Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 18

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

महापातकयुक्तानां जंतूनां शर्वविद्विषाम् । त्रिपुंड्रोद्धूलनद्वेषो जायते सुदृढं मुने

Transliteration

mahāpātakayuktānāṃ jaṃtūnāṃ śarvavidviṣām | tripuṃḍroddhūlanadveṣo jāyate sudṛḍhaṃ mune

Translation

噢牟尼啊，凡被大罪所染、并敌视舍尔瓦（主湿婆）之众生，心中便生起根深蒂固的厌离，不愿涂画三道圣纹（Tripuṇḍra），亦不愿以圣灰（bhasma）涂身。

Word by Word

• महापातक-युक्तानाम्: of those associated with great sins
• महापातक-युक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पातक (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘महापातकैः युक्ताः’

• जन्तूनाम्: of beings
• जन्तूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शर्व-विद्विषाम्: of the haters of Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्व-विद्विषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्विष् (प्रातिपदिक; √द्विष् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘शर्वस्य विद्विषः’ (haters of Śarva)

• त्रिपुण्ड्र-उद्धूलन-द्वेषः: hatred of the tripuṇḍra and ash-smearing
• त्रिपुण्ड्र-उद्धूलन-द्वेषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुण्ड्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलन (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (समाहारार्थे)—‘त्रिपुण्ड्रस्य च उद्धूलनस्य च द्वेषः’

• जायते: arises
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (√जन् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुदृढम्: very firmly
• सुदृढम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative) — ‘अत्यन्तं दृढम्’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śarva)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that deep-seated hostility to Śiva manifests outwardly as dislike for Śaiva sacred observances—especially Tripuṇḍra and bhasma—indicating an inner turning away from Pati (Śiva) and dharmic purification.

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

Tripuṇḍra and bhasma are external, embodied expressions of devotion to Saguna Śiva and His Linga-worship tradition; rejecting them reflects resistance to Śiva-bhakti and the disciplines that align the devotee toward Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implicitly upholds the daily practice of applying bhasma and marking the Tripuṇḍra with reverence as a Śaiva sādhana, cultivating humility, purity, and remembrance of Śiva.