Shloka 30

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

ये भस्मधारिणं त्यक्त्वा कर्म कुर्वंति मानवाः । तेषां नास्ति विनिर्मोक्षः संसाराज्जन्मकोटिभिः

Transliteration

ye bhasmadhāriṇaṃ tyaktvā karma kurvaṃti mānavāḥ | teṣāṃ nāsti vinirmokṣaḥ saṃsārājjanmakoṭibhiḥ

Translation

Those who abandon the wearing of sacred ash (bhasma) and yet persist in worldly deeds— for them there is no complete release from saṃsāra, even through crores of births.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• भस्मधारिणम्: the ash-wearer (one who bears sacred ash)
• भस्मधारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasma-dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): भस्म + धारिन्; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having abandoned’

• कर्म: ritual action; deed
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• कुर्वन्ति: do; perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• मानवाः: humans
• मानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• अस्ति: is; exists
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• विनिर्मोक्षः: complete liberation
• विनिर्मोक्षः: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate nominative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinirmokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• संसारात्: from saṃsāra (worldly existence)
• संसारात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• जन्मकोटिभिः: by (even) crores of births
• जन्मकोटिभिः: Karaṇa (करण) / Measure (परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janma-koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): जन्म + कोटि; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) as ‘koṭi’, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that mere engagement in action (karma) without the Shaiva mark of surrender—symbolized by bhasma—keeps one bound to saṃsāra. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, liberation arises when karma is purified and transcended through devotion (bhakti) and Shiva-oriented discipline, not by worldly action alone.

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

Bhasma-dhāraṇa and Tripuṇḍra are outward disciplines that support inward remembrance of Saguna Shiva as Lord (Pati). They align the practitioner with Linga-worship and daily Shaiva observances, turning ordinary karma into Shiva-arpana (offering to Shiva) rather than bondage-producing action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to wear sacred ash (vibhūti/bhasma), traditionally as Tripuṇḍra, with Shiva-mantra remembrance—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so that action becomes consecrated and directed toward moksha.