Shloka 37

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

अतिवर्णाश्रमी नित्यं शिवोहं भावनात्परात् । शिवयोगी च नियतमीशानेनापि धारयेत्

Transliteration

ativarṇāśramī nityaṃ śivohaṃ bhāvanātparāt | śivayogī ca niyatamīśānenāpi dhārayet

Translation

വർണ്ണാശ്രമങ്ങളെ അതിക്രമിച്ചവൻ നിത്യം പരമഭാവനയായ ‘ശിവോഹം’ എന്ന ധ്യാനത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളണം. നിയന്ത്രിതനായ ശിവയോഗിയും ഈശാനനെ ആശ്രയിച്ച് ആ ബോധം സ്ഥിരമായി ധരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• अतिवर्णाश्रमी: one beyond the varṇa-āśrama system
• अतिवर्णाश्रमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति + वर्ण + आश्रमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘वर्णाश्रमात् अति(गः)’ (one beyond varṇa-āśrama)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भावनात्: from contemplation/meditation
• भावनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• परात्: supreme/greater
• परात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) भावनात् प्रति

• शिवयोगी: a Śiva-yogin
• शिवयोगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘शिवस्य योगी’/‘शिवयोगं यः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• नियतम्: regularly/constantly
• नियतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• ईशानेन: with (the mantra/name) Īśāna
• ईशानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), समुच्चय/अपेक्षा (also/even)

• धारयेत्: should hold/maintain
• धारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is portrayed as the locus of liberating knowledge where Śiva grants jñāna and steadiness of Śiva-bhāva; the verse’s ‘śivo’ham’ contemplation resonates with Kāśī’s mokṣa-kṣetra identity.

Significance: Cultivation of Śiva-bhāva and yogic steadiness; orientation toward liberation through Śiva’s grace rather than mere social identity.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: शिवोऽहम् (śivo’ham)

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana

FAQs

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

It teaches liberation-oriented Śaiva contemplation: transcending external identity (varṇa-āśrama) and stabilizing the highest awareness in Śiva, expressed as the inner recognition “Śivo’ham.”

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

While Linga-worship is an outer support (saguṇa-upāsanā), this verse points to its inner culmination: sustained absorption in Śiva-consciousness, where the worshipper internalizes the Lord’s presence as the supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A steady bhāvanā (meditative contemplation) on “Śivo’ham,” maintained with discipline; practically, it pairs well with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused dhāraṇā on Īśāna as the highest principle.