Shloka 114

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

त्रिनेत्रं त्रिगुणाधारं त्रिवेदजनकं शिवम् । स्मरन्नमः शिवायेति ललाटे तु त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्

Transliteration

trinetraṃ triguṇādhāraṃ trivedajanakaṃ śivam | smarannamaḥ śivāyeti lalāṭe tu tripuṇḍrakam

Translation

Meditating on Śiva—the Three-eyed Lord, the support of the three guṇas and the source of the three Vedas—one should remember the mantra “Namaḥ Śivāya” and then apply the Tripuṇḍra of sacred ash upon the forehead.

Word by Word

• त्रि-नेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रि-नेत्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (द्विगु/संख्यापूर्वपद: त्रयः नेत्राणि यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; शिवस्य विशेषणम्

• त्रि-गुण-आधारम्: support of the three guṇas
• त्रि-गुण-आधारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: त्रिगुणानाम् आधारः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; शिवस्य विशेषणम्

• त्रि-वेद-जनकम्: progenitor/source of the three Vedas
• त्रि-वेद-जनकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: त्रिवेदानाम् जनकः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; शिवस्य विशेषणम्

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while remembering)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् प्रयोगः; अव्ययप्राय (indeclinable interjection used in salutations)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th case/dative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थक (quotative particle: thus)

• ललाटे: on the forehead
• ललाटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: the tripuṇḍra mark
• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvara stream, the pañcākṣarī ‘Namaḥ Śivāya’ and tripuṇḍra are paired: mantra (inner) + bhasma (outer) as a complete Śaiva daily discipline, especially resonant in Kāśī where japa and liṅga-darśana are central.

Significance: Pañcākṣarī-japa with tripuṇḍra is held to purify speech, mind, and body and to prepare the devotee for Viśvanātha-darśana and liberation-oriented remembrance.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a complete Shaiva act of worship: inner remembrance of Pati (Śiva) through the Pañcākṣarī “Namaḥ Śivāya,” and outer sanctification through Tripuṇḍra—signifying purity, detachment from pāśa (bondage), and alignment with Śiva’s grace.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna upāsanā: contemplating Śiva’s attributes (three-eyed, Lord over the guṇas, source of Veda) while practicing mantra and wearing bhasma—common observances that accompany Liṅga-pūjā in the Vidyeśvara teachings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mentally repeat/remember “Namaḥ Śivāya” and apply Tripuṇḍra (three ash lines) on the forehead as a daily Shaiva observance, integrating mantra-japa with bhasma-dhāraṇa.