Shloka 20

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

सितेन भस्मना कुर्य्यात्त्रिसन्ध्यं यस्त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवेन सह मोदते

Transliteration

sitena bhasmanā kuryyāttrisandhyaṃ yastripuṇḍrakam | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ śivena saha modate

Translation

ശുദ്ധമായ വെളുത്ത പവിത്രഭസ്മംകൊണ്ട് പ്രഭാതം, മധ്യാഹ്നം, സായാഹ്നം—ത്രിസന്ധ്യകളിൽ ത്രിപുണ്ഡ്രം ധരിക്കുന്നവൻ സർവ്വപാപങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് വിമുക്തനായി ശിവനോടൊപ്പം ആനന്ദിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सितेन: white
• सितेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; भस्मनः विशेषणम्

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: thrice daily
• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + सन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (‘त्रयः सन्ध्याः’ = three times of day)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: the triple forehead-mark (tripuṇḍra)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + पुण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (‘त्रीणि पुण्ड्रकाणि’ = three marks/stripes)

• सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः: freed from all sins
• सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + विनिर्मुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; मुच्-धातु क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुषसमासः (‘सर्वपापेभ्यः विनिर्मुक्तः’)

• शिवेन: with Śiva
• शिवेन: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable) ‘with’

• मोदते: rejoices
• मोदते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined, daily Shaiva observance—marking the body with Tripuṇḍra using sacred ash at the three sandhyās—purifies the devotee, destroys pāpa (sin), and leads toward Śiva-sāyujya (nearness and joyful communion with Śiva).

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

Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is an external sign of inner surrender to Saguna Śiva and His worship. As part of daily pūjā and sandhyā practices, it supports Linga-upāsanā by sanctifying the body as a fit vessel for Shiva-bhakti and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply white sacred ash (bhasma/vibhūti) as Tripuṇḍra three times daily—at dawn, noon, and dusk—ideally alongside Shaiva japa such as the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a brief attitude of renunciation and devotion.