Shloka 25

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

त्रिपुंड्रसहितो जीवः पूज्यः सर्वैः सुरासुरैः । पापान्वितोपि शुद्धात्मा किं पुनः श्रद्धया युतः

Transliteration

tripuṃḍrasahito jīvaḥ pūjyaḥ sarvaiḥ surāsuraiḥ | pāpānvitopi śuddhātmā kiṃ punaḥ śraddhayā yutaḥ

Translation

Chúng sinh mang Tripuṇḍra (ba vệt tro thiêng) đều đáng được tôn kính bởi tất cả—cả chư thiên lẫn a-tu-la. Dẫu còn vướng tội lỗi, tự tánh vẫn được xem là thanh tịnh; huống chi khi mang với lòng tín và tâm sùng kính.

Word by Word

• त्रि-पुण्ड्र-सहितः: accompanied by the triple forehead-mark
• त्रि-पुण्ड्र-सहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (कृदन्त; √सह्/√सह (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (with three sacred marks); विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘सहित’ = accompanied/with

• जीवः: a living being
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूज्यः: worthy of worship
• पूज्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त; √पूज् (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/नीयतुल्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; agent/instrument in passive sense

• सुर-असुरैः: by gods and demons
• सुर-असुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: द्वन्द्व (copulative); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• पाप-अन्वितः: possessed of sins
• पाप-अन्वितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ (धातु) + क्त, with anu-)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (endowed with sin); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपवाद-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• शुद्ध-आत्मा: pure-souled (one)
• शुद्ध-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (pure-souled); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• किम्: what then?/how much more?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• पुनः: then/further
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति/अधिक्य-अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• युतः: endowed (with)
• युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘endowed/connected with’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teachings on Shaiva marks and worship to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines the tripuṇḍra-bearer as socially and cosmically venerable (even to devas/asuras), indicating that Śiva’s mark confers a trans-world status rooted in grace rather than birth or prior merit.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It teaches that Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is a powerful Shaiva sign that aligns the jīva with Shiva’s grace; even a sinner is considered inwardly purified, and faith (śraddhā) multiplies the sanctifying effect.

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

Tripuṇḍra is a bodily seal of devotion that supports Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—by marking the devotee as Shiva-oriented and fit for reverent participation in ritual and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply bhasma as Tripuṇḍra with śraddhā (ideally after Shiva worship), while maintaining Shaiva remembrance—commonly alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”