Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 11 — Chapter 12
DB 11 12.1
भस्मधारणमाहाम्यवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच देवर्षे शृणु तत्सर्वं भस्मोद्धूलनजं फलम् । सरहस्यविधानं च सर्वकामफलप्रदम्
bhasmadhāraṇamāhāmyavarṇanam śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca devarṣe śṛṇu tatsarvaṃ bhasmoddhūlanajaṃ phalam | sarahasyavidhānaṃ ca sarvakāmaphalapradam
Description of the greatness of wearing ash. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Divine sage, hear all that — the fruit born of smearing with ash, together with its secret procedure, which grants the fruit of every desire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.2
कपिलायाः शकृत्स्वच्छं गृहीत्वा गगनेऽपतत् । न क्लिन्नं नापि कठिनं न दुर्गन्धं न चोषितम्
kapilāyāḥ śakṛtsvacchaṃ gṛhītvā gagane'patat | na klinnaṃ nāpi kaṭhinaṃ na durgandhaṃ na coṣitam
Taking the clean dung of a tawny cow, (which) has fallen in mid-air, not moist nor hard, not foul-smelling and not stale —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.3
उपर्यधः परित्यज्य गह्णीयात्पतितं यदि । पिण्डीकृत्य शिवाग्न्यादौ तत्क्षिपेन्मूलमन्त्रितम्
uparyadhaḥ parityajya gahṇīyātpatitaṃ yadi | piṇḍīkṛtya śivāgnyādau tatkṣipenmūlamantritam
— discarding the upper and lower part, he should take it if it has fallen; making it into a lump, he should cast it into the Śiva-fire and so on, consecrated with the root mantra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.4
आदाय वाससाऽऽच्छाद्य भस्माधाने विनिक्षिपेत् । सुकृते सुदृढे शुद्धे क्षालिते प्रोक्षिते शुभे
ādāya vāsasā''cchādya bhasmādhāne vinikṣipet | sukṛte sudṛḍhe śuddhe kṣālite prokṣite śubhe
Having taken (it) up and covered (it) with a cloth, he should deposit (it) in the ash-container — one well made, very firm, clean, washed, sprinkled (with water), and auspicious.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.5
विन्यस्य मन्त्री मन्त्रेण पात्रे भस्म विनिक्षिपेत् । तैजसं दारवं चाथ मृण्मयं चैलमेव च
vinyasya mantrī mantreṇa pātre bhasma vinikṣipet | taijasaṃ dāravaṃ cātha mṛṇmayaṃ cailameva ca
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 11 12.6
अन्यद्वा शोभनं शुद्धं भस्माधारं प्रकल्पयेत् । क्षौमे चैवातिशुद्धे वा धनवद्भस्म निक्षिपेत्
anyadvā śobhanaṃ śuddhaṃ bhasmādhāraṃ prakalpayet | kṣaume caivātiśuddhe vā dhanavadbhasma nikṣipet
Or he should prepare some other fine, clean container for the ashes; or he should deposit the ashes on a piece of linen that is exceedingly clean, (guarding them) as one guards wealth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.7
प्रस्थितो भस्म गृह्णीयात्स्वयं चानुचरोऽपि वा । न चायुक्तकरे दद्यान्न चाशुचितले क्षिपेत्
prasthito bhasma gṛhṇīyātsvayaṃ cānucaro'pi vā | na cāyuktakare dadyānna cāśucitale kṣipet
One setting out should take up the ash himself, or else an attendant (may carry it); and he should not place it in an unfit hand, nor cast it on an unclean surface.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.8
न संस्पृशेत्तु नीचाङ्गैर्न क्षिपेन्न च लङ्घयेत् । तस्माद्भसितमादाय विनियुञ्जीत मन्त्रितम्
na saṃspṛśettu nīcāṅgairna kṣipenna ca laṅghayet | tasmādbhasitamādāya viniyuñjīta mantritam
But (one) should not touch it with the lower limbs, should not throw it, and should not step over it; therefore, having taken up the ash, one should apply it after it has been consecrated with mantras.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.9
विभूतिधारणविधिः स्मृतिप्रोक्तो मयेरितः । यदीयाचरणेनैव शिवतुल्यो न संशयः
vibhūtidhāraṇavidhiḥ smṛtiprokto mayeritaḥ | yadīyācaraṇenaiva śivatulyo na saṃśayaḥ
The rule for wearing the sacred ash, as declared in the smṛti, has (now) been set forth by me; by the mere practice of it (one becomes) equal to Śiva — there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.10
शैवैः सम्पादितं भस्म वैदिकैः शिवसन्निधौ । भक्त्या परमया ग्राह्यं प्रार्थयित्वा तु पूजयेत्
śaivaiḥ sampāditaṃ bhasma vaidikaiḥ śivasannidhau | bhaktyā paramayā grāhyaṃ prārthayitvā tu pūjayet
Ash prepared by Śaivas is to be received by the Vedic (followers) in the presence of Śiva, with supreme devotion, after asking for it; and (having received it) one should offer worship (with it).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.11
तन्त्रोक्तवर्त्मना सिद्धं भस्म तान्त्रिकपूजकैः । यत्रकुत्रापि दत्तं चेत्तद्ग्राह्यं नैव वैदिकैः
tantroktavartmanā siddhaṃ bhasma tāntrikapūjakaiḥ | yatrakutrāpi dattaṃ cettadgrāhyaṃ naiva vaidikaiḥ
Ash prepared by the method taught in the Tantras by Tantric worshippers — if it is given anywhere at all, that is not to be accepted by followers of the Veda.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.12
शूद्रैः कापालिकैर्वाथ पाखण्डैरपरैस्तु तत् । त्रिपुण्ड्रं धारयेद्भक्त्या मनसापि न लङ्घयेत् भस्मधारणमाहाम्यवर्णनं नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः
śūdraiḥ kāpālikairvātha pākhaṇḍairaparaistu tat | tripuṇḍraṃ dhārayedbhaktyā manasāpi na laṅghayet bhasmadhāraṇamāhāmyavarṇanaṃ nāma dvādaśo'dhyāyaḥ
(And so too) that (ash) which comes from Śūdras, from Kāpālikas, or from other heretics. (But) one should wear the tripuṇḍra with devotion, and should not transgress (that rule) even in thought. — Chapter Twelve, called "The Description of the Greatness of Wearing Ash."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.13
श्रुत्या विधीयते यस्मात्तत्त्यागी पतितो भवेत् । त्रिपुण्ड्रधारणं भक्त्या तथा देहावगुण्ठनम्
śrutyā vidhīyate yasmāttattyāgī patito bhavet | tripuṇḍradhāraṇaṃ bhaktyā tathā dehāvaguṇṭhanam
Since it is enjoined by scripture, one who abandons it becomes an outcaste: the wearing of the tripuṇḍra with devotion, and likewise the covering (of the body with ash).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.14
द्विजः कुर्याद्धि मन्त्रेण तत्त्यागी पतितो भवेत् । उद्धूलनं त्रिपुण्ड्रं च भक्त्या नैवाचरन्ति ये
dvijaḥ kuryāddhi mantreṇa tattyāgī patito bhavet | uddhūlanaṃ tripuṇḍraṃ ca bhaktyā naivācaranti ye
A twice-born man should indeed perform (it) with the mantra; one who abandons that becomes fallen. Those who do not practice the dusting (with ash) and the tripuṇḍra with devotion —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.15
तेषां नास्ति विनिर्मोक्षः संसाराज्जन्मकोटिभिः । येन भस्मोक्तमार्गेण धृतं न मुनिपुङ्गव
teṣāṃ nāsti vinirmokṣaḥ saṃsārājjanmakoṭibhiḥ | yena bhasmoktamārgeṇa dhṛtaṃ na munipuṅgava
For them there is no release from the round of rebirth even through ten million births. By whom, O bull among sages, ash has not been worn according to the prescribed method —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.16
तस्य विद्धि मुने जन्म निष्कलं सौकरं यथा । येषां वपुर्मनुष्याणां त्रिपुण्ड्रेण विना स्थितम्
tasya viddhi mune janma niṣkalaṃ saukaraṃ yathā | yeṣāṃ vapurmanuṣyāṇāṃ tripuṇḍreṇa vinā sthitam
Know his birth, O sage, to be fruitless, like that of a pig. Those men whose body remains without the three-lined mark (tripuṇḍra) —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.17
श्मशानसदृशं तत्स्यान्न प्रेक्ष्यं पुण्यकृज्जनैः । धिग्भस्मरहितं भालं धिग्ग्राममशिवालयम्
śmaśānasadṛśaṃ tatsyānna prekṣyaṃ puṇyakṛjjanaiḥ | dhigbhasmarahitaṃ bhālaṃ dhiggrāmamaśivālayam
That (body) would be like a cremation ground, not to be looked at by people who do meritorious deeds. Fie on a forehead without ashes; fie on a village that has no temple of Śiva.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.18
धिगनीशार्चनं जन्म धिग्विद्यामशिवाश्रयाम् । त्रिपुण्ड्रं ये विनिन्दन्ति निन्दन्ति शिवमेव ते
dhiganīśārcanaṃ janma dhigvidyāmaśivāśrayām | tripuṇḍraṃ ye vinindanti nindanti śivameva te
Shame on a birth in which Īśa is not worshipped, shame on learning that does not rest on Śiva. Those who revile the tripuṇḍra (three-lined mark) revile Śiva himself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.19
धारयन्ति च ये भक्त्या धारयन्ति तमेव ते । यथा कृशानुरहितो भूधरो न विराजते
dhārayanti ca ye bhaktyā dhārayanti tameva te | yathā kṛśānurahito bhūdharo na virājate
And those who wear it (the tripuṇḍra) with devotion — they wear Him (Śiva) himself. Just as a mountain without fire does not shine forth,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.20
अशेषसाधनेऽप्येवं भस्महीनं शिवार्चनम् । उद्धूलनं त्रिपुण्ड्रं च श्रद्धया नाचरन्ति ये
aśeṣasādhane'pyevaṃ bhasmahīnaṃ śivārcanam | uddhūlanaṃ tripuṇḍraṃ ca śraddhayā nācaranti ye
Thus, even when every requisite (of worship) is present, worship of Śiva without ash (is void); those who do not perform with faith the smearing (with ash) and the tripuṇḍra —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.21
तैः पूर्वाचरितं सर्वं विपरीतं भवेदपि । भस्मना वेदमन्त्रेण त्रिपुण्ड्रस्य च धारणम्
taiḥ pūrvācaritaṃ sarvaṃ viparītaṃ bhavedapi | bhasmanā vedamantreṇa tripuṇḍrasya ca dhāraṇam
By them, everything formerly practised would even turn out contrary (to its purpose); and the wearing of the tripuṇḍra with ash, with a Vedic mantra —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.22
विना वेदोचिताचारं स्मार्तस्यानर्थकारणम् । कृतं स्यादकृतं तेन श्रुतमप्यश्रुतं भवेत्
vinā vedocitācāraṃ smārtasyānarthakāraṇam | kṛtaṃ syādakṛtaṃ tena śrutamapyaśrutaṃ bhavet
Without the conduct proper to the Veda, (that) is a cause of futility for the follower of smṛti; what he has done would be as good as undone, and what he has learned by hearing would be as unheard.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.23
अधीतमनधीतं च त्रिपुण्ड्रं यो न धारयेत् । वृथा वेदा वृथा यज्ञा वृथा दानं वृथा तपः
adhītamanadhītaṃ ca tripuṇḍraṃ yo na dhārayet | vṛthā vedā vṛthā yajñā vṛthā dānaṃ vṛthā tapaḥ
What has been studied is as good as unstudied for one who does not wear the tripuṇḍra; his Vedas are in vain, his sacrifices in vain, his giving in vain, his austerity in vain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.24
वृथा व्रतोपवासेन त्रिपुण्ड्रं यो न धारयेत् । भस्मधारणकं त्यक्त्वा मुक्तिमिच्छति यः पुमान्
vṛthā vratopavāsena tripuṇḍraṃ yo na dhārayet | bhasmadhāraṇakaṃ tyaktvā muktimicchati yaḥ pumān
Vain is (his) vow and fasting, whoever does not wear the tripuṇḍra; and the man who, having abandoned the wearing of ashes, wishes for liberation —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.25
विषपानेन नित्यत्वं कुरुते ह्यात्मनो हि सः । स्रष्टा सृष्टिच्छलेनाह त्रिपुण्ड्रस्य च धारणम्
viṣapānena nityatvaṃ kurute hyātmano hi saḥ | sraṣṭā sṛṣṭicchalenāha tripuṇḍrasya ca dhāraṇam
— he is indeed making himself imperishable by drinking poison. The Creator, under the pretext of creation, has himself declared the wearing of the tripuṇḍra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.26
ससर्ज स ललाटं हि तिर्यगूर्ध्वं न वर्तुलम् । तिर्यग्रेखाः प्रदृश्यन्ते ललाटे सर्वदेहिनाम्
sasarja sa lalāṭaṃ hi tiryagūrdhvaṃ na vartulam | tiryagrekhāḥ pradṛśyante lalāṭe sarvadehinām
For he created the forehead transverse, not upright, not round; transverse lines are seen on the forehead of all embodied beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.27
तथापि मानवा मूर्खा न कुर्वन्ति त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् । न तद्ध्यानं न तन्मोक्षं न तज्ज्ञानं न तत्तपः
tathāpi mānavā mūrkhā na kurvanti tripuṇḍrakam | na taddhyānaṃ na tanmokṣaṃ na tajjñānaṃ na tattapaḥ
Even so, foolish men do not make the tripuṇḍra mark; (for them) there is no meditation on him, no liberation through him, no knowledge of him, no austerity for him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.28
विना तिर्यक्त्रिपुण्ड्रं च विप्रेण यदनुष्ठितम् । वेदस्याध्ययने शूद्रो नाधिकारी यथा भवेत्
vinā tiryaktripuṇḍraṃ ca vipreṇa yadanuṣṭhitam | vedasyādhyayane śūdro nādhikārī yathā bhavet
And whatever is performed by a brahmin without the transverse tripuṇḍra — (it is) as a śūdra would be unentitled to the study of the Veda:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.29
त्रिपुण्ड्रेण विना विप्रो नाधिकारी शिवार्चने । प्राङ्मुखश्चरणौ हस्तौ प्रक्षाल्याचम्य पूर्ववत्
tripuṇḍreṇa vinā vipro nādhikārī śivārcane | prāṅmukhaścaraṇau hastau prakṣālyācamya pūrvavat
without the tripuṇḍra a brahmin is not entitled to the worship of Śiva. Facing east, having washed his feet and hands and sipped water as before,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.30
प्राणानायम्य सङ्कल्प्य भस्मस्नानं समाचरेत् । आदाय भसितं शुद्धमग्निहोत्रसमुद्भवम्
prāṇānāyamya saṅkalpya bhasmasnānaṃ samācaret | ādāya bhasitaṃ śuddhamagnihotrasamudbhavam
having restrained the breaths and made the formal resolve, he should perform the ash-bath: taking pure ash produced from the agnihotra fire,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.31
ईशानेन तु मन्त्रेण स्वमूर्धनि विनिक्षिपेत् । तत आदाय तद्भस्म मुखे च पुरुषेण तु
īśānena tu mantreṇa svamūrdhani vinikṣipet | tata ādāya tadbhasma mukhe ca puruṣeṇa tu
he should place it on his own head with the Īśāna mantra; then, taking that ash, on the face with the Puruṣa (mantra),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.32
अघोराख्येण हृदये गुह्ये वामाह्वयेन च । सद्योजाताभिधानेन भस्म पादद्वये क्षिपेत्
aghorākhyeṇa hṛdaye guhye vāmāhvayena ca | sadyojātābhidhānena bhasma pādadvaye kṣipet
on the heart with the one called Aghora, and on the private parts with the one named Vāma; with the one called Sadyojāta he should put ash on both feet.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.33
सर्वाङ्गं प्रणवेनैव मन्त्रेणोद्धूलनं ततः । एतदाग्नेयकं स्नानमुदितं परमर्षिभिः
sarvāṅgaṃ praṇavenaiva mantreṇoddhūlanaṃ tataḥ | etadāgneyakaṃ snānamuditaṃ paramarṣibhiḥ
Then the dusting of the whole body with the Praṇava (Oṃ) mantra alone. This is the fire-bath declared by the supreme sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.34
सर्वकर्मसमृद्ध्यर्थं कुर्यादादाविदं बुधः । ततः प्रक्षाल्य हस्तादीनुपस्पृश्य यथाविधि
sarvakarmasamṛddhyarthaṃ kuryādādāvidaṃ budhaḥ | tataḥ prakṣālya hastādīnupaspṛśya yathāvidhi
For the sake of the success of all rites the wise man should do this at the outset. Then, having washed his hands and the rest and touched (water) according to rule,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.35
तिर्यक्त्रिपुण्ड्रं विधिना ललाटे हृदये गले । पञ्चभिर्ब्रह्मभिर्वापि कृतेन भसितेन च
tiryaktripuṇḍraṃ vidhinā lalāṭe hṛdaye gale | pañcabhirbrahmabhirvāpi kṛtena bhasitena ca
(he should make) the transverse tripuṇḍra according to rule on the forehead, the heart and the throat, or else with the five brahma-mantras, with the ash so prepared.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.36
घृतमेतत्त्रिपुण्ड्रं स्यात्सर्वकर्मसु पावनम् । शूद्रैरन्त्यजहस्तस्थं न धार्यं भस्म च क्वचित्
ghṛtametattripuṇḍraṃ syātsarvakarmasu pāvanam | śūdrairantyajahastasthaṃ na dhāryaṃ bhasma ca kvacit
This tripuṇḍra, when applied, is purifying in all rites; but ash that is in the hand of śūdras or outcastes should never be worn.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 12.37
भस्मना साग्निहोत्रेण लिप्तः कर्म समाचरेत् । अन्यथा सर्वकर्माणि न फलन्ति कदाचन
bhasmanā sāgnihotreṇa liptaḥ karma samācaret | anyathā sarvakarmāṇi na phalanti kadācana
Smeared with the ash that comes from the agnihotra, he should perform the rite; otherwise all rites never bear fruit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.38
सत्यं शौचं जपो होमस्तीर्थं देवादिपूजनम् । तस्य व्यर्थमिदं सर्वं यस्त्रिपुण्ड्रं न धारयेत्
satyaṃ śaucaṃ japo homastīrthaṃ devādipūjanam | tasya vyarthamidaṃ sarvaṃ yastripuṇḍraṃ na dhārayet
Truth, purity, muttered prayer, oblation, pilgrimage, worship of the gods and the rest — all this is futile for him who does not wear the tripuṇḍra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.39
त्रिपुण्ड्रधृग्विप्रवरो यो रुद्राक्षधरः शुचिः । स हन्ति रोगदुरितव्याधिदुर्भिक्षतस्करान्
tripuṇḍradhṛgvipravaro yo rudrākṣadharaḥ śuciḥ | sa hanti rogaduritavyādhidurbhikṣataskarān
The best of brahmins who wears the tripuṇḍra, who wears rudrākṣas and is pure — he destroys diseases, evils, ailments, famines and thieves.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.40
समाप्नोति परं ब्रह्म यतो नावर्तते पुनः । स पङ्क्तिपावनः श्राद्धे पूज्यो विप्रैः सुरैरपि
samāpnoti paraṃ brahma yato nāvartate punaḥ | sa paṅktipāvanaḥ śrāddhe pūjyo vipraiḥ surairapi
He attains the supreme Brahman, from which one does not return again; he is a purifier of the row (of diners) at a śrāddha, to be honoured by brahmins and even by the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 12.41
श्राद्धे यज्ञे जपे होमे वैश्वदेवे सुरार्चने । धृतत्रिपुण्ड्रः पूतात्मा मृत्युं जयति मानवः । भस्मधारणमाहात्म्यं भूयोऽपि कथयामि ते
śrāddhe yajñe jape home vaiśvadeve surārcane | dhṛtatripuṇḍraḥ pūtātmā mṛtyuṃ jayati mānavaḥ | bhasmadhāraṇamāhātmyaṃ bhūyo'pi kathayāmi te
At a śrāddha, a sacrifice, a muttered prayer, an oblation, the vaiśvadeva rite, the worship of the gods — the man who wears the tripuṇḍra, his self purified, conquers death. I shall tell you yet again the greatness of wearing ashes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition