Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 92

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

भस्मनिष्ठस्य नश्यन्ति देषा भस्माग्निसंगमात् । भस्मस्नानविशुद्धात्मा भस्मनिष्ठ इति स्मृतः

Transliteration

bhasmaniṣṭhasya naśyanti deṣā bhasmāgnisaṃgamāt | bhasmasnānaviśuddhātmā bhasmaniṣṭha iti smṛtaḥ

Translation

Với người chuyên nhất nơi bhasma, mọi uế nhiễm đều tiêu tan nhờ sự hòa hợp giữa tro thánh và ngọn lửa thánh hóa. Người có nội tâm được thanh tịnh bởi việc tắm bằng bhasma được truyền thống ghi nhớ là “bhasmaniṣṭha”, kẻ kiên trú trong bhasma.

Word by Word

• भस्म-निष्ठस्य: of the ash-devoted person
• भस्म-निष्ठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular); तत्पुरुष (भस्मणि निष्ठा यस्य/भस्मे निष्ठः)

• नश्यन्ति: perish; are destroyed
• नश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural)

• दोषाः: faults; sins
• दोषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom, Plural)

• भस्म-अग्नि-संगमात्: from the union of ash and fire
• भस्म-अग्नि-संगमात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative, Singular); तत्पुरुष (भस्माग्न्योः संगमः)

• भस्म-स्नान-विशुद्ध-आत्मा: one whose self is purified by bathing with ash
• भस्म-स्नान-विशुद्ध-आत्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (भस्मस्नानेन विशुद्धः आत्मा यस्य)

• भस्म-निष्ठः: ash-devoted (person)
• भस्म-निष्ठः: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular); तत्पुरुष (भस्मे निष्ठः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• स्मृतः: is regarded; is called
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयभावे (is considered/called)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames bhasma as a continual purifier: doṣa-kṣaya through bhasma–agni ‘saṅgama’ (contact), echoing the idea that karmic accretions are burned by Śiva’s purifying power when one maintains bhasma-niṣṭhā.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bhasma is not mere symbolism: when sanctified through fire and used with devotion, it becomes a Shaiva discipline that burns impurities (doṣas) and supports inner purification, aligning the soul toward Shiva (Pati) and loosening bonds (pāśa).

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

Bhasma is a mark and method of Saguna Shiva worship—commonly applied while honoring the Linga—signifying surrender to Shiva’s purifying power and remembrance of the transient body, while cultivating steadiness in devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular bhasma-snāna or smearing of sacred ash (often as Tripuṇḍra) after sanctifying it, performed with Shaiva intent and remembrance of Shiva—ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara.