Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 113

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

यथासंभवनं कुर्य्याद्देशकालाद्यपेक्षया । उद्धूलनेप्यशक्तिश्चेत्त्रिपुण्ड्रादीनि कारयेत्

Transliteration

yathāsaṃbhavanaṃ kuryyāddeśakālādyapekṣayā | uddhūlanepyaśaktiścettripuṇḍrādīni kārayet

Translation

应随力而行，观其处所、时节及诸般因缘而作。若连以涂抹方式敷持圣灰亦不能，则至少当令身上绘作三横纹（Tripuṇḍra）等诸印记。

Word by Word

• यथा: as/according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (adverb: as/according to)

• सम्भवनम्: as possible
• सम्भवनम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; यथाशक्ति/यथासम्भव (as possible)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• देश: place
• देश: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• काल: time
• काल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• आदि: and so on
• आदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक/आद्यार्थक (etc.)

• अपेक्षया: depending on
• अपेक्षया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपेक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ (with regard to/depending on)

• उद्धूलने: in smearing (with ash)
• उद्धूलने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थक (also/even)

• अशक्तिः: inability
• अशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

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

• त्रिपुण्ड्र-आदीनि: tripuṇḍra etc. (marks)
• त्रिपुण्ड्र-आदीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (आदि-समास: त्रिपुण्ड्रः आदिः येषाम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन

• कारयेत्: should have (them) made/done
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative); विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s teaching accommodates deśa-kāla (place-time) constraints: when full bhasma-uddhūlana is not possible, tripuṇḍra alone sustains Śaiva identity and remembrance—an accessible grace-oriented ordinance.

Significance: Emphasizes compassionate adaptability in observance; preserves continuity of Śiva-smṛti for householders and travelers in the jyotirliṅga kṣetra.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śaiva practice is guided by sincerity and feasibility: when full ritual application of bhasma is not possible, maintaining the Tripuṇḍra still preserves remembrance of Śiva and the devotee’s Śaiva identity.

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

Tripuṇḍra and bhasma are external supports (bahiraṅga) for Saguna Śiva worship, helping the devotee keep steady devotion and purity while approaching the Liṅga with reverence according to circumstance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply bhasma when able; if not, at least mark the Tripuṇḍra (and related Śaiva marks) as a daily discipline to sustain Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Shiva).