Shloka 69

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

विद्याधराणां सर्वेषां गंधर्वाणां महौजसाम् । इंद्रा दिलोकपालानां लोकेषु च यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

vidyādharāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ gaṃdharvāṇāṃ mahaujasām | iṃdrā dilokapālānāṃ lokeṣu ca yathākramam

Translation

विद्याधराणां सर्वेषां महौजसां गन्धर्वाणां तथा इन्द्रादिलोकपालानां लोकेषु यथाक्रमं फलमुदाहृतम्।

Word by Word

• विद्याधराणाम्: of the Vidyādharas
• विद्याधराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः: विद्या + धर (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) = ‘विद्यां धरति’

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (विद्याधराणाम् इत्यादि-समूहस्य)

• गन्धर्वाणाम्: of the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महा-ओजसाम्: of the great-splendored/very powerful
• महा-ओजसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्/महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: महत् ओजः येषां ते (बहुवचन-सम्बन्धे)

• इन्द्र-आदि-लोकपालानाम्: of the world-guardians beginning with Indra
• इन्द्र-आदि-लोकपालानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + लोकपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः: इन्द्रादयः लोकपालाः (इन्द्र-आदि इति तत्पुरुष/समाहार), ततः षष्ठी बहुवचन

• लोकेषु: in the worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा-क्रमम्: in due order
• यथा-क्रमम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययत्वेन प्रयोगः; अर्थः: ‘क्रमानुसारम्’ (according to order)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it enumerates celestial orders (Vidyādharas, Gandharvas, Lokapālas), implying a structured cosmos where offices are attained by merit yet remain within pāśa (bondage) until Śiva’s liberating grace.

Significance: Didactic: even the highest celestial ranks are ‘yathākramam’—ordered stations within the cosmic administration, encouraging devotion aimed beyond mere rank.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Lokapalas
• Vidyadharas
• Gandharvas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the ordered structure of the cosmos—celestial beings and world-guardians preside over specific realms—implying that even exalted heavens remain within divine governance, while Shiva as Pati ultimately transcends and rules all worlds.

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

By naming Indra and the Lokapalas as realm-bound authorities, the text implicitly points devotees toward Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) as the supreme refuge beyond all delegated cosmic powers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra and Rudrāksha, cultivating dispassion toward heavenly attainments and anchoring devotion in Shiva alone.