ईशानेन तु मन्त्रेण स्वमूर्धनि विनिक्षिपेत् । तत आदाय तद्भस्म मुखे च पुरुषेण तु
With the īśāna mantra, one should place the ash upon one's own head; then, taking that ash, a person should apply it to the mouth.
अघोराख्येण हृदये गुह्ये वामाह्वयेन च । सद्योजाताभिधानेन भस्म पादद्वये क्षिपेत्
With the aghora mantra on the heart, in the secret place with the vāmāhvaya mantra, and with the sadyojāta mantra, one should apply ash to both feet.
सर्वाङ्गं प्रणवेनैव मन्त्रेणोद्धूलनं ततः । एतदाग्नेयकं स्नानमुदितं परमर्षिभिः
For the whole body, with the praṇava mantra, one should sprinkle; this is the agneyaka bath as declared by the supreme sages.
सर्वकर्मसमृद्ध्यर्थं कुर्यादादाविदं बुधः । ततः प्रक्षाल्य हस्तादीनुपस्पृश्य यथाविधि
For the fulfillment of all actions, the wise should perform this as instructed; then, washing the hands and others, touching water as prescribed.
तिर्यक्त्रिपुण्ड्रं विधिना ललाटे हृदये गले । पञ्चभिर्ब्रह्मभिर्वापि कृतेन भसितेन च
The transverse tripuṇḍra, according to the rule, should be made on the forehead, heart, and neck, with ash made by the five Brahma mantras.
घृतमेतत्त्रिपुण्ड्रं स्यात्सर्वकर्मसु पावनम् । शूद्रैरन्त्यजहस्तस्थं न धार्यं भस्म च क्वचित्
This tripuṇḍra is purifying for all actions; ash held by Śūdras or those of lowest birth should never be worn anywhere.
भस्मना साग्निहोत्रेण लिप्तः कर्म समाचरेत् । अन्यथा सर्वकर्माणि न फलन्ति कदाचन
One should perform actions smeared with ash from the agnihotra; otherwise, all actions never bear fruit.
सत्यं शौचं जपो होमस्तीर्थं देवादिपूजनम् । तस्य व्यर्थमिदं सर्वं यस्त्रिपुण्ड्रं न धारयेत्
Truth, purity, recitation, oblation, pilgrimage, worship of gods and others—all these are futile for him who does not wear tripuṇḍra.
त्रिपुण्ड्रधृग्विप्रवरो यो रुद्राक्षधरः शुचिः । स हन्ति रोगदुरितव्याधिदुर्भिक्षतस्करान्
The excellent Brāhmaṇa who wears tripuṇḍra, Rudrākṣa, and is pure, destroys disease, misfortune, ailments, famine, and thieves.
समाप्नोति परं ब्रह्म यतो नावर्तते पुनः । स पङ्क्तिपावनः श्राद्धे पूज्यो विप्रैः सुरैरपि
He attains the supreme Brahman, from which there is no return; he purifies the line at śrāddha and is worthy of worship by Brāhmaṇas and even gods.
श्राद्धे यज्ञे जपे होमे वैश्वदेवे सुरार्चने । धृतत्रिपुण्ड्रः पूतात्मा मृत्युं जयति मानवः । भस्मधारणमाहात्म्यं भूयोऽपि कथयामि ते
At śrāddha, sacrifice, recitation, oblation, vaiśvadeva, and worship of gods, the one who wears tripuṇḍra, whose soul is pure, conquers death; I will again tell you the greatness of wearing ash.
त्रिपुण्डधारणमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच महापातकसङ्घाश्च पातकान्यपराण्यपि । नश्यन्ति मुनिशार्दूल सत्यं सत्यं न चान्यथा
The greatness of wearing tripuṇḍra described. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Even the groups of great sins and other transgressions are destroyed, O tiger among sages; truly, truly, it is never otherwise.
एकं भस्म धृतं येन तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु । यतीनां ज्ञानदं प्रोक्तं वानस्थानां विरक्तिदम्
Hear the merit gained by one who wears a single mark of ash; it is said to grant knowledge to ascetics and detachment to forest-dwellers.
गृहस्थानां मुने तद्वद्धर्मवृद्धिकरं तथा । ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमस्थानां स्वाध्यायप्रदमेव च
O sage, for householders it likewise increases righteousness, and for those in the stage of celibacy, it bestows the fruit of study.
शूद्राणां पुण्यदं नित्यमन्येषां पापनाशनम् । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
For Shudras it always brings merit, and for others it destroys sin; the application of ash and the horizontal tripundra likewise.
रक्षार्थं सर्वभूतानां विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
For the protection of all beings, the Vedic scripture prescribes the application of ash and the horizontal tripundra likewise.
यज्ञत्वेनैव सर्वेषां विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
The Vedic scripture prescribes it for all as a sacrifice: the application of ash and the horizontal tripundra likewise.
सर्वधर्मतया तेषां विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
The Vedic scripture prescribes it for them as the essence of all dharma: the application of ash and the horizontal tripundra likewise.
माहेश्वराणां लिङ्गार्थं विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । भस्मनोद्धूलनं चैव तथा तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
For followers of Maheshvara, the Vedic scripture prescribes it for the sake of the linga: the application of ash and the horizontal tripundra likewise.
विज्ञानार्थं च सर्वेषां विधत्ते वैदिकी श्रुतिः । शिवेन विष्णुना चैव ब्रह्मणा वज्रिणा तथा
For the sake of knowledge, the Vedic scripture prescribes it for all: by Shiva, by Vishnu, by Brahma, and by Indra as well.
हिरण्यगर्भेण तदवतारैर्वरुणादिभिः । देवताभिर्धृतं भस्म त्रिपुण्ड्रोद्धूलनात्मकम्
By Hiranyagarbha, by his incarnations, by Varuna and others, by the deities, ash is worn in the form of the tripundra application.
उमादेव्या च लक्ष्या च वाचा चान्याभिरास्तिकैः । सर्वस्त्रीभिर्धृतं भस्म त्रिपुण्ड्रोद्धूलनात्मना
By Uma Devi, by Lakshmi, by Sarasvati, and by other goddesses, by all women, ash is worn in the form of the tripundra application.
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वसिद्धविद्याधरादिभिः । मुनिभिश्च धृतं भस्म त्रिपुण्ड्रोद्धूलनात्मना
By yakshas, rakshasas, gandharvas, siddhas, vidyadharas, and others, and by sages, ash is worn in the form of the tripundra application.
ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः शूद्रेरपि च सङ्करैः । अपभ्रंशैर्धृतं भस्म त्रिपुण्ड्रोद्धूलनात्मना
By Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and mixed castes, by those of corrupted speech, ash is worn in the form of the tripundra application.
उद्धूलनं त्रिपुण्ड्रं च यैः समाचरितं मुदा । त एव शिष्टा विद्वांसो नेतरे मुनिपुङ्गव
Those who joyfully practice the application and tripundra are the true, learned ones; not others, O best of sages.
शिवलिङ्गं मणिः सख्यं मन्त्रः पञ्चाक्षरस्तथा । विभूतिरौषधं पुंसां मुक्तिस्त्रीवश्यकर्मणि
The Shiva linga, the jewel, friendship, the five-syllable mantra, and vibhuti are medicines for men in the rites of liberation and mastery over women.
भुनक्ति यत्र भस्माङ्गो मूर्खो वा पण्डितोऽपि वा । तत्र भुङ्क्ते महादेवः सपत्नीको वृषध्वजः
Where one with ash upon his body eats, whether foolish or learned, there Mahadeva, the bull-bannered, eats with his consort.
भस्मसञ्छन्नसर्वाङ्गमनुगच्छति यः पुमान् । सर्वपातकयुक्तोऽपि पूजितो मानवोऽचिरात्
Whoever covers his whole body with ash, even if burdened with all sins, is soon honored as a man.
भस्मसञ्छन्नसर्वाङ्गं यः स्तौति श्रद्धया सह । सर्वपातकयुक्तोऽपि पूज्यते मानवोऽचिरात्
Whoever, with faith, praises one whose whole body is covered with ash, even if burdened with all sins, is soon honored as a man.
त्रिपुण्ड्रधारिणे भिक्षाप्रदानेन हि केवलम् । तेनाधीतं श्रुतं तेन तेन सर्वमनुष्ठितम्
By giving alms to one who bears the tripundra, all that is studied, heard, and performed by him is accomplished.