Shloka 102

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

एतेषां नाममात्रेण त्रिपुंड्रं धारयेद्बुधाः । कुर्याद्वा षोडशस्थाने त्रिपुण्ड्रं तु समाहितः

Transliteration

eteṣāṃ nāmamātreṇa tripuṃḍraṃ dhārayedbudhāḥ | kuryādvā ṣoḍaśasthāne tripuṇḍraṃ tu samāhitaḥ

Translation

By merely uttering these names, the wise should apply the Tripuṇḍra—the three sacred lines of ash. Or, with the mind well-collected, one may mark the Tripuṇḍra upon the sixteen prescribed places of the body.

Word by Word

• एतेषाम्: of these
• एतेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नाम: name
• नाम: विशेष्य (head of compound sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मात्रेण: by mere (measure/only)
• मात्रेण: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• नाममात्रेण: by the mere name (alone)
• नाममात्रेण: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): 'नाम्नः मात्रम्' = 'name-only'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: the tripuṇḍra (three ash lines)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound): 'त्रयः पुण्ड्राः' (three marks); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• धारयेत्: should wear/should apply
• धारयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुर्यात्: should do/make
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• षोडशस्थाने: in the sixteen places
• षोडशस्थाने: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'षोडशानां स्थानम्' (place(s) of sixteen); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: tripuṇḍra
• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: कर्म (Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/अवधारण (but/indeed)

• समाहितः: collected, attentive
• समाहितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Tripuṇḍra-dhāraṇa is presented as a Śaiva identity-marker and a means of sanctifying the body as a locus of worship, conducive to purity and eligibility for Śiva-pūjā.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: eteṣāṃ nāmamātreṇa tripuṃḍraṃ dhārayed budhāḥ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Tripuṇḍra is not mere ornamentation but a Shaiva dharmic mark of inner alignment—remembrance of Shiva through sacred names and the purifying power of bhasma, applied with mental steadiness.

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

Tripuṇḍra is a bodily sign of devotion that supports Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—by establishing the worshipper’s identity as a Shiva-bhakta and preparing the body-mind for disciplined ritual approach.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply the Tripuṇḍra with bhasma while reciting the prescribed divine names (or their remembrance), and optionally mark it on the sixteen bodily locations with a focused, composed mind.