Shloka 7

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 74 — ब्रह्मप्रोक्तलिङ्गार्चनविधिः

Materials, Classes, and Fruits of Linga-Worship

Devanagari script

दारुजं नैरृतिर् भक्त्या यमो मारकतं शुभम् नीलाद्याश् च तथा रुद्राः शुद्धं भस्ममयं शुभम्

Transliteration

dārujaṃ nairṛtir bhaktyā yamo mārakataṃ śubham nīlādyāś ca tathā rudrāḥ śuddhaṃ bhasmamayaṃ śubham

Translation

భక్తితో నైరృతి (దక్షిణ-పశ్చిమ దిక్పాలుడు) కట్టెల నుండి పుట్టిన భస్మాన్ని స్వీకరిస్తాడు; యముడు శుభమైన మరకతవర్ణ భస్మాన్ని పొందుతాడు. నీలాది రుద్రులు కూడా శుద్ధమైన, మంగళకరమైన భస్మాన్ని గ్రహిస్తారు.

Word by Word

• दारुजम्: produced from wood (wood-born)

• नैरृतिः: Nairṛti, the dikpāla of the south-west

• भक्त्या: with devotion

• यमः: Yama, lord of restraint/death

• मारकतम्: emerald (green gem), emerald-coloured

• शुभम्: auspicious, благоприятное

• नीलाद्याः: beginning with Nīla (the blue-hued Rudra and others)

• च: and

• तथा: likewise

• रुद्राः: the Rudras

• शुद्धम्: pure

• भस्ममयम्: consisting of bhasma (sacred ash)

• शुभम्: auspicious.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Nairriti
• Yama
• Rudras
• Nila

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It assigns sacred bhasma specific devotional and cosmic correspondences (dikpālas and Rudras), reinforcing bhasma as an essential Shaiva purifier and a key upacāra in Linga-pūjā.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By linking bhasma to Rudras and guardians, the verse presents Shiva-tattva as all-pervading Pati—present through purifying power that transcends directions and deities, reducing pāśa (bondage) through śuddhi (purification).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhasma-dhāraṇa (wearing/applying sacred ash) and its consecration—an outward sign of inner vairāgya central to Pāśupata-oriented Shaiva sādhana and Linga-pūjā vidhi.