Shloka 87

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

मध्येंगुलिभिरादाय तिसृभिर्भस्म यत्नतः । त्रिपुण्ड्रधारयेद्भक्त्या भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं परम्

Transliteration

madhyeṃgulibhirādāya tisṛbhirbhasma yatnataḥ | tripuṇḍradhārayedbhaktyā bhuktimuktipradaṃ param

Translation

จงใช้นิ้วกลางทั้งสามหยิบวิภูติ (เถ้าศักดิ์สิทธิ์) อย่างระมัดระวัง แล้วทาตรีปุณฑระด้วยศรัทธาภักดี; กรรมอันสูงสุดนี้ประทานทั้งโภคะและโมกษะ

Word by Word

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• अङ्गुलिभिः: with (the) fingers
• अङ्गुलिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Plural/बहुवचन), स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: आ-

• तिसृभिः: with three
• तिसृभिः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem. form ‘तिसृ’), संख्याविशेषण

• भस्म: sacred ash
• भस्म: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• यत्नतः: carefully; with effort
• यत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (-तः), क्रियाविशेषण

• त्रिपुण्ड्र: the tripuṇḍra (three lines mark)
• त्रिपुण्ड्र: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (त्रयः पुण्ड्राः/रेखाः), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (object as a mark)

• धारयेत्: should wear/apply
• धारयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदम्: granting enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति + मुक्ति + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च प्रददाति इति), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘त्रिपुण्ड्र’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘त्रिपुण्ड्र’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Tripuṇḍra-dhāraṇa is framed as a portable ‘tīrtha’—a daily Śaiva marker said to confer bhukti and mukti, paralleling the merit sought in pilgrimage.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Tripuṇḍra—applied with reverence and care—is not mere outer marking but a Shaiva sacrament that purifies the devotee and aligns one with Shiva, yielding both right living (bhukti) and liberation (mukti).

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

Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is a visible seal of devotion to Saguna Shiva and a daily reminder of Linga-worship ideals—purity, detachment, and surrender—supporting steady remembrance of Shiva in worship and conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Carefully take bhasma with three fingers and apply the Tripuṇḍra with bhakti as a daily Shaiva practice, cultivating remembrance of Shiva and the aspiration for both dharmic prosperity and moksha.