Shloka 8

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

अग्निरित्यादिभिर्मंत्रैर्जाबालोपनिषद्गतेः । सप्तभिधूलनं कार्यं भस्मना सजलेन च

Transliteration

agnirityādibhirmaṃtrairjābālopaniṣadgateḥ | saptabhidhūlanaṃ kāryaṃ bhasmanā sajalena ca

Translation

अग्निरित्यादिमन्त्रैः जाबालोपनिषदुक्तरीत्या भस्मना सजलेन सह सप्तधा प्रोक्षणं शोधनं च कर्तव्यम्।

Word by Word

• agniḥ: Agni (the word 'agni')
• agniḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quoted word)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मन्त्रपाठस्य आदिशब्दः

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

• ādibhiḥ: with (the words) beginning with, etc.
• ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'आदि' = etc.; करण (with 'etc.')

• mantraiḥ: by/with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• jābāla-upaniṣat-gateḥ: (of) those found in the Jābāla Upaniṣad
• jābāla-upaniṣat-gateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jābāla (प्रातिपदिक) + upaniṣad (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त; गम् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'जाबालोपनिषदि गताः (मन्त्राः) येषां ते'; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (of those found in the Jābāla Upaniṣad)

• sapta-bhiḥ: with seven (times)
• sapta-bhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण (with seven)

• dhūlanam: smearing/dusting (application)
• dhūlanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūlana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियावाचक नाम (act of dusting/smearing)

• kāryam: should be done
• kāryam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-अर्थे 'कृत्यम्' भावः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (to be done)

• bhasmanā: with ash
• bhasmanā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (by/with ash)

• sa-jalena: with water (moistened)
• sa-jalena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स- उपसर्गवत्) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सह-अर्थ): 'जलेन सह'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; 'भस्मना' इत्यस्य विशेषण

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

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating Śiva’s worship-method to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Connects Purāṇic Śaiva practice to Upaniṣadic authority; mantra-guided bhasma-śuddhi is presented as a means to inner purification supporting liberation-oriented sādhana.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: “agnir …” (Jābāla-upaniṣad mantras beginning with ‘Agni’)—exact pada not fully quoted in the verse.

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sanctifies bhasma-dhāraṇa as an Upaniṣadic, purificatory act: the devotee ritually cleanses and consecrates the body-mind as a fit seat for Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-jñāna.

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

Bhasma mixed with water and applied with mantra is a preparatory rite for Saguna Śiva worship—especially before approaching the Liṅga—marking the devotee with Śiva’s signs (Tripuṇḍra) and aligning intention with Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform sevenfold sprinkling/cleansing with water-mixed bhasma while reciting the “Agni…” mantras (per the Jābāla Upaniṣad), as part of Tripuṇḍra/vibhūti practice.