Shloka 76

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

जलस्नानं मलत्यागे भस्मस्नानं सदा शुचि । मंत्रस्नानं हरेत्पापं ज्ञानस्नाने परं पदम्

Transliteration

jalasnānaṃ malatyāge bhasmasnānaṃ sadā śuci | maṃtrasnānaṃ haretpāpaṃ jñānasnāne paraṃ padam

Translation

जलस्नानं मलत्यागं करोति, भस्मस्नानं सदा शुचिकरम्। मन्त्रस्नानं पापं नाशयति, ज्ञानस्नाने तु परं पदं लभ्यते॥

Word by Word

• जलस्नानम्: water-bath
• जलस्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

• मलत्यागे: in the removal of impurity
• मलत्यागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल + त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular)

• भस्मस्नानम्: ash-bath
• भस्मस्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• शुचि: pure
• शुचि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative adjective)

• मन्त्रस्नानम्: mantra-bath
• मन्त्रस्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरेत्: should remove
• हरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ज्ञानस्नाने: in the knowledge-bath
• ज्ञानस्नाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पदम् इति विशेषण (qualifier of padam)

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse universalizes tīrtha-phala through graded purifications (water → bhasma → mantra → jñāna), implying that inner Śaiva discipline can substitute for travel to specific sthalas.

Significance: Frames purification as ascending from external cleanliness to karmic cleansing and finally mokṣa through jñāna—aligning pilgrimage merit with inner transformation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a graded Shaiva path of purification—from external cleanliness (water), to sanctification through Shiva’s bhasma, to karmic cleansing by mantra, culminating in inner liberation through jñāna that grants the supreme state.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes śauca (purity) and upacāra (right observances): water-bathing supports ritual fitness, bhasma marks devotion and Shiva’s grace, and mantra-snāna aligns the mind with Saguna Shiva, preparing one for the higher realization that leads to liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice regular snāna, apply bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a Shaiva observance, and perform mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara) as ‘mantra-bathing’; then cultivate jñāna through contemplation and disciplined meditation for moksha.