Shloka 49

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

तत्रैते बहवो लोका बृहज्जाबालचोदिताः । ते विचार्याः प्रयत्नेन ततो भस्मरतो भवेत्

Transliteration

tatraite bahavo lokā bṛhajjābālacoditāḥ | te vicāryāḥ prayatnena tato bhasmarato bhavet

Translation

ഈ വിഷയത്തിൽ ബൃഹജ്ജാബാല (ഉപനിഷത്ത്) നിർദേശിച്ച അനേകം ഉപദേശങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ട്. അവയെ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ സൂക്ഷ്മമായി വിചാരിക്കണം; അപ്പോൾ മനുഷ്യൻ പവിത്ര ഭസ്മത്തിൽ രതനായി ഭസ്മഭക്തനാകും.

Word by Word

• tatra: there/in that matter
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of lokāḥ)

• lokāḥ: people/worlds
• lokāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• bṛhat-jābāla-coditāḥ: enjoined by (the text/authority) Bṛhajjābāla
• bṛhat-jābāla-coditāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + jābāla (प्रातिपदिक) + codita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (bṛhat-jābālena coditāḥ), codita = √cud (धातु) + kta (क्त) PPP; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of lokāḥ)

• te: they/those
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vicāryāḥ: to be examined/considered
• vicāryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√car (धातु) + ya (य)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्य-अर्थक कृदन्त (gerundive; -ya), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be considered)

• prayatnena: with effort
• prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• tataḥ: thereafter/from that
• tataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/क्रमार्थक (from that/thereafter)

• bhasma-rataḥ: devoted to sacred ash
• bhasma-rataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasma (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (bhasmani rataḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied person)

• bhavet: should become/would be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cites Upaniṣadic authority (Bṛhajjābāla) for bhasma-dhāraṇa; functions as a scriptural legitimation rather than a site legend.

Significance: Positions bhasma-rati (devotion to sacred ash) as a fruit of vicāra (discernment) grounded in śruti—an aid toward nistāra (crossing bondage).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) should arise from thoughtful discernment of Shaiva scripture; when understood rightly, bhasma becomes a conscious sign of surrender to Pati (Shiva) and a purifier of the bound soul (paśu).

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

Bhasma is a Shaiva mark and discipline that supports Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the Linga with purity, humility, and scriptural understanding—so external observance is grounded in inner devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Study and reflect on Shaiva injunctions (especially regarding bhasma/Tripuṇḍra), then adopt regular bhasma-dhāraṇa (wearing sacred ash) as a disciplined devotional practice aligned with Shiva worship.