Shloka 63

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

यानि तीर्थानि लोकेस्मिन्गंगाद्यास्सरितश्च याः । स्नातो भवति सर्वत्र ललाटे यस्त्रिपुंड्रकम्

Transliteration

yāni tīrthāni lokesmingaṃgādyāssaritaśca yāḥ | snāto bhavati sarvatra lalāṭe yastripuṃḍrakam

Translation

凡额上佩戴三道圣灰纹（Tripuṇḍra）者，即被视为已在此世一切圣地沐浴——实乃于恒河及诸圣河中——无处不至，无时不然。

Word by Word

• yāni: which (things)
• yāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun (यत्-शब्द)

• tīrthāni: pilgrimage places
• tīrthāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• gaṅgādyāḥ: (rivers) beginning with the Ganga
• gaṅgādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ādi-tatpuruṣa: ‘Gaṅgā and others’

• saritaḥ: rivers
• saritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• yāḥ: which (fem. pl.)
• yāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun

• snātaḥ: bathed
• snātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snā (धातु) → snāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively

• bhavati: becomes/is
• bhavati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्/Laṭ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• lalāṭe: on the forehead
• lalāṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• tripuṇḍrakam: the tripuṇḍra mark (three ash lines)
• tripuṇḍrakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + puṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: ‘three (lines/marks)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī/Viśvanātha tradition treats the kṣetra as a living tīrtha where Śiva grants purification; this verse internalizes tīrtha-phala into the Śaiva mark (tripuṇḍra), implying constant sacredness through Śiva-sambandha rather than occasional travel.

Significance: Tripuṇḍra is equated with universal tīrtha-snāna merit; reinforces daily, portable sanctity and readiness for worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that bearing Shiva’s Tripuṇḍra is a constant sign of consecration to Pati (Shiva) and grants the fruit of sacred bathing—symbolizing inner purification and Shaiva identity beyond mere physical travel to tīrthas.

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

Tripuṇḍra is a visible Shaiva saṃskāra used in Saguna Shiva worship—especially in Linga-pūjā—marking the devotee as dedicated to Shiva and aligned with the disciplines (ācāra) that support devotion and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply vibhūti as Tripuṇḍra on the forehead (and traditionally other places) with reverence, ideally while remembering Shiva and reciting the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” treating it as a daily purification and devotional vow.