Shloka 84

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

तिस्रो रेखा भवंत्येव स्थानेषु मुनिपुंगवाः । ललाटादिषु सर्वेषु यथोक्तेषु बुधैर्मुने

Transliteration

tisro rekhā bhavaṃtyeva sthāneṣu munipuṃgavāḥ | lalāṭādiṣu sarveṣu yathokteṣu budhairmune

Translation

โอ้ยอดแห่งฤๅษี! ตามที่บัณฑิตกล่าวไว้ ณ ตำแหน่งที่กำหนด—คือที่หน้าผากและที่อื่น ๆ—พึงทำเป็นสามเส้นโดยแน่นอน, โอ้มุนี.

Word by Word

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (qualifying रेखाः)

• रेखाः: lines
• रेखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भवन्ति: are/become
• भवन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• स्थानेषु: in the places
• स्थानेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• मुनिपुङ्गवाः: O best of sages
• मुनिपुङ्गवाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयुक्त (addressing)

• ललाटादिषु: on the forehead etc.
• ललाटादिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरण; 'आदि'समासेन 'etc.' अर्थः

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of implied sthāneṣu)

• यथोक्तेषु: as stated
• यथोक्तेषु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; 'यथा'पूर्वक समासः = 'as stated'

• बुधैः: by the wise (people)
• बुधैः: Karaṇa/Karta (करण/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृ (by the wise)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Codifies correct tripuṇḍra placement (forehead and other prescribed sites), reflecting Śaiva ācāra as a stabilizing discipline that sustains devotional identity.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes the Shaiva discipline of wearing the Tripuṇḍra—three sacred ash lines—as an outward sign of inner alignment with Shiva, purity, and adherence to revealed practice taught by the wise.

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

Tripuṇḍra is a traditional Shaiva identifier used while performing Linga worship and daily Shiva upāsanā; it supports Saguna devotion by sanctifying the body as a fit vessel for offering, japa, and pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply three bhasma lines (Tripuṇḍra) on the forehead and other prescribed spots as per Shaiva injunctions, ideally alongside Shiva-mantra japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).