-व्यापत्-निवारणम्: विशेषण (भस्म-सम्बद्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यापत्/व्यापन (प्रातिपदिक) + निवारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘महतीं व्यापदं निवारयति’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; qualifies भस्म

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Bhasma (vibhūti) signifies Śiva’s transcendence over rajas and the burning of impurities; used as rakṣā against calamity and as reminder of impermanence.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva’s sacred ash (bhasma/vibhūti) as a purifier born of “viraja” fire—symbolizing the burning of rajas (passion) and mala (impurity). In a Shaiva Siddhanta sense, it points to inner purification and protection as one aligns the self (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Bhasma is a key Shaiva mark used in Saguna worship—especially in Linga-puja—signifying devotion, consecration, and remembrance that all forms return to ash, while Shiva alone is the eternal ground. Applying bhasma complements external worship with inner detachment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests reverent use of consecrated Bhasma—commonly applied as Tripuṇḍra—while cultivating “viraja” (freedom from passion) through mantra-japa and steady devotion, seeking protection from adversity and purification of mind.