Shloka 38
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
न त्याज्यं सर्ववर्णैश्च भस्मधारणमुत्तमम् । अन्यैरपि यथाजीवैस्सदेति शिवशासनम्
na tyājyaṃ sarvavarṇaiśca bhasmadhāraṇamuttamam | anyairapi yathājīvaissadeti śivaśāsanam
ការពាក់ភស្ម (ផេះបរិសុទ្ធ) ដែលជាអនុវត្តដ៏ឧត្តម មិនគួរលះបង់ដោយមនុស្សគ្រប់វណ្ណៈឡើយ។ អ្នកដទៃទៀតក៏ត្រូវអនុវត្តតាមស្ថានភាពជីវិតរបស់ខ្លួន ដូចជាព្រះបន្ទូលដ៏អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍របស់ព្រះសិវៈ។
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s injunction to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: As Kāśī’s Śaiva ordinance, bhasma-dhāraṇa is presented as universally binding (sarvavarṇa) and perpetually valid, marking devotees as Śiva’s own and protecting them amid worldly concealment (tirodhāna).
Significance: Adoption of Śaiva identity and protection; purification and continuity of Śiva’s command across social distinctions.
FAQs
It declares bhasma-dhāraṇa (Tripuṇḍra) as a universally valid Shaiva observance—an outer sign that supports inner remembrance of Śiva, dispassion, and purity, and thus aids the soul (paśu) in moving toward Śiva’s grace (pati).
Bhasma is a canonical Shaiva mark used alongside Saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā; it signifies dedication to Śiva’s form and discipline, reinforcing the devotee’s identity as a Śiva-bhakta during daily worship and temple rites.
Wear sacred ash regularly as Tripuṇḍra, maintaining it as a daily vow according to one’s capacity and life-condition, as part of Shaiva practice (often together with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī).