Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

जपस्तपस्तथा दानं त्रिपुण्ड्रात्सफलं भवेत् । अभावे भस्मनस्तत्र जलस्यादि प्रकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

japastapastathā dānaṃ tripuṇḍrātsaphalaṃ bhavet | abhāve bhasmanastatra jalasyādi prakīrtitam

Translation

Le japa (récitation du mantra), le tapas (austérité) et le dāna (don) deviennent réellement féconds lorsqu’ils sont accompagnés du Tripuṇḍra, les trois lignes de cendre sacrée. Si la bhasma fait défaut, des substituts — à commencer par l’eau — sont également enseignés pour cette observance.

Word by Word

• जपः: japa (repetition)
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular neuter

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक (and also/likewise)

• दानम्: charity/giving
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular neuter

• त्रिपुण्ड्रात्: from/through the tripuṇḍra
• त्रिपुण्ड्रात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ablative singular neuter; 'from/through tripuṇḍra'

• स-फलम्: fruitful
• स-फलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जपः/तपः/दानम् collectively) प्रति; nominative singular neuter; 'with fruit'

• भवेत्: becomes/is
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada; 'would be/should become'

• अभावे: in the absence (of it)
• अभावे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular masculine; 'in the absence'

• भस्मनः: of ash
• भस्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular neuter

• तत्र: there/in that case
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (there/in that case)

• जलस्य: of water
• जलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular neuter

• आदि: etcetera/and the like
• आदि: Anukta-samuccaya (अनुक्त-समुच्चय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'etc./and so on' used nominally

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is declared/mentioned
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); predicate adjective; 'is declared'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames tripuṇḍra as a grace-bearing auxiliary (aṅga) that makes core sādhana—japa, tapas, dāna—‘saphala’; emphasizes Śaiva saṃskāra as a conduit for merit and spiritual efficacy.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva identity and consecration—symbolized by the Tripuṇḍra—aligns japa, tapas, and charity with devotion to Pati (Shiva), making these acts spiritually effective rather than merely external.

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

Tripuṇḍra and bhasma are classic Shaiva observances used alongside Linga-worship; they express reverence to Saguna Shiva in ritual form while pointing to inner purity and detachment that support realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply the Tripuṇḍra with sacred ash before/along with japa, austerities, and giving; if ash is unavailable, perform the observance with permitted substitutes beginning with water, maintaining the same devotional intent.