Shloka 58

Devanagari script

लोकाग्निजमथो भस्मद्र व्यशुद्ध्यर्थमावहेत् । मृद्दारुलोहरूपाणां धान्यानां च तथैव च

Transliteration

lokāgnijamatho bhasmadra vyaśuddhyarthamāvahet | mṛddāruloharūpāṇāṃ dhānyānāṃ ca tathaiva ca

Translation

One should then procure ash produced from the sacred household fire, for the purpose of purifying the substances used in worship—those made of clay, wood, and metal, and likewise grains as well.

Word by Word

• loka-agni-jam: born of worldly fire
• loka-agni-jam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lokāgner jātaṃ)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/and)

• bhasma-dravyam: ash-substance/material (ash)
• bhasma-dravyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasma (प्रातिपदिक) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bhasmano dravyam)

• śuddhi-artham: for purification
• śuddhi-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (śuddhyai artham = for purification)

• āvahet: should bring/collect
• āvahet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (वह्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (आ-)

• mṛt-dāru-loha-rūpāṇām: of forms of clay, wood and metal
• mṛt-dāru-loha-rūpāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + dāru (प्रातिपदिक) + loha (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (mṛdādīnāṃ rūpāṇi = forms of clay/wood/metal)

• dhānyānām: of grains
• dhānyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (likewise)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the ritual teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, as per Purāṇic dialogue convention)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s ritual culture emphasizes śuddhi (purity/fitness) for liṅga-sevā; household-fire ash is treated as a pragmatic purifier for materials brought into worship.

Significance: Supports proper liṅga-upacāra; purity of dravya is framed as removing obstacles (mala/āvaraṇa) to effective worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bhasma (sacred ash) is not merely symbolic but a purifying śaiva sacramental substance, supporting purity of offerings and the devotee’s intention in Shiva-worship.

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

Linga-pūjā emphasizes śuddhi (purity) of upacāras and offerings; using ash from a sanctified fire aligns the worshipper’s materials with the sanctity of Saguna Shiva worship, where outer ritual supports inner devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Procure and use sacred bhasma—especially from a proper fire—as a purifier for pūjā items (clay/wood/metal vessels and grains), a practice closely connected with Tripuṇḍra and śaiva daily observance.