Shloka 38

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

न त्याज्यं सर्ववर्णैश्च भस्मधारणमुत्तमम् । अन्यैरपि यथाजीवैस्सदेति शिवशासनम्

Transliteration

na tyājyaṃ sarvavarṇaiśca bhasmadhāraṇamuttamam | anyairapi yathājīvaissadeti śivaśāsanam

Translation

Amalan tertinggi iaitu memakai bhasma (abu suci) tidak wajar ditinggalkan oleh manusia dari mana-mana varna. Sesungguhnya ia hendaklah diamalkan oleh semua, masing-masing menurut kedudukan hidupnya, demikianlah titah kekal Dewa Śiva.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• tyājyam: to be abandoned
• tyājyam: Karma (कर्म/that which is to be abandoned)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyaj (धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय) → tyājya (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘त्यक्तव्य’ (to be abandoned)

• sarva-varṇaiḥ: by all varṇas
• sarva-varṇaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent, instrumental of agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; ‘सर्ववर्ण’ = सर्वे वर्णाः (all classes/castes)

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

• bhasma-dhāraṇam: wearing of sacred ash
• bhasma-dhāraṇam: Karma (कर्म/object spoken of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘भस्मणः धारणम्’ (wearing of ash)

• uttamam: supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (superlative)

• anyaiḥ: by others
• anyaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent, instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘अन्यैः’ (by others also)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• yathā-jīvaiḥ: according to (their) capacity/life
• yathā-jīvaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent, instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः—‘यथाजīvam’ (according to one’s life/ability) → तृतीया बहुवचन प्रयोगः

• sat: true/right
• sat: Karma (कर्म/predicate content)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘सत्’ (true/right)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• śiva-śāsanam: Śiva’s injunction
• śiva-śāsanam: Karta (कर्ता/statement source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘शिवस्य शासनम्’ (Śiva’s injunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s injunction to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As Kāśī’s Śaiva ordinance, bhasma-dhāraṇa is presented as universally binding (sarvavarṇa) and perpetually valid, marking devotees as Śiva’s own and protecting them amid worldly concealment (tirodhāna).

Significance: Adoption of Śaiva identity and protection; purification and continuity of Śiva’s command across social distinctions.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares bhasma-dhāraṇa (Tripuṇḍra) as a universally valid Shaiva observance—an outer sign that supports inner remembrance of Śiva, dispassion, and purity, and thus aids the soul (paśu) in moving toward Śiva’s grace (pati).

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

Bhasma is a canonical Shaiva mark used alongside Saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā; it signifies dedication to Śiva’s form and discipline, reinforcing the devotee’s identity as a Śiva-bhakta during daily worship and temple rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear sacred ash regularly as Tripuṇḍra, maintaining it as a daily vow according to one’s capacity and life-condition, as part of Shaiva practice (often together with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī).