Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा
तदाप्रभृति लोकेषु रक्षार्थमशुभेषु च भस्मना क्रियते रक्षा सूतिकानां गृहेषु च
tadāprabhṛti lokeṣu rakṣārthamaśubheṣu ca bhasmanā kriyate rakṣā sūtikānāṃ gṛheṣu ca
اسی وقت سے دنیا میں حفاظت کے لیے اور نحوست و بدشگونی کے دفعیہ کے لیے بھسم کے ذریعے رِکشا-کرم کیا جاتا ہے؛ اور زچہ عورتوں کے گھروں میں بھی بھسم سے حفاظتی رسم ادا کی جاتی ہے۔
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It establishes bhasma (sacred ash) as a Shaiva protective sacramental used alongside Shiva-centric worship, functioning as raksha against aśubha and as a purifier aligned with devotion to Pati (Shiva).
By presenting bhasma as a universal protector, the verse implies Shiva’s grace as the safeguarding power that burns impurities—symbolically reducing pasha (bondage/impurity) to ash and protecting the pashu (soul) in vulnerable conditions.
A raksha-vidhi using bhasma—applying or keeping sacred ash for warding off inauspicious forces, especially in sūtikā-gṛha (post-partum households), consistent with Shaiva purity and protection observances.