Shloka 9

Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा

Devanagari script

तदाप्रभृति लोकेषु रक्षार्थमशुभेषु च भस्मना क्रियते रक्षा सूतिकानां गृहेषु च

Transliteration

tadāprabhṛti lokeṣu rakṣārthamaśubheṣu ca bhasmanā kriyate rakṣā sūtikānāṃ gṛheṣu ca

Translation

Từ thời ấy về sau, trong các cõi, vì mục đích hộ trì và để ngăn trừ những điềm bất tường, người ta thực hành sự bảo hộ bằng tro thiêng; cũng vậy, trong nhà của những phụ nữ vừa sinh nở, tro được dùng như một nghi thức che chở.

Word by Word

• tadā-prabhṛti: from that time onward

• lokeṣu: in the worlds/among people

• rakṣā-artham: for the purpose of protection

• aśubheṣu: in (matters of) inauspiciousness/evil omens

• ca: and

• bhasmanā: by/with ash (bhasma)

• kriyate: is done/is performed

• rakṣā: protection/warding rite

• sūtikānām: of women in the post-partum state

• gṛheṣu: in homes/households

• ca: also

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

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).

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

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.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

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.