Shloka 46
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
ये निंदंति महेश्वरं त्रिजगतामाधारभूतं हरं ये निन्दंति त्रिपुंड्रधारणकरं दोषस्तु तद्दर्शने । ते वै संकरसूकरासुरखरश्वक्रोष्टुकीटोपमा जाता एव भवंति पापपरमास्तेनारकाः केवलम्
ye niṃdaṃti maheśvaraṃ trijagatāmādhārabhūtaṃ haraṃ ye nindaṃti tripuṃḍradhāraṇakaraṃ doṣastu taddarśane | te vai saṃkarasūkarāsurakharaśvakroṣṭukīṭopamā jātā eva bhavaṃti pāpaparamāstenārakāḥ kevalam
Those who revile Maheśvara—Hara, the very support of the three worlds—and those who revile the wearing of the Tripuṇḍra, the three lines of sacred ash, incur fault even by merely beholding it with contempt. Such people, steeped in extreme sin, are indeed born with natures like the Śaṅkara-hog, the asura, the donkey, the dog, the jackal, and the insect; therefore they are bound only for hell.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: As Viśveśvara (Lord of the universe) in Kāśī, Śiva is praised as the ādhāra (support) of the three worlds; the passage functions as a Kāśī-centered sectarian injunction protecting Śaiva marks and devotion.
Significance: Affirms Śiva-bhakti and Śaiva identity (tripuṇḍra/bhasma) as salvific; condemns nindā (revilement) as a grave pāśa (bond) leading to naraka.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It warns against Śiva-aparādha (offense to Lord Śiva) and against contempt for Shaiva marks like the Tripuṇḍra, teaching that disrespect toward Śiva and His dharma hardens the soul’s bondage (pāśa) and leads to painful karmic destinations rather than liberation.
Tripuṇḍra and vibhūti are external signs of devotion to Saguna Śiva and reverence for His worship; condemning them is treated as condemning Śiva’s worship itself, which obstructs bhakti and right approach to the Liṅga as a sacred focus of Śiva’s grace.
Honor Shaiva symbols—especially applying vibhūti as Tripuṇḍra with reverence—while cultivating humility and devotion; avoid criticism of Śiva, His devotees, and His worship, and instead steady the mind in Śiva-bhakti (often supported by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī).