Shloka 5

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

धारणं मंत्रतः प्रोक्तं द्विजानां मुनिपुंगवैः । केवलं धारणं ज्ञेयमन्येषां मंत्रवर्जितम्

Transliteration

dhāraṇaṃ maṃtrataḥ proktaṃ dvijānāṃ munipuṃgavaiḥ | kevalaṃ dhāraṇaṃ jñeyamanyeṣāṃ maṃtravarjitam

Translation

മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠന്മാർ ഉപദേശിച്ചതുപോലെ, ദ്വിജന്മാർ ശൈവചിഹ്നധാരണം മന്ത്രസഹിതം ചെയ്യണം. മറ്റുള്ളവർക്ക് മന്ത്രമില്ലാതെ വെറും ധാരണമാത്രം ജ്ഞേയമാണ്.

Word by Word

• धारणम्: wearing/holding (application)
• धारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मन्त्रतः: with/according to mantra
• मन्त्रतः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) — ‘from/according to mantra’

• प्रोक्तम्: declared/prescribed
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (कृदन्त-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is prescribed/said’

• द्विजानाम्: of the twice-born
• द्विजानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• मुनिपुंगवैः: by the foremost sages
• मुनिपुंगवैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘मुनीनां पुंगवाः’ (bulls among sages)

• केवलम्: mere/only
• केवलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• धारणम्: wearing/holding
• धारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known/should be understood
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriyā (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (gerundive, यत्/अनीय); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘should be known’

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• मन्त्रवर्जितम्: devoid of mantra
• मन्त्रवर्जितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (वृज्/वर्ज् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषसदृशः—‘मन्त्रेण वर्जितम्/मन्त्र-रहितम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-rules as taught in the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes outer observance from inner consecration: for the initiated (dvija), wearing Shaiva sacred marks is sanctified through mantra, aligning body, speech, and mind toward Shiva; for others, the act remains devotional but not mantra-consecrated.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upasana—mantra is the living link that invokes Shiva’s presence. The verse implies that sacred wearing becomes a formal limb of Linga-worship when joined to mantra, reflecting disciplined, initiated practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear Shaiva insignia (commonly bhasma tripuṇḍra and/or rudrākṣa) with prescribed mantra for the initiated; for non-initiates, maintain reverent wearing without mantra, supporting bhakti and purity while seeking proper guidance for mantra practice.