Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 11 — Chapter 13
DB 11 13.1
त्रिपुण्डधारणमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच महापातकसङ्घाश्च पातकान्यपराण्यपि । नश्यन्ति मुनिशार्दूल सत्यं सत्यं न चान्यथा
tripuṇḍadhāraṇamāhātmyavarṇanam śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca mahāpātakasaṅghāśca pātakānyaparāṇyapi | naśyanti muniśārdūla satyaṃ satyaṃ na cānyathā
Description of the greatness of wearing the tripuṇḍra. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The whole mass of great sins, and other sins as well, perish, O tiger among sages — this is true, true, and not otherwise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.2
एकं भस्म धृतं येन तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु । यतीनां ज्ञानदं प्रोक्तं वानस्थानां विरक्तिदम्
ekaṃ bhasma dhṛtaṃ yena tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu | yatīnāṃ jñānadaṃ proktaṃ vānasthānāṃ viraktidam
Hear the fruit of merit of him by whom ash has once been worn: for ascetics it is said to give knowledge, for forest-dwellers to give detachment,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.3
गृहस्थानां मुने तद्वद्धर्मवृद्धिकरं तथा । ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमस्थानां स्वाध्यायप्रदमेव च
gṛhasthānāṃ mune tadvaddharmavṛddhikaraṃ tathā | brahmacaryāśramasthānāṃ svādhyāyapradameva ca
For householders, O sage, it likewise brings increase of dharma; and for those in the stage of studentship it grants (success in) Vedic recitation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.4
शूद्राणां पुण्यदं नित्यमन्येषां पापनाशनम् । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
śūdrāṇāṃ puṇyadaṃ nityamanyeṣāṃ pāpanāśanam | bhasmanoddhūlanaṃ caiva tathā tiryak tripuṇḍrakam
For śūdras it always gives merit, and for the rest it destroys sin — the smearing with ash and likewise the horizontal three-lined mark.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.5
रक्षार्थं सर्वभूतानां विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
rakṣārthaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ vidhatte vaidikī śrutiḥ | bhasmanoddhūlanaṃ caiva tathā tiryak tripuṇḍrakam
For the protection of all beings the Vedic scripture prescribes it: the smearing with ash and likewise the horizontal three-lined mark.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.6
यज्ञत्वेनैव सर्वेषां विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
yajñatvenaiva sarveṣāṃ vidhatte vaidikī śrutiḥ | bhasmanoddhūlanaṃ caiva tathā tiryak tripuṇḍrakam
As being itself a sacrifice for all, the Vedic scripture prescribes it: the smearing with ash and likewise the horizontal three-lined mark.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.7
सर्वधर्मतया तेषां विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
sarvadharmatayā teṣāṃ vidhatte vaidikī śrutiḥ | bhasmanoddhūlanaṃ caiva tathā tiryak tripuṇḍrakam
As the whole of dharma for them, the Vedic scripture prescribes it: the smearing with ash and likewise the horizontal three-lined mark.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.8
माहेश्वराणां लिङ्गार्थं विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
māheśvarāṇāṃ liṅgārthaṃ vidhatte vaidikī śrutiḥ | bhasmanoddhūlanaṃ caiva tathā tiryak tripuṇḍrakam
For the devotees of Maheśvara, as (the sign) marking them (as Śiva's), the Vedic scripture prescribes it: the smearing with ash and likewise the horizontal three-lined mark.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 13.9
विज्ञानार्थं च सर्वेषां विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । शिवेन विष्णुना चैव ब्रह्मणा वज्रिणा तथा
vijñānārthaṃ ca sarveṣāṃ vidhatte vaidikī śrutiḥ | śivena viṣṇunā caiva brahmaṇā vajriṇā tathā
And for the sake of the higher knowledge of all, the Vedic scripture prescribes it. By Śiva, by Viṣṇu, by Brahmā and by the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.10
हिरण्यगर्भेण तदवतारैर्वरुणादिभिः । देवताभिर्धृतं भस्म त्रिपुण्ड्रोद्धूलनात्मकम्
hiraṇyagarbheṇa tadavatārairvaruṇādibhiḥ | devatābhirdhṛtaṃ bhasma tripuṇḍroddhūlanātmakam
by Hiraṇyagarbha, by his incarnations, by Varuṇa and the rest — by (all) the deities the ash has been worn, in the form of the three-lined mark and the smearing.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.11
उमादेव्या च लक्ष्या च वाचा चान्याभिरास्तिकैः । सर्वस्त्रीभिर्धृतं भस्म त्रिपुण्ड्रोद्धूलनात्मना
umādevyā ca lakṣyā ca vācā cānyābhirāstikaiḥ | sarvastrībhirdhṛtaṃ bhasma tripuṇḍroddhūlanātmanā
By the goddess Umā, by Lakṣmī, by Vāc and by the other (goddesses), and by the faithful — by all women the ash has been worn in the form of the three-lined mark and the smearing.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.12
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वसिद्धविद्याधरादिभिः । मुनिभिश्च धृतं भस्म त्रिपुण्ड्रोद्धूलनात्मना
yakṣarākṣasagandharvasiddhavidyādharādibhiḥ | munibhiśca dhṛtaṃ bhasma tripuṇḍroddhūlanātmanā
By yakṣas, rākṣasas, gandharvas, siddhas, vidyādharas and the rest, and by the sages, the ash has been worn in the form of the three-lined mark and the smearing.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.13
ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः शूद्रेरपि च सङ्करैः । अपभ्रंशैर्धृतं भस्म त्रिपुण्ड्रोद्धूलनात्मना त्रिपुण्डधारणमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः
brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyairvaiśyaiḥ śūdrerapi ca saṅkaraiḥ | apabhraṃśairdhṛtaṃ bhasma tripuṇḍroddhūlanātmanā tripuṇḍadhāraṇamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma trayodaśo'dhyāyaḥ
By brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and even śūdras, and by those of mixed birth and the degraded, the ash has been worn in the form of the three-lined mark and the smearing. (Here ends) the thirteenth chapter, called the description of the greatness of wearing the three-lined mark.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.14
उद्धूलनं त्रिपुण्ड्रं च यैः समाचरितं मुदा । त एव शिष्टा विद्वांसो नेतरे मुनिपुङ्गव
uddhūlanaṃ tripuṇḍraṃ ca yaiḥ samācaritaṃ mudā | ta eva śiṣṭā vidvāṃso netare munipuṅgava
Those who have joyfully practised the smearing (with ash) and the three-lined mark — they alone are the cultured and the learned, not others, O foremost of sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.15
शिवलिङ्गं मणिः सख्यं मन्त्रः पञ्चाक्षरस्तथा । विभूतिरौषधं पुंसां मुक्तिस्त्रीवश्यकर्मणि
śivaliṅgaṃ maṇiḥ sakhyaṃ mantraḥ pañcākṣarastathā | vibhūtirauṣadhaṃ puṃsāṃ muktistrīvaśyakarmaṇi
The Śiva-liṅga, the (rudrākṣa) bead, friendship (with devotees), the five-syllabled mantra, and the sacred ash: these are the medicine for men in the work of gaining liberation and of winning over women.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 13.16
भुनक्ति यत्र भस्माङ्गो मूर्खो वा पण्डितोऽपि वा । तत्र भुङ्क्ते महादेवः सपत्नीको वृषध्वजः
bhunakti yatra bhasmāṅgo mūrkho vā paṇḍito'pi vā | tatra bhuṅkte mahādevaḥ sapatnīko vṛṣadhvajaḥ
Wherever one whose body is smeared with ash eats — whether he be a fool or a learned man — there Mahādeva, the bull-bannered one, eats together with his consort.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.17
भस्मसञ्छन्नसर्वाङ्गमनुगच्छति यः पुमान् । सर्वपातकयुक्तोऽपि पूजितो मानवोऽचिरात्
bhasmasañchannasarvāṅgamanugacchati yaḥ pumān | sarvapātakayukto'pi pūjito mānavo'cirāt
The man who follows one all of whose limbs are covered with ash, even though joined with all the great sins, is soon honoured.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.18
भस्मसञ्छन्नसर्वाङ्गं यः स्तौति श्रद्धया सह । सर्वपातकयुक्तोऽपि पूज्यते मानवोऽचिरात्
bhasmasañchannasarvāṅgaṃ yaḥ stauti śraddhayā saha | sarvapātakayukto'pi pūjyate mānavo'cirāt
He who praises with faith one all of whose limbs are covered with ash, even though joined with all the great sins, that man is soon honoured.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.19
त्रिपुण्ड्रधारिणे भिक्षाप्रदानेन हि केवलम् । तेनाधीतं श्रुतं तेन तेन सर्वमनुष्ठितम्
tripuṇḍradhāriṇe bhikṣāpradānena hi kevalam | tenādhītaṃ śrutaṃ tena tena sarvamanuṣṭhitam
Merely by giving alms to one who wears the three-lined mark, by that (act) he has studied, by that he has heard (the Veda), by that he has performed everything.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.20
येन विप्रेण शिरसि त्रिपुण्ड्रं भस्मना कृतम् । कीकटेष्वपि देशेषु यत्र भूतिविभूषणः
yena vipreṇa śirasi tripuṇḍraṃ bhasmanā kṛtam | kīkaṭeṣvapi deśeṣu yatra bhūtivibhūṣaṇaḥ
The brahmin by whom the three-lined mark has been made on the head with ash — even in the Kīkaṭa lands, wherever that one adorned with sacred ash
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.21
मानवस्तु वसेन्नित्यं काशीक्षेत्रसमं हि तत् । दुःशीलः शीलयुक्तो वा योगयुक्तोऽप्यलक्षणः
mānavastu vasennityaṃ kāśīkṣetrasamaṃ hi tat | duḥśīlaḥ śīlayukto vā yogayukto'pyalakṣaṇaḥ
as a man dwells constantly, that (place) is indeed equal to the holy field of Kāśī. Whether ill-behaved or of good conduct, whether joined to yoga or without (auspicious) marks,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.22
भूतिशासनयुक्तो वा स पूज्यो मम पुत्रवत् । छद्मनापि चरेद्यो हि भूतिशासनमैश्वरम्
bhūtiśāsanayukto vā sa pūjyo mama putravat | chadmanāpi caredyo hi bhūtiśāsanamaiśvaram
if he is furnished with the discipline of the sacred ash, he is to be honoured by me like a son. For even he who practises the Lord's rule of the sacred ash out of pretence —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.23
सोऽपि यां गतिमाप्नोति न तां यज्ञशतैरपि । सम्पर्काल्लीलया वापि भयाद्वा धारयेत्तु यः
so'pi yāṃ gatimāpnoti na tāṃ yajñaśatairapi | samparkāllīlayā vāpi bhayādvā dhārayettu yaḥ
Even he attains a goal that is not (won) even by hundreds of sacrifices; and whoever should wear (the ash), whether by mere contact, in sport, or out of fear —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.24
विधियुक्तो विभूतिं तु स च पूज्यो यथा ह्यहम् । शिवस्य विष्णोर्देवानां ब्रह्मणस्तृप्तिकारणम्
vidhiyukto vibhūtiṃ tu sa ca pūjyo yathā hyaham | śivasya viṣṇordevānāṃ brahmaṇastṛptikāraṇam
But he who wears the sacred ash according to the prescribed rite is to be honoured just as I am; (it is) the cause of the satisfaction of Śiva, of Viṣṇu, of the gods, of Brahmā,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.25
पार्वत्याश्च महालक्ष्या भारत्यास्तृप्तिकारणम् । न दानेन न यज्ञेन न तपोभिः सुदुर्लभैः
pārvatyāśca mahālakṣyā bhāratyāstṛptikāraṇam | na dānena na yajñena na tapobhiḥ sudurlabhaiḥ
and the cause of the satisfaction of Pārvatī, of Mahālakṣmī, of Bhāratī. Not by giving, not by sacrifice, not by austerities most hard to perform,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.26
न तीर्थयात्रया पुण्यं त्रिपुण्ड्रेण च लभ्यते । दानं यज्ञाश्च धर्माश्च तीर्थयात्राश्च नारद
na tīrthayātrayā puṇyaṃ tripuṇḍreṇa ca labhyate | dānaṃ yajñāśca dharmāśca tīrthayātrāśca nārada
not by pilgrimage is the merit obtained that is obtained by the tripuṇḍra. Gifts, sacrifices, religious duties and pilgrimages, O Nārada,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.27
ध्यानं तपस्त्रिपुण्ड्रस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् । यथा राजा स्वचिह्नाङ्कं स्वजनं मन्यते सदा
dhyānaṃ tapastripuṇḍrasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm | yathā rājā svacihnāṅkaṃ svajanaṃ manyate sadā
