Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

तादृशं भुजयोर्मूर्ध्नि स्तनयोरंतरे लिखेत् । सर्वांगोद्धूलनं चैव न समानं त्रिपुण्ड्रकैः

Transliteration

tādṛśaṃ bhujayormūrdhni stanayoraṃtare likhet | sarvāṃgoddhūlanaṃ caiva na samānaṃ tripuṇḍrakaiḥ

Translation

Cũng nên ghi dấu ấy trên hai cánh tay, trên đỉnh đầu và nơi khoảng giữa hai bầu ngực. Dẫu có xoa tro thiêng khắp toàn thân, cũng không sánh bằng sự thù thắng của các dấu Tripuṇḍra.

Word by Word

• तादृशम्: such (a mark)
• तादृशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘(पुण्ड्रम्)’ इत्यर्थे

• भुजयोः: on/of the two arms
• भुजयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; ‘of the two arms’ (genitive/locative sense)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• स्तनयोः: on/between the breasts
• स्तनयोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; ‘of the two breasts’

• अन्तरे: in between
• अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the middle/between)

• लिखेत्: should draw
• लिखेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्व-अङ्ग-उद्धूलनम्: smearing the whole body (with ash)
• सर्व-अङ्ग-उद्धूलनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक; √धूल्/धूलि with उद्- उपसर्ग, भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (whole-body smearing with ash)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction ‘and’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण-निपात

• न: not
• न: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात (negation)

• समानम्: equal/same
• समानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘सर्वाङ्गोद्धूलनम्’ इति विशेषण

• त्रिपुण्ड्रकैः: with tripuṇḍras / compared to tripuṇḍras
• त्रिपुण्ड्रकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/सह (instrumental: ‘with/in comparison to’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined Shaiva observance—specifically the Tripuṇḍra—outshines mere external smearing of ash, because Tripuṇḍra functions as a conscious vow of devotion, purity, and surrender to Pati (Shiva) for liberation.

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

Tripuṇḍra is a visible Shaiva identity used while approaching Saguna Shiva in worship—especially in Linga-puja—signifying reverence, ritual fitness, and the devotee’s orientation toward Shiva’s grace while remembering His transcendent (Nirguna) reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply Tripuṇḍra with bhasma on the arms, head, and chest (between the breasts), treating the act as mindful worship—ideally alongside Shaiva mantra remembrance such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).