Shloka 1

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । द्विविधं भस्म संप्रोक्तं सर्वमंगलदं परम् । तत्प्रकारमहं वक्ष्ये सावधानतया शृणु

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | dvividhaṃ bhasma saṃproktaṃ sarvamaṃgaladaṃ param | tatprakāramahaṃ vakṣye sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu

Translation

സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഭസ്മം രണ്ടുവിധമാണെന്ന് പ്രസ്താവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; അതു പരമ മംഗളകരവും സർവ്വകല്യാണദായകവും. അതിന്റെ വിധി-പ്രകാരമ ഞാൻ പറയാം; ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ കേൾക്കുക.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विविधम्: twofold
• द्विविधम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (द्वौ विधौ यस्य)

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संप्रोक्तम्: has been declared
• संप्रोक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (भस्म) विशेषण

• सर्वमंगलदम्: bestowing all auspiciousness
• सर्वमंगलदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + मंगल + द (प्रातिपदिक; √दा-दान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां मङ्गलानां दम्/दायकम्)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रकारम्: method/type
• प्रकारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उत्तम-पुरुष सर्वनाम

• वक्ष्ये: I will explain
• वक्ष्ये: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सावधानतया: with attentiveness
• सावधानतया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावधानता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha milieu, Śiva is praised as the Lord of the universe who grants welfare (maṅgala) and liberation; the teaching on bhasma functions as a vrata/ācāra supporting worship at Kāśī.

Significance: Bhasma-dhāraṇa and Śiva-ācāra are framed as sarva-maṅgala-prada—supporting purity, devotion, and eligibility for Śiva’s grace in Kāśī.

FAQs

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

It establishes bhasma as a supremely auspicious Shaiva sacramental substance and introduces that its twofold classification and correct use are essential for spiritual welfare and purification on the path to Shiva.

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

Bhasma is a key external mark and ritual aid in Saguna Shiva worship—supporting devotion, purity, and identity as a Shiva-bhakta—preparing the practitioner for focused Linga worship and inner contemplation of Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse signals instruction on proper bhasma practice—typically including preparing/receiving bhasma and applying it as Tripuṇḍra with reverence—performed attentively as part of daily Shaiva observance.