meditation and austerity, do not amount to a sixteenth part of the tripuṇḍra. As a king always regards one bearing his own mark as one of his own people,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.28
तथा शिवस्त्रिपुण्ड्राङ्कं स्वकीयमिव मन्यते । द्विजातिर्वान्यजातिर्वा शुद्धचित्तेन भस्मना
tathā śivastripuṇḍrāṅkaṃ svakīyamiva manyate | dvijātirvānyajātirvā śuddhacittena bhasmanā
so Śiva regards one marked with the tripuṇḍra as his very own. Whether twice-born or of another birth, (whoever) with a pure mind, with ash,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.29
धारयेद्यस्त्रिपुण्ड्राङ्कं रुद्रस्तेन वशीकृतः । त्यक्तसर्वाश्रमाचारो लुप्तसर्वक्रियोऽपि सः
dhārayedyastripuṇḍrāṅkaṃ rudrastena vaśīkṛtaḥ | tyaktasarvāśramācāro luptasarvakriyo'pi saḥ
should wear the mark of the tripuṇḍra — by him Rudra is brought under control. Even one who has abandoned all the observances of the (four) stages of life, in whom all rites have lapsed,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.30
सकृत्तिर्यक्त्रिपुण्ड्राङ्कं धारयेत्सोऽपि मुच्यते । नास्य ज्ञानं परीक्षेत न कुलं न व्रतं तथा
sakṛttiryaktripuṇḍrāṅkaṃ dhārayetso'pi mucyate | nāsya jñānaṃ parīkṣeta na kulaṃ na vrataṃ tathā
if he should wear the tripuṇḍra mark even once, crosswise, he too is released. One should not examine his knowledge, nor his family, nor likewise his vow:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.31
त्रिपुण्ड्राङ्कितभालेन पूज्य एव हि नारद । शिवमन्त्रात्परो मन्त्रो नास्ति तुल्यं शिवात्परम्
tripuṇḍrāṅkitabhālena pūjya eva hi nārada | śivamantrātparo mantro nāsti tulyaṃ śivātparam
one whose forehead is marked with the tripuṇḍra is simply to be honoured, O Nārada. There is no mantra higher than Śiva's mantra, nothing equal to what is higher than Śiva;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.32
शिवार्चनात्परं पुण्यं न हि तीर्थं च भस्मना । रुद्राग्नेर्यत्परं तीर्थं तद्भस्म परिकीर्तितम्
śivārcanātparaṃ puṇyaṃ na hi tīrthaṃ ca bhasmanā | rudrāgneryatparaṃ tīrthaṃ tadbhasma parikīrtitam
there is no merit higher than the worship of Śiva, and no holy ford comparable to ash. That holy ford which is higher (than all others) is Rudra's fire; that (fire's) ash is (thus) proclaimed (a holy ford),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 13.33
ध्वंसनं सर्वदुःखानां सर्वपापविशोधनम् । अन्त्यजो वाधमो वापि मूर्खो वा पण्डितोऽपि वा
dhvaṃsanaṃ sarvaduḥkhānāṃ sarvapāpaviśodhanam | antyajo vādhamo vāpi mūrkho vā paṇḍito'pi vā
the destruction of all sorrows, the cleansing away of all sins. Whether one born last (in the social order) or a low man, whether a fool or even a learned man —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.34
यस्मिन्देशे वसेन्नित्यं भूतिशासनसंयुतः । तस्मिन्सदाशिवः सोमः सर्वभूतगणैर्वृतः । सर्वतीर्थेश्च संयुक्तः सान्निध्यं कुरुते सदा
yasmindeśe vasennityaṃ bhūtiśāsanasaṃyutaḥ | tasminsadāśivaḥ somaḥ sarvabhūtagaṇairvṛtaḥ | sarvatīrtheśca saṃyuktaḥ sānnidhyaṃ kurute sadā
in whatever place he dwells constantly, provided with the sacred ash, in that place Sadāśiva, together with Umā, surrounded by all the hosts of spirits, and joined with all the holy fords, always makes his presence felt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 13.35
एतानि पञ्चशिवमन्त्रपवित्रितानि भस्मानि कामदहनाङ्गविभूषितानि । त्रैपुण्ड्रकाणि रचितानि ललाटपट्टे लुम्पन्ति दैवलिखितानि दुरक्षराणि
etāni pañcaśivamantrapavitritāni bhasmāni kāmadahanāṅgavibhūṣitāni | traipuṇḍrakāṇi racitāni lalāṭapaṭṭe lumpanti daivalikhitāni durakṣarāṇi
These ashes, purified by the five Śiva mantras, adorning the body of the burner of Kāma, made into tripuṇḍras drawn on the tablet of the forehead, wipe out the evil letters written by fate.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition