Shloka 61

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause

Devanagari script

वेदाग्निजं तथा भस्म तत्कर्मांतेषु धारयेत् । मंत्रेण क्रियया जन्यं कर्माग्नौ भस्मरूपधृक्

Transliteration

vedāgnijaṃ tathā bhasma tatkarmāṃteṣu dhārayet | maṃtreṇa kriyayā janyaṃ karmāgnau bhasmarūpadhṛk

Translation

At the conclusion of those rites, one should apply the sacred ash produced from the Vedic fire. Brought forth through mantra and prescribed action, it is born in the sacrificial fire of ritual and is worn in the form of bhasma.

Word by Word

• वेदाग्निजम्: born from the Vedic fire
• वेदाग्निजम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + अग्नि + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (acc. sg. neut.) — ‘वेदाग्नितः जातम्’ (born from Vedic fire)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ (likewise)

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (acc. sg.)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (acc. sg.) — विशेषणरूपेण ‘that’

• कर्मान्तेषु: at the ends of rituals
• कर्मान्तेषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (loc. pl. masc.) — ‘कर्मस्य अन्तः’ (at the end of rites)

• धारयेत्: should wear/hold
• धारयेत्: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘should wear/should hold’

• मन्त्रेण: by/with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (instr. sg. masc.)

• क्रियया: by/through a rite/action
• क्रियया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (instr. sg. fem.)

• जन्यम्: produced/generated
• जन्यम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘to be produced/produced’); द्वितीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (acc. sg.) — भस्मस्य विशेषणम्

• कर्माग्नौ: in the ritual fire
• कर्माग्नौ: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (loc. sg. masc.) — ‘कर्मणि अग्निः’ (ritual fire)

• भस्मरूपधृक्: one who bears the form of ash
• भस्मरूपधृक्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म + रूप + धृ (धातु) + क्विप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (धृ + क्विप् → धृक् ‘bearer’); प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (nom. sg. masc.) — ‘भस्मरूपं धारयति’ (one who bears ash-form)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s injunctions on bhasma and Śaiva conduct to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga legend; it distinguishes Vedic-fire bhasma as mantra-kriyā-generated and prescribes its wearing at rite-conclusion, aligning Śaiva conduct with Vedic sacrificial closure.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bhasma is not mere residue but a sanctified Śaiva sacramental substance, made holy through Vedic fire, mantra, and right action—symbolizing purification, impermanence of the body, and devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

Bhasma-dhāraṇa is a Saguna Śiva practice: the devotee marks and consecrates the body as a temple fit for Liṅga-pūjā, aligning outer ritual (kriyā) with inner remembrance of Śiva through mantra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply vibhūti/bhasma—ideally from a sanctified (Vedic/ritual) fire—at the completion of worship or rites, with mantra; this supports Tripuṇḍra practice and steady Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance).