Shloka 50

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

यच्चंदनैश्चंदनकेपि मिश्रं धार्यं हि भस्मैव त्रिपुंड्रभस्मना । विभूतिभालोपरि किंचनापि धार्यं सदा नो यदि संतिबुद्धयः

Transliteration

yaccaṃdanaiścaṃdanakepi miśraṃ dhāryaṃ hi bhasmaiva tripuṃḍrabhasmanā | vibhūtibhālopari kiṃcanāpi dhāryaṃ sadā no yadi saṃtibuddhayaḥ

Translation

ചന്ദനത്തിൽ ചന്ദനകം കലർന്നാലും ത്രിപുണ്ഡ്രമായി ധരിക്കേണ്ടത് ഭസ്മമേ. വിഭൂതിയുടെ മുകളിൽ ലലാട്ടത്തിൽ ഏതെങ്കിലും ശൈവചിഹ്നം എപ്പോഴും ധരിക്കണം; സ്ഥിരബുദ്ധിയുള്ളവർ ഇത് ഒരിക്കലും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever/that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• candanaḥ: with sandalwood (substances)
• candanaḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (candanair = by sandal-substances)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• candana-ke: in/with sandal-paste
• candana-ke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (क-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; 'candana-ke' = candanake (in sandalwood-mixture/‘sandal-paste’)

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

• miśram: mixed
• miśram: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: miśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of yat)

• dhāryam: should be worn/applied
• dhāryam: Kriyā (क्रिया/obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) + ya (य)
• Form: कर्तव्य/भाव्य-अर्थक कृदन्त (gerundive -ya), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be worn/applied)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• bhasma: ash
• bhasma: Karma (कर्म/Object/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

• eva: only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/restrictive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (only/just)

• tripuṇḍra-bhasmanā: with the ash for the triple mark (tripuṇḍra)
• tripuṇḍra-bhasmanā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (tripuṇḍraṃ bhasma), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• vibhūti-bhāla-upari: upon the forehead (with vibhūti)
• vibhūti-bhāla-upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāla (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (vibhūti-bhālasya upari), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (as an adverbial locative phrase)

• kiṃcana: anything
• kiṃcana: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चित/अल्पार्थ (anything)

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

• dhāryam: should be worn/applied
• dhāryam: Kriyā (क्रिया/obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) + ya (य)
• Form: कर्तव्य/भाव्य-अर्थक कृदन्त (gerundive -ya), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• naḥ: our/to us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचन (our) / alternatively चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) बहुवचन (to us) by context

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional: if)

• santi: are/exist
• santi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• buddhayaḥ: understandings/minds
• buddhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva observances to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Vidyeshvara Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site legend; a practical injunction on tripuṇḍra: even when sandal is available, bhasma remains primary, indicating Śaiva siddhānta of bhasma as the superior purifier and identity-mark.

Significance: Encourages daily, steady observance (niyama) of vibhūti/tripuṇḍra as a sign of Śiva-sambandha and a support for grace-oriented liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes vibhūti (sacred ash) and the Tripuṇḍra as core Shaiva identifiers and reminders of impermanence, purification, and surrender to Pati (Shiva). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, external marks support inner discipline—directing the pashu (individual soul) toward Shiva through steady observance and right understanding.

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

Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is a devotional sign aligned with Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Shiva with form, attributes, and ritual. Wearing vibhūti and a Shaiva forehead mark prepares the devotee’s body-mind as a fit vessel for Linga-puja, reinforcing identity as Shiva’s servant and seeker of grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends regular dhāraṇa of bhasma as Tripuṇḍra and maintaining a Shaiva mark on the forehead (over the vibhūti). Practically, this is done before daily worship—often alongside japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful remembrance of Shiva.