Shloka 47
ते दृष्ट्वा शशिभास्करौ निशि दिने स्वप्नेपि नो केवलं पश्यंतु श्रुतिरुद्र सूक्तजपतो मुच्येत तेनादृताः । सत्संभाषणतो भवेद्धि नरकं निस्तारवानास्थितं ये भस्मादिविधारणं हि पुरुषं निंदंति मंदा हि ते
te dṛṣṭvā śaśibhāskarau niśi dine svapnepi no kevalaṃ paśyaṃtu śrutirudra sūktajapato mucyeta tenādṛtāḥ | satsaṃbhāṣaṇato bhaveddhi narakaṃ nistāravānāsthitaṃ ye bhasmādividhāraṇaṃ hi puruṣaṃ niṃdaṃti maṃdā hi te
May they not behold the Moon and the Sun—by night, by day, not even in dream—those dull-witted people who have no reverence for the japa of the Vedic Rudra-sūkta and who revile a man observing holy disciplines such as wearing sacred ash. Indeed, even conversing with them leads to hell; they are not established on the path that brings deliverance.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Rudra
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī/Viśveśvara tradition foregrounds Rudra-śruti (Vedic Rudra-sūkta) and bhasma as marks of Rudra-bhakti; disrespect toward Rudra-japa and bhasma-dhāraṇa is framed as spiritual disqualification.
Significance: Stresses śruti-based Rudra-japa and bhasma-dhāraṇa as a nistāra-mārga (path of crossing over); warns that bad association (duḥsaṅga) with nindakas is spiritually ruinous.
Type: rudram
FAQs
The verse upholds Shaiva dharma by declaring that disrespect toward Vedic Rudra-japa and toward devotees who bear sacred ash (Tripundra/Bhasma) is spiritually ruinous, while reverence and right association support the path to liberation (nistāra/moksha) under Pati (Shiva).
Bhasma-dhāraṇa and Rudra-sūkta japa are outer-and-inner disciplines of Saguna Shiva worship: the ash signifies surrender and purity, and the Vedic Rudra hymn is direct praise of Rudra-Shiva—together aligning the devotee’s body, speech, and mind for Linga-centered devotion.
It recommends reverent recitation (japa) of the Vedic Rudra-sūkta and honoring Shaiva observances like wearing sacred ash (Tripundra/Bhasma), while avoiding degrading speech and harmful association with those who mock these practices.