Shloka 64

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

शम्यस्वत्थपलाशान्वा वटारम्वधबिल्वकान् । शिवाग्निना दहेच्छुद्धं तद्वै भस्म शिवाग्निजम्

Transliteration

śamyasvatthapalāśānvā vaṭāramvadhabilvakān | śivāgninā dahecchuddhaṃ tadvai bhasma śivāgnijam

Translation

One should burn (the wood/leaves of) śamī, aśvattha, palāśa, vaṭa, aramvadha, and bilva in Śiva’s sacred fire. What is thus burned and made pure—indeed, that is bhasma, the holy ash born of Śiva’s fire.

Word by Word

• śamya-svattha-palāśān: śamya-, aśvattha-, and palāśa- (woods)
• śamya-svattha-palāśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śamya + svattha + palāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्वः—(śamyāḥ ca svatthāḥ ca palāśāḥ ca)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय)

• vaṭa-ārambadha-bilvakān: banyan, ārambadha, and bilva (woods)
• vaṭa-ārambadha-bilvakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṭa + ārambadha + bilvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्वः—(vaṭāḥ ca ārambadhāḥ ca bilvakāḥ ca)

• śiva-agninā: with the Śiva-fire
• śiva-agninā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śivasya agninā)

• dahet: should burn
• dahet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dah (दह्) (धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhiliṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śuddham: pure
• śuddham: Karma (कर्म) / Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with bhasma/śivāgnijam (intended)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता) / Deictic (निर्देशक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• bhasma: ash
• bhasma: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate nominative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śiva-agnijam: born from the Śiva-fire
• śiva-agnijam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva + agni + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with bhasma; तत्पुरुषः—‘śivāgner jātaṃ’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s instructions on bhasma and Tripuṇḍra to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: शिवाग्निना

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines bhasma as a consecrated substance—ash made “pure” through Śiva’s sacred fire—symbolizing inner purification, the burning of impurities (mala), and remembrance of Śiva as Pati who liberates the bound soul (paśu).

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

Bhasma is a direct aid to saguna upāsanā: it is produced through a Śiva-consecrated rite and then applied as Tripuṇḍra while worshipping the Liṅga, aligning the devotee’s body and mind with Śiva’s presence and sanctity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare vibhūti by burning prescribed sacred woods/leaves in a Śiva-fire, keep it pure, and apply it as bhasma/Tripuṇḍra during daily Śiva-pūjā and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).