Shloka 40

उपमन्युकुमारस्य क्षीरार्थ-प्रार्थना तथा शिवप्रसाद-निबन्धनम् | Upamanyu’s Longing for Milk and the Doctrine of Shiva’s Grace

Devanagari script

भस्मादाय तदाधारादघोस्त्राभिमन्त्रितम् । विसृज्य शक्रमुद्दिश्य ननाद स मुनिस्तदा

Transliteration

bhasmādāya tadādhārādaghostrābhimantritam | visṛjya śakramuddiśya nanāda sa munistadā

Translation

Lalu sang resi mengambil abu suci dari wadahnya, menguduskannya dengan mantra Aghora-astra. Ia melemparkannya ke arah Śakra (Indra) dan meraung nyaring saat itu juga.

Word by Word

भस्मashes

आदायhaving taken

तत्from that

आधारात्support/base

अघ-उस्त्र-अभिमन्त्रितम्consecrated by the Aghāstra (Agha-weapon/mantra)

विसृज्यhaving hurled/released

शक्रम्Śakra (Indra)

उद्दिश्यaiming at

ननादroared

सःhe

मुनिःthe sage

तदाthen

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Characters & Entities

Indra (Shakra)

Aghora (Shiva's aspect)

Bhasma (sacred ash)

FAQs

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

It portrays bhasma not as mere ash but as a Shaiva sacrament: when joined with mantra (Aghora), it becomes a vehicle of Shiva’s śakti that can subdue egoic or celestial power, reminding devotees that true authority rests in Pati (Shiva).

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

Bhasma is a key external marker of Saguna Shiva worship (Tripuṇḍra and vibhūti). The verse shows mantra-empowered ritual substance being used as a divine ‘astra’, reflecting how Linga-centered worship channels Shiva’s protective and transformative grace into the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests consecrating bhasma with Shiva-mantra (Aghora/Pañcākṣarī in broader practice) and using it reverentially—applying Tripuṇḍra, meditating on Aghora Shiva, and cultivating inner fearlessness and detachment.