Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 65

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

अन्ये मंत्राश्च देवानां सर्वसौख्यकरा मुने । ते सर्वे तस्य वश्याः स्युर्यो बिभर्ति त्रिपुंड्रकम्

Transliteration

anye maṃtrāśca devānāṃ sarvasaukhyakarā mune | te sarve tasya vaśyāḥ syuryo bibharti tripuṃḍrakam

Translation

ਹੇ ਮੁਨੀ, ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਵੀ—ਜੋ ਹਰ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੰਸਾਰਿਕ ਸੁਖ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ—ਤ੍ਰਿਪੁੰਡ੍ਰ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦੇ ਵਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

• anye: other
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mantrāḥ: mantras
• mantrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvasaukhya-karāḥ: bringing all happiness
• sarvasaukhya-karāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + saukhya + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘makers of all happiness’

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaśyāḥ: submissive/under control
• vaśyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate adjective

• syuḥ: would be / become
• syuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्/Vidhi-liṅ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• bibharti: wears/bears
• bibharti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्/Laṭ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tripuṇḍrakam: tripuṇḍra mark
• tripuṇḍrakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + puṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bearing Śiva’s Tripuṇḍra is not merely external symbolism but an act of Shaiva alignment; through devotion to Pati (Śiva), other deity-mantras and their fruits become secondary and supportive to the devotee.

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

Tripuṇḍra is a visible Shaiva vrata (observance) that complements Saguna worship of Śiva—especially Liṅga-pūjā—by marking the body as dedicated to Śiva and reinforcing single-pointed devotion during ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply sacred ash (vibhūti/bhasma) as Tripuṇḍra with reverence—ideally alongside Śiva-mantra japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and Liṅga worship—keeping the mind established in Śiva.