Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 16

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

उद्धूलनं त्रिपुंड्रं च श्रद्धया नाचरन्ति ये । ते महापातकैर्युक्ता इति शास्त्रीयनिर्णयः

Transliteration

uddhūlanaṃ tripuṃḍraṃ ca śraddhayā nācaranti ye | te mahāpātakairyuktā iti śāstrīyanirṇayaḥ

Translation

凡不以信心修行圣灰涂身（uddhūlana）与佩戴三横纹（Tripuṇḍra）者，依经典之裁定，皆与大罪（mahāpātaka）相应。

Word by Word

• उद्धूलनम्: smearing (with ash)
• उद्धूलनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्+धूलन (प्रातिपदिक; √धूल्/√धू धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: the tripuṇḍra (three ash lines)
• त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘त्रीणि पुण्ड्राणि’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• आचरन्ति: practice; perform
• आचरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चर् (√चर् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• महापातकैः: with great sins
• महापातकैः: Sahacarya/Hetu (सहचर्य/हेतु; association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महच्च तत् पातकम्’

• युक्ताः: endowed/associated
• युक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘सम्बद्धाः/युक्ताः’

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

• शास्त्रीय-निर्णयः: the scriptural conclusion
• शास्त्रीय-निर्णयः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्रीय (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘शास्त्रस्य निर्णयः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that Bhasma-uddhūlana and Tripuṇḍra are not mere symbols but Shaiva disciplines that cultivate reverence, purity, and conscious alignment with Lord Shiva; neglecting them despite knowing their value is treated as a serious spiritual lapse.

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

In Linga worship and Saguna Shiva devotion, sacred ash and Tripuṇḍra function as outward commitments to Shaiva identity and inward remembrance of Shiva’s purifying grace, supporting steadiness in pūjā, mantra, and daily conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice applying Vibhūti (Bhasma) with faith and wearing the Tripuṇḍra as part of daily Shaiva observance—ideally alongside Shiva mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and mindful remembrance of Shiva.