Shloka 55

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

भस्मधारी विशेषेण स्त्रीगोहत्यादिपातकैः । वीरहत्याश्वहत्याभ्यां मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

bhasmadhārī viśeṣeṇa strīgohatyādipātakaiḥ | vīrahatyāśvahatyābhyāṃ mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

聖灰（バスマ）を特に身に戴く者は、女人殺しや牛殺しといった重罪から解き放たれ、また勇士殺しと馬殺しの罪からも離れる—ここに疑いはない。

Word by Word

• bhasma-dhārī: the ash-bearer
• bhasma-dhārī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक; from dhṛ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘one who bears ash’)

• viśeṣeṇa: especially
• viśeṣeṇa: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनं क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental used adverbially): ‘especially’

• strī-go-hatyā-ādi-pātakaiḥ: from sins such as killing a woman or a cow
• strī-go-hatyā-ādi-pātakaiḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + go (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘sins such as woman-killing and cow-killing’)

• vīra-hatyā-aśva-hatyābhyām: from (the sins of) killing a hero and killing a horse
• vīra-hatyā-aśva-hatyābhyām: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (वीरहत्या + अश्वहत्या)

• mucyate: is freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here/in this matter)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vidyeshvara Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Hyperbolic mahātmyā style: even mahāpātakas are said to be neutralized by bhasma-dhāraṇa, underscoring Śiva’s capacity to sever pāśa (bondage) through grace when the devotee adopts Śaiva identity and discipline.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the extraordinary purifying potency of Śaiva observance—especially bearing bhasma—as a sign of surrender to Pati (Śiva) and a means of cleansing even heavy karmic stains through devotion and sanctified discipline.

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

Bhasma-dhāraṇa is a visible Śaiva mark associated with daily worship of Saguna Śiva—often alongside Linga-pūjā—signifying one’s consecrated body as a temple of Śiva and remembrance of His presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply bhasma as Tripuṇḍra with reverence (ideally after Śiva-pūjā), maintaining purity of conduct and steady remembrance of Śiva—commonly supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”