Shloka 46
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
ये निंदंति महेश्वरं त्रिजगतामाधारभूतं हरं ये निन्दंति त्रिपुंड्रधारणकरं दोषस्तु तद्दर्शने । ते वै संकरसूकरासुरखरश्वक्रोष्टुकीटोपमा जाता एव भवंति पापपरमास्तेनारकाः केवलम्
ye niṃdaṃti maheśvaraṃ trijagatāmādhārabhūtaṃ haraṃ ye nindaṃti tripuṃḍradhāraṇakaraṃ doṣastu taddarśane | te vai saṃkarasūkarāsurakharaśvakroṣṭukīṭopamā jātā eva bhavaṃti pāpaparamāstenārakāḥ kevalam
Ceux qui outragent Maheśvara—Hara, soutien des trois mondes—et ceux qui outragent le port du Tripuṇḍra (les trois lignes de cendre sacrée) encourent une faute ne fût-ce qu’en le regardant avec mépris. De tels êtres, plongés dans le péché le plus extrême, naissent assurément avec des natures semblables à celles du « porc de Śaṅkara », de l’asura, de l’âne, du chien, du chacal et de l’insecte ; et pour cette raison ils ne sont voués qu’à l’enfer.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: As Viśveśvara (Lord of the universe) in Kāśī, Śiva is praised as the ādhāra (support) of the three worlds; the passage functions as a Kāśī-centered sectarian injunction protecting Śaiva marks and devotion.
Significance: Affirms Śiva-bhakti and Śaiva identity (tripuṇḍra/bhasma) as salvific; condemns nindā (revilement) as a grave pāśa (bond) leading to naraka.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It warns against Śiva-aparādha (offense to Lord Śiva) and against contempt for Shaiva marks like the Tripuṇḍra, teaching that disrespect toward Śiva and His dharma hardens the soul’s bondage (pāśa) and leads to painful karmic destinations rather than liberation.
Tripuṇḍra and vibhūti are external signs of devotion to Saguna Śiva and reverence for His worship; condemning them is treated as condemning Śiva’s worship itself, which obstructs bhakti and right approach to the Liṅga as a sacred focus of Śiva’s grace.
Honor Shaiva symbols—especially applying vibhūti as Tripuṇḍra with reverence—while cultivating humility and devotion; avoid criticism of Śiva, His devotees, and His worship, and instead steady the mind in Śiva-bhakti (often supported by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī).