Shloka 6

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

आग्नेयमुच्यते भस्म दग्धगोमयसंभवम् । तदापि द्र व्यमित्युक्तं त्रिपुंड्रस्य महामुने

Transliteration

āgneyamucyate bhasma dagdhagomayasaṃbhavam | tadāpi dra vyamityuktaṃ tripuṃḍrasya mahāmune

Translation

Wahai mahāmuni, abu yang terhasil daripada tahi lembu yang dibakar disebut ‘āgneya’ (lahir daripada api). Abu itu juga dinyatakan sebagai bahan suci yang layak untuk menyapukan Tripuṇḍra, tiga garis abu.

Word by Word

• āgneyam: fiery, belonging to Agni
• āgneyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgneya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'भस्म' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ucyate: is said/called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/लट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• bhasma: ash
• bhasma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• dagdha-gomaya-saṃbhavam: arising from burnt cow-dung
• dagdha-gomaya-saṃbhavam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dagdha (कृदन्त; दह् धातु) + gomaya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): 'दग्धगोमयात् सम्भवम्'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'भस्म' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• tadā: then/thereupon
• tadā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

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

• dravyam: substance, material
• dravyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• uktam: is stated/said
• uktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (it is said)

• tripuṃḍrasya: of the tripuṇḍra (three ash-lines)
• tripuṃḍrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripuṃḍra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• mahā-mune: O great sage
• mahā-mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'महान् मुनिः'; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Bhasma-dhāraṇa and Tripuṇḍra are treated as Śaiva identity-marks that purify the sādhaka and steady daily worship, supporting eligibility for Śiva-upāsanā.

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It establishes that bhasma (sacred ash)—specifically fire-born ash from burnt cow-dung—is an approved purifier for Tripuṇḍra, symbolizing the burning of impurities and the transience of the body, aligning the devotee with Śiva as Pati (the liberating Lord).

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

Tripuṇḍra is a visible Shaiva mark used while honoring Saguna Śiva in Linga-pūjā; it functions as an external sign of inner devotion and disciplined practice, preparing the worshipper for focused reverence and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use āgneya bhasma (ash from burnt cow-dung) as a valid dravya to apply the Tripuṇḍra on the body—typically alongside Shaiva remembrance such as the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a contemplative attitude of purification.