Shloka 10

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव यथा तिर्यक्त्रिपुंड्रकम् । प्रमादादपि मोक्षार्थी न त्यजेदिति विश्रुतिः

Transliteration

bhasmanoddhūlanaṃ caiva yathā tiryaktripuṃḍrakam | pramādādapi mokṣārthī na tyajediti viśrutiḥ

Translation

Sacred tradition attests that the seeker of liberation should not abandon the smearing of holy ash (bhasma) nor the wearing of the horizontal Tripuṇḍra mark, even through inadvertence, for these are established disciplines of Śaiva worship.

Word by Word

• भस्मनः: of ash
• भस्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• उद्धूलनम्: smearing/applying
• उद्धूलनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nom/Acc sg

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय; emphatic particle

• यथा: as/according to the rule
• यथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय; adverb “as/according to”

• तिर्यक्-त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: the horizontal tripuṇḍra mark
• तिर्यक्-त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिर्यक् (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + त्रिपुण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular; कर्मधारयः “तिर्यक् (horizontal) त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्”

• प्रमादात्: from negligence
• प्रमादात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative singular

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; particle

• मोक्षार्थी: one who seeks liberation
• मोक्षार्थी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषः “मोक्षाय अर्थी” (desirous of liberation)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय; negation particle

• त्यजेत्: should give up
• त्यजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; “should abandon”

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय; quotative particle

• विश्रुतिः: the well-known teaching/tradition
• विश्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents bhasma-uddhūlana and the horizontal Tripuṇḍra as constant Shaiva disciplines that support moksha by cultivating devotion, purity, and steady remembrance of Pati (Shiva) as the liberating Lord.

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

Bhasma and Tripuṇḍra are external signs of inner alignment with Saguna Shiva worship—especially in Linga-pūjā—marking the body as dedicated to Shiva and reinforcing daily observance and identity as a Shaiva devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain regular application of sacred ash and the horizontal Tripuṇḍra as part of daily Shiva worship; do not abandon the practice even by negligence, as it is upheld as a supportive vow for a moksha-seeker.