Shloka 21
पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्
Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman
यद्यपूतम्भवेद्भस्म चितायाश्च त्वयोदितम् । नित्यमस्यांगगं देवैश्शिरोभिर्द्धार्यते कथम्
yadyapūtambhavedbhasma citāyāśca tvayoditam | nityamasyāṃgagaṃ devaiśśirobhirddhāryate katham
もしお前の言うとおり、火葬の薪壇（チター）の灰が不浄であるなら、いかにして神々はその聖なる灰を常に身に帯び—とりわけ頭上に戴いているのか。
Pārvatī (questioning Lord Śiva regarding bhasma and purity)
Tattva Level: pasha
Significance: Frames bhasma (vibhūti) as a pan-Śaiva marker of purity-through-transcendence; supports the Śaiva Siddhānta view that Śiva’s signs (liṅga, bhasma, rudrākṣa) are purificatory when received with right understanding.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse challenges the idea that holiness is determined only by external origin. In Shaiva understanding, bhasma signifies the burning of bondage and ego, pointing to Shiva’s teaching that inner purification and God-consciousness transcend conventional notions of impurity.
Bhasma and Tripuṇḍra are outward marks of devotion to Saguna Shiva and remembrance of the Linga-principle. Wearing bhasma becomes a constant act of worship—keeping the mind oriented to Shiva, detachment, and the truth that all forms end as ash.
It supports the Shaiva practice of applying sacred ash (bhasma) as Tripuṇḍra, especially on the forehead, while cultivating vairāgya and remembrance of Shiva—often accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”