Shloka 74
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
विभूतिं निंदते यो वै ब्राह्मणः सोन्यजातकः । याति च नरके घोरे यावद्ब्रह्मा चतुर्मुखः
vibhūtiṃ niṃdate yo vai brāhmaṇaḥ sonyajātakaḥ | yāti ca narake ghore yāvadbrahmā caturmukhaḥ
Aquel brahmán que denigra la Vibhūti (ceniza sagrada) debe ser tenido por nacido de otra estirpe, es decir, caído de la verdadera condición brahmánica. Va a un infierno terrible, por todo el tiempo que perdure Brahmā, el de cuatro rostros.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Punishment is measured by Brahmā’s endurance (‘yāvad brahmā caturmukhaḥ’), using cosmic time to intensify the deterrent.
FAQs
The verse establishes Vibhuti (Bhasma) as a Shaiva sacred marker of inner purity and surrender to Pati (Shiva). To revile it is to reject a central sign of Shaiva dharma and thus incur severe spiritual demerit.
Bhasma is traditionally applied while worshipping the Shiva-Linga and contemplating Saguna Shiva through prescribed observances. The verse warns that contempt for such Shaiva emblems undermines Linga-upasana and the devotee’s alignment with Shiva’s grace.
Maintain reverence for Vibhuti, apply it as Tripundra according to Shaiva custom, and pair the observance with Shiva-japa—especially the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namah Shivaya")—as an act of disciplined devotion.