Shloka 45

मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics

Devanagari script

त्रिपुण्ड्रं च विधानेन तिलकं चन्दनेन च । विरच्य पुष्पैर्मालाभिरलंकुर्य्यात्कलेवरम्

Transliteration

tripuṇḍraṃ ca vidhānena tilakaṃ candanena ca | viracya puṣpairmālābhiralaṃkuryyātkalevaram

Translation

Qu’on applique le Tripuṇḍra selon la règle, et qu’on pose le tilaka avec la pâte de santal. Puis, se parant de fleurs et de guirlandes, qu’on embellisse le corps pour l’adoration de Śiva.

Word by Word

• tripuṇḍram: tripuṇḍra (three ash lines)
• tripuṇḍram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास (‘three puṇḍras/three lines’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vidhānena: by the prescribed method
• vidhānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• tilakam: tilaka mark
• tilakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• candanena: with sandalwood (paste)
• candanena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• viracya: having prepared
• viracya: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√rac (रच् धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having made/arranged’

• puṣpaiḥ: with flowers
• puṣpaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mālābhiḥ: with garlands
• mālābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• alaṃkuryāt: should adorn
• alaṃkuryāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: alaṃ-√kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• kalevaram: the body
• kalevaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalevara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer observances—Tripuṇḍra, sandal tilaka, and floral adornment—are aids to inner devotion, aligning the worshipper’s body and mind toward Śiva as Pati (the Lord) through disciplined reverence.

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

These are preparatory acts for pūjā: marking the body with Tripuṇḍra and tilaka establishes Shaiva identity and ritual purity, supporting focused devotion while worshipping Śiva in a manifest (saguṇa) form such as the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply Tripuṇḍra as prescribed, place a sandal tilaka, and adorn with flowers/garlands as part of Shiva-pūjā preparation—ideally alongside mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady attention.