Shloka 27

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन धार्यं भस्म सदा बुधैः । लिंगार्चनं सदा कार्यं जप्यो मंत्रः षडक्षरः

Transliteration

bahunātra kimuktena dhāryaṃ bhasma sadā budhaiḥ | liṃgārcanaṃ sadā kāryaṃ japyo maṃtraḥ ṣaḍakṣaraḥ

Translation

What more is there to say here? The wise should always wear sacred ash (bhasma). Worship of the Śiva-liṅga should be performed continually, and the six-syllabled mantra should be repeated in japa.

Word by Word

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘बहु’ इत्यस्य करण-प्रयोगः

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम

• उक्तेन: by what is said/with speech
• उक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used as noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• धार्यम्: should be worn/borne
• धार्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: णीयत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/विधिलिङ्गार्थ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भस्म: sacred ash
• भस्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• लिङ्गार्चनम्: worship of the liṅga
• लिङ्गार्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः लिङ्गस्य अर्चनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: णीयत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जप्यः: to be recited
• जप्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: णीयत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मन्त्रः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• षडक्षरः: six-syllabled
• षडक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षड् + अक्षरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Within the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s Kāśī-centered frame, liṅgārcana and mantra-japa are presented as the perennial discipline by which the bound soul becomes fit for Viśveśvara’s grace.

Significance: Regular liṅga-arcana and mantra-japa in Kāśī (or with Kāśī-bhāva anywhere) is held to confer rapid purification and readiness for liberation through Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It condenses core Shaiva discipline: wearing bhasma as a mark of renunciation and purity, constant devotion through Liṅga-archana, and mantra-japa as a direct means to steady the mind in Śiva (Pati), leading the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

The Liṅga is the accessible, worship-worthy form of Saguna Śiva for daily practice. By continual archana, the devotee maintains uninterrupted remembrance, which matures from external ritual into inner realization of Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear bhasma regularly (traditionally as Tripuṇḍra), perform daily Liṅga worship (water/flowers/bilva with reverence), and practice japa of the six-syllabled Śiva mantra as a steady contemplative discipline.