Shloka 51

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

स्त्रीभिस्त्रिपुण्ड्रमलकावधि धारणीयं भस्म द्विजादिभिरथो विधवाभिरेवम् । तद्वत्सदाश्रमवतां विशदाविभूतिर्धार्यापवर्गफलदा सकलाघहन्त्री

Transliteration

strībhistripuṇḍramalakāvadhi dhāraṇīyaṃ bhasma dvijādibhiratho vidhavābhirevam | tadvatsadāśramavatāṃ viśadāvibhūtirdhāryāpavargaphaladā sakalāghahantrī

Translation

Women should wear the holy ash (bhasma) as the Tripuṇḍra up to the hairline on the forehead. Likewise, brāhmaṇas and other twice-born should wear the sacred ash, and widows also in the same manner. In the same way, for those established in a righteous āśrama, this pure vibhūti should be worn; it grants liberation and destroys all sin.

Word by Word

• strībhiḥ: by women
• strībhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• tripuṇḍra-malakāvadhi: (the application) up to the malaka-limit of the tripuṇḍra
• tripuṇḍra-malakāvadhi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + puṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक) + malaka + avadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अवधि-निर्देशः)

• dhāraṇīyam: should be worn
• dhāraṇīyam: Vidhi/Anushasana (विधि/आदेश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) → dhāraṇīya (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (णीयत्/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be worn/should be worn’

• bhasma: sacred ash
• bhasma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• dvija-ādibhiḥ: by twice-borns and others
• dvija-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘dvija and others’)

• atho: and then/also
• atho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक (then/also)

• vidhavābhiḥ: by widows
• vidhavābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhavā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in this manner)

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यतावाचक (likewise)

• sadāśrama-vatām: of those possessing the (proper) āśrama always
• sadāśrama-vatām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadā + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), बहुवचन; genitive plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘sadā-āśrama’ as qualifier) + वत्-प्रत्यय (possessor)

• viśadā-vibhūtiḥ: the pure vibhūti (sacred ash)
• viśadā-vibhūtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśada (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; nominative singular; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘clear/pure vibhūti’)

• dhāryā: to be worn
• dhāryā: Vidhi/Anushasana (विधि/आदेश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) → dhārya (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be worn’ (agreeing with vibhūtiḥ)

• apavarga-phala-dā: giving the fruit of liberation
• apavarga-phala-dā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apavarga (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (धातु) → dā (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिवत्-विशेषणरूपेण प्रयुक्त; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘giver of the fruit of liberation’)

• sakala-agha-hantrī: destroyer of all sins
• sakala-agha-hantrī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक) + agha (प्रातिपदिक) + hantrī (प्रातिपदिक; from han धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘destroyer of all sins’)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating Śiva’s worship-ordinances to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Bhasma-dhāraṇa and Tripuṇḍra are presented as universally purificatory and mokṣa-oriented; the verse frames vibhūti as a portable ‘tīrtha’ that supports Śiva-bhakti and eligibility for higher sādhana.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that wearing Śiva’s vibhūti as Tripuṇḍra is a purifying Shaiva mark of surrender to Pati (Śiva), helping destroy pāpa (sin) and orienting the practitioner toward apavarga (mokṣa).

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

Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is a visible sign of Saguna Śiva-bhakti and readiness for Liṅga-pūjā; it sanctifies the body as a temple for worship and remembrance of Śiva while living in one’s āśrama duties.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply vibhūti (bhasma) as Tripuṇḍra on the forehead up to the hairline (as prescribed), ideally with Śiva-smaraṇa or the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating purity and liberation-oriented devotion.