Shloka 17

भस्म–रुद्राक्ष–शिवनाममाहात्म्य

The Greatness of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and the Name of Śiva

Devanagari script

तद्दिनं हि समारभ्य ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिः सरैः । धार्यते त्रितयं तच्च दर्शनात्पापहारकम्

Transliteration

taddinaṃ hi samārabhya brahmaviṣṇvādibhiḥ saraiḥ | dhāryate tritayaṃ tacca darśanātpāpahārakam

Translation

From that very day onward, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and the other gods wear and uphold this threefold Śaiva observance; and even the mere sight of it becomes a remover of sins.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun) used adjectivally; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिनम्: day
• दिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थ/हेत्वर्थ-निपात

• समारभ्य: starting from
• समारभ्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/starting point)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्+आ+रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); ‘having begun/starting from’

• ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिः: by Brahmā, Viṣṇu and others
• ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिः: Kartr (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-विष्णु-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); समास: ब्रह्मविष्णु (द्वन्द्व) + आदि (तत्पुरुष: ‘beginning with’), समस्तपद

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: Kartr (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• धार्यते: is borne/maintained
• धार्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive voice), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• त्रितयम्: the triad
• त्रितयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Passive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; here as passive subject (प्रथमा)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; त्रितयम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• दर्शनात्: from seeing; by the sight of
• दर्शनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• पापहारकम्: sin-destroying
• पापहारकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप-हारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: पापं हरति इति (sin-removing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shaiva observances to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvara/Kāśī milieu, even devas like Brahmā and Viṣṇu adopt Śaiva marks/observances; the text stresses that contact (darśana) with Śiva’s signs and disciplines purifies, reflecting Kāśī’s fame as a place where Śiva grants swift purification and liberation.

Significance: Darśana of Viśveśvara and even of Śaiva insignia/observance is said to destroy pāpa and incline the soul toward Śiva-bhakti and anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shaiva symbols and disciplines are not merely sectarian markers but purifying sacraments: even their darśana (sacred sight) carries Shiva’s grace and reduces pāpa, orienting the soul (paśu) toward Pati (Śiva).

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

The “threefold observance” points to outward supports of Saguna Shiva worship—especially Tripuṇḍra/Bhasma and related Shaiva insignia—which prepare the devotee for Linga-darśana and Linga-pūjā by cultivating reverence, purity, and Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt the Shaiva triad (commonly understood as Bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa, supported by mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); wear them with devotion, since the text emphasizes their sin-removing power even through darśana.