Shloka 93

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

मकाराहवनीयौ च परमात्मा तमोदिवौ । ज्ञानशक्तिः सामवेदस्तृतीयं सवनं तथा

Transliteration

makārāhavanīyau ca paramātmā tamodivau | jñānaśaktiḥ sāmavedastṛtīyaṃ savanaṃ tathā

Translation

พยางค์ “มะ” คือไฟศักดิ์สิทธิ์อาหวนียะ เป็นปรมาตมัน และเป็นคู่คือความมืดกับกลางวันด้วย. อีกทั้งคือญาณศักติ เป็นสามเวท และเป็นพิธีบีบโสมครั้งที่สาม (ตฤติยะ-สวะนะ) เช่นกัน.

Word by Word

• मकार: the syllable ‘ma’
• मकार: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आहवनीयौ: the two Āhavanīya (fires)
• आहवनीयौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहवनीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• परमात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः आत्मा)

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिवौ: the two heavens / two days
• दिवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (द्यावापृथिव्योर्-प्रयोगवत्; here ‘two heavens/days’)

• ज्ञानशक्तिः: the power of knowledge
• ज्ञानशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानस्य शक्तिः)

• सामवेदः: the Sāmaveda
• सामवेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (साम्नः वेदः)

• तृतीयम्: third
• तृतीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सवनम्)

• सवनम्: Soma-pressing rite (savana)
• सवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (likewise/also)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva’s mantra-teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a single syllable of the Panchākṣara can be contemplated as the whole sacred cosmos—Vedic fires, Vedas, ritual times, and inner powers—so the devotee’s mantra-japa becomes complete worship leading toward Shiva-realization.

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

By mapping “ma” to ritual and cosmic principles (fire, Veda, savana), the verse supports saguna upāsanā: the Linga is worshipped outwardly while the same meanings are installed inwardly through mantra, making the rite a direct offering to Shiva as Paramātman.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Panchākṣara japa with bhāvanā (contemplative visualization): while repeating “ma,” meditate on the Āhavanīya fire and offer the mind’s oblations to Shiva; this can be paired with traditional Śaiva aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa during daily worship.