Shloka 3

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

तद्भस्म त्रिविधं प्रोक्तं श्रोतं स्मार्तं च लौकिकम् । भस्मैव स्वल्पसंज्ञं हि बहुधा परिकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

tadbhasma trividhaṃ proktaṃ śrotaṃ smārtaṃ ca laukikam | bhasmaiva svalpasaṃjñaṃ hi bahudhā parikīrtitam

Translation

That sacred ash (bhasma) is declared to be of three kinds: Śrauta (Vedic), Smārta (according to Smṛti), and Laukika (worldly). Indeed, ash itself—also known by the brief name “bhasma”—is spoken of in many ways (according to its sources and ritual applications).

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयो विधा यस्य)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रोतम्: (that) of śruti/traditional hearing
• श्रोतम्: विशेषण/प्रकार (Type)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used as noun/adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘श्रुति-सम्बद्धम्’

• स्मार्तम्: smārta (based on smṛti)
• स्मार्तम्: विशेषण/प्रकार (Type)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मार्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्मृति-सम्बद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लौकिकम्: worldly/common
• लौकिकम्: विशेषण/प्रकार (Type)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• स्वल्पसंज्ञम्: called ‘small’
• स्वल्पसंज्ञम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प + संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वल्पा संज्ञा यस्य/यत्)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: in many ways)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is described/proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse establishes that Bhasma is not merely “ash,” but a sanctified Shaiva sacramental substance with recognized scriptural categories—affirming disciplined, scripture-aligned worship that purifies the devotee and supports devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

Bhasma is a key external mark and offering in Saguna Shiva worship (especially Linga-puja). By classifying Bhasma, the text guides devotees to use ash in a ritually appropriate way, strengthening reverence, purity, and steadiness in Shiva-upasana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use properly sourced Bhasma—Śrauta/Smārta/Laukika as applicable—while observing purity, and apply it as Tripuṇḍra during Shiva-puja and japa (e.g., with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”).