Shloka 32

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

ये भस्मधारिणं दृष्ट्वा नराः कुर्वंति ताडनम् । तेषां चंडालतो जन्म ब्रह्मन्नूह्यं विपश्चिता

Transliteration

ye bhasmadhāriṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā narāḥ kurvaṃti tāḍanam | teṣāṃ caṃḍālato janma brahmannūhyaṃ vipaścitā

Translation

Oh Brahmā, quienes al ver a un devoto portador de bhasma—la ceniza sagrada—lo golpean, nacen en la condición de caṇḍāla. Esta es una verdad que los sabios deben comprender.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun

• भस्म-धारिणम्: an ash-wearer
• भस्म-धारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘bhāsmaṃ dhārayati’ = one who wears ash

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), ‘having seen’

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• कुर्वन्ति: do, commit
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada

• ताडनम्: beating, striking
• ताडनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāḍana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• चण्डालतः: from (being) a caṇḍāla
• चण्डालतः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karta (कर्ता; as predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin!
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• ऊह्यम्: to be inferred
• ऊह्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūhya (कृदन्त; √ūh धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; gerundive (तव्यत्/यत्-अर्थे) ‘to be inferred/understood’

• विपश्चिता: by the wise
• विपश्चिता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipaścit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by the wise’ (agent)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Brahma within the Vidyeshvara/Viśveśvara context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Bhasma (Tripuṇḍra)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that bhasma is a sacred Shaiva mark connected to Śiva-bhakti and inner purification; harming or mocking a bhasma-bearing devotee is a grave adharma that ripens into painful karmic consequences.

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

Bhasma and Tripuṇḍra are outward signs of devotion to Saguna Śiva and His worship (including Liṅga-pūjā). Respecting these signs is part of honoring Śiva’s devotees and the living tradition of Liṅga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies maintaining reverence for bhasma and Shaiva devotees; one may adopt Tripuṇḍra/bhasma-dhāraṇa with purity, remember Śiva through mantra (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī), and practice non-violence and humility toward devotees.