Shloka 74
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
विभूतिं निंदते यो वै ब्राह्मणः सोन्यजातकः । याति च नरके घोरे यावद्ब्रह्मा चतुर्मुखः
vibhūtiṃ niṃdate yo vai brāhmaṇaḥ sonyajātakaḥ | yāti ca narake ghore yāvadbrahmā caturmukhaḥ
വിഭൂതിയെ (പവിത്ര ഭസ്മം) നിന്ദിക്കുന്ന ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ അന്യജാതകനെന്നപോലെ—യഥാർത്ഥ ബ്രാഹ്മണ്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പതിതൻ—എണ്ണപ്പെടുന്നു; ചതുര്മുഖ ബ്രഹ്മ നിലനിൽക്കുന്നത്രയും കാലം അവൻ ഘോര നരകത്തിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Punishment is measured by Brahmā’s endurance (‘yāvad brahmā caturmukhaḥ’), using cosmic time to intensify the deterrent.
FAQs
The verse establishes Vibhuti (Bhasma) as a Shaiva sacred marker of inner purity and surrender to Pati (Shiva). To revile it is to reject a central sign of Shaiva dharma and thus incur severe spiritual demerit.
Bhasma is traditionally applied while worshipping the Shiva-Linga and contemplating Saguna Shiva through prescribed observances. The verse warns that contempt for such Shaiva emblems undermines Linga-upasana and the devotee’s alignment with Shiva’s grace.
Maintain reverence for Vibhuti, apply it as Tripundra according to Shaiva custom, and pair the observance with Shiva-japa—especially the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namah Shivaya")—as an act of disciplined devotion.