Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 19

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

शिवाग्निकार्यं यः कृत्वा कुर्यात्त्रियायुषात्मवित् । मुच्यते सर्वपापैस्तु स्पृष्टेन भस्मना नरः

Transliteration

śivāgnikāryaṃ yaḥ kṛtvā kuryāttriyāyuṣātmavit | mucyate sarvapāpaistu spṛṣṭena bhasmanā naraḥ

Translation

凡人若先行湿婆之圣火仪轨，而后以明了其赐生之力的觉知涂抹圣灰（bhasma），便能解脱一切罪业；因为仅凭与此圣灰相触，便得净化。

Word by Word

• शिवाग्निकार्यम्: the rite/action of Śiva’s fire (homa)
• शिवाग्निकार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + अग्नि + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यः (relative pronoun)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• त्रियायुषा: with threefold lifespan
• त्रियायुषा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (द्विगु/षष्ठीभावः: ‘त्रीणि आयूंषि’ इति)

• आत्मवित्: knower of the Self
• आत्मवित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘आत्मानं वेत्ति’)

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• सर्वपापैः: from all sins
• सर्वपापैः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (‘सर्वाणि पापानि’)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• स्पृष्टेन: touched
• स्पृष्टेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; ‘स्पृष्ट’ = touched

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhasma

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that bhasma is not mere symbolism: when prepared/received through Śiva-related rites and worn with right understanding, it becomes a means of purification, weakening pāpa and pasha (bondage) and turning the devotee toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

In Saguna Śiva worship—especially around the Liṅga—bhasma and Tripuṇḍra are external marks of inner surrender and Śiva-bhakti. The verse links bodily practice (touching/wearing ash) with sanctification through Śiva’s presence invoked by ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to Śiva-agni related observance and the reverent application of bhasma (often as Tripuṇḍra), ideally accompanied by remembrance of Śiva and mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).