Shloka 31

भस्म–रुद्राक्ष–शिवनाममाहात्म्य

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

Devanagari script

शिवनामामृतं पेयं पापदावानलार्दितैः । पापदावाग्नितप्तानां शांतिस्तेन विना न हि

Transliteration

śivanāmāmṛtaṃ peyaṃ pāpadāvānalārditaiḥ | pāpadāvāgnitaptānāṃ śāṃtistena vinā na hi

Translation

For those afflicted by the forest-fire of sin, the nectar of Śiva’s Name should be drunk. For those scorched by that blaze of sin, there is truly no peace without it.

Word by Word

• शिव-नाम-अमृतम्: the nectar of Śiva’s name
• शिव-नाम-अमृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): शिवस्य नाम्नः अमृतम्

• पेयम्: is to be drunk
• पेयम्: Vidhi (विधेय/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्) कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय/कर्तव्यता (to be drunk)

• पाप-दाव-अनल-अर्दितैः: by those afflicted by the wildfire-fire of sin
• पाप-दाव-अनल-अर्दितैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + दाव (प्रातिपदिक) + अनल (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्दित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुवचनं जनवाचक; तत्पुरुष-समास: पापदावः (पापरूपः दावः) + अनलः; तेन अर्दिताः (afflicted)

• पाप-दाव-अग्नि-तप्तानाम्: of those scorched by the wildfire-fire of sin
• पाप-दाव-अग्नि-तप्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + दाव (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + तप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: पापदावाग्निः; तेन तप्ताः (burnt)

• शान्तिः: peace
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तेन: by that (nectar/name)
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विना: without
• विना: Nivṛtti/Apavāda (वियोगार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-निपात (preposition) पञ्चमी-अर्थे (without)

• न: not
• न: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/हेतौ निपात (indeed/for)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that nāma-japa (repetition of Śiva’s Name) is a direct, grace-filled remedy that cools and extinguishes the burning impressions of pāpa, granting śānti and moving the soul toward liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

In Shaiva practice, the Linga is worshiped with mantra and nāma; this verse emphasizes that the living presence of Saguna Śiva is accessed through His Name, making japa an essential limb of Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular chanting of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as nāma-amṛta, ideally with Rudrākṣa japa and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as supportive Shaiva disciplines, is the practical takeaway.