Shloka 21

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

जाबालकोक्तमंत्रेण भस्मना च त्रिपुंड्रकम् । अन्यथा चेज्जले पात इतस्तन्नरकमृच्छति

Transliteration

jābālakoktamaṃtreṇa bhasmanā ca tripuṃḍrakam | anyathā cejjale pāta itastannarakamṛcchati

Translation

Nên bôi Tripuṇḍra (ba vạch ngang) bằng bhasma (tro thánh), với thần chú do truyền thống Jābāla truyền dạy. Nếu làm khác đi, thì sau khi chết người ấy rơi vào thủy ngục; chính do lỗi này mà phải sa địa ngục.

Word by Word

• जाबालक-उक्त-मन्त्रेण: with the mantra taught by Jābālaka
• जाबालक-उक्त-मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाबालक+उक्त+मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; उक्त = √वच् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (जाबालकेन उक्तः मन्त्रः)

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: the triple mark (tripuṇḍra)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि+पुण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि पुण्ड्रकानि यस्य)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (otherwise)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पातः: a fall (occurs)
• पातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इतस्: thereupon/from that
• इतस्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/देशवाचक अव्यय (from here/thereupon)

• तत्: he/that person
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऋच्छति: goes/attains
• ऋच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋ (धातु; गत्यर्थ)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed marks and disciplines of worship to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Viśveśvara/Kāśī is upheld as the supreme Śaiva kṣetra where Śiva grants taraka-upadeśa; tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa marks the devotee as Śiva’s own in that salvific sphere.

Significance: Tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa is treated as a Śaiva identity-sādhana; it removes doṣa, protects from adharmic drift, and qualifies one for Śiva-pūjā and kṣetra-phala.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Post-mortem consequence imagery (naraka, infernal waters) used as dharma-guardrail.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Tripuṇḍra with bhasma is not merely a social mark but a Shaiva vow (vrata): a visible commitment to Shiva, purity, and disciplined remembrance, and neglecting it is treated as a serious breach of Shaiva conduct.

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

Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is a preparatory and continual act of Saguna Shiva devotion—marking the body as Shiva’s temple—supporting daily Linga worship through purity, mantra, and right ritual orientation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply Tripuṇḍra using sacred ash while reciting the Jābāla-authorized mantra; maintain it as a daily Shaiva observance alongside mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī) and Linga worship.