Shloka 3

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

तद्भस्म त्रिविधं प्रोक्तं श्रोतं स्मार्तं च लौकिकम् । भस्मैव स्वल्पसंज्ञं हि बहुधा परिकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

tadbhasma trividhaṃ proktaṃ śrotaṃ smārtaṃ ca laukikam | bhasmaiva svalpasaṃjñaṃ hi bahudhā parikīrtitam

Translation

ആ ഭസ്മം മൂന്നുവിധമാണെന്ന് പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു—ശ്രൗതം, സ്മാർതം, ലൗകികം. ‘ഭസ്മ’ എന്ന സ്വൽപനാമത്താലും അത് പലവിധമായി കീർത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयो विधा यस्य)

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रोतम्: (that) of śruti/traditional hearing
• श्रोतम्: विशेषण/प्रकार (Type)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used as noun/adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘श्रुति-सम्बद्धम्’

• स्मार्तम्: smārta (based on smṛti)
• स्मार्तम्: विशेषण/प्रकार (Type)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मार्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्मृति-सम्बद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लौकिकम्: worldly/common
• लौकिकम्: विशेषण/प्रकार (Type)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• स्वल्पसंज्ञम्: called ‘small’
• स्वल्पसंज्ञम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प + संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वल्पा संज्ञा यस्य/यत्)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: in many ways)

• परिकीर्तितम्: is described/proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse establishes that Bhasma is not merely “ash,” but a sanctified Shaiva sacramental substance with recognized scriptural categories—affirming disciplined, scripture-aligned worship that purifies the devotee and supports devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

Bhasma is a key external mark and offering in Saguna Shiva worship (especially Linga-puja). By classifying Bhasma, the text guides devotees to use ash in a ritually appropriate way, strengthening reverence, purity, and steadiness in Shiva-upasana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use properly sourced Bhasma—Śrauta/Smārta/Laukika as applicable—while observing purity, and apply it as Tripuṇḍra during Shiva-puja and japa (e.g., with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”).