शम्यस्वत्थपलाशान्वावटारम्वधबिल्वकान् शिवाग्निनादहेच्छुद्धंतद्वैभस्म शिवाग्निजम्
Ashes produced from burning the wood of the shami, asvattha, palasha, audumbara, vata, bilva, and similar trees in the sacred fire of Shiva, after purification, are indeed called bhasma, born from Shiva's fire.
दर्भाग्नौ वादहेत्काष्ठंशिवमंत्रंसमुच्चरन् सम्यक्संशोध्यवस्त्रेणनवकुंभेनिधापयेत्
Or, by burning darbha grass or other suitable wood in fire, while reciting the Shiva mantra, and properly purifying it with a clean cloth, one should place the fresh ashes in a new vessel.
दीप्त्यर्थं तत्तु संग्राह्यं मन्यते पूज्यतेपि च भस्मशब्दार्थ एवं हि शिवःपूर्वंतथा ऽकरोत्
For the sake of brilliance, that (ash) should be collected and is considered worthy of worship; this is the meaning of the word 'bhasma,' for Shiva himself formerly did thus.
यथास्वविषयेराजासारंगृह्णातियत्करम् यथामनुष्याःसस्यादीन्दग्ध्वासारंभजंतिवै
Just as a king in his own domain takes the essence that is useful to him, and as people, after burning grains and the like, partake of the best part,
यथाहिजाठराग्निश्चभक्ष्यादीन्विविधान्बहून् दग्ध्वासारतरंसारात्स्वदेहंपरिपुष्यति
Just as the digestive fire in the belly, after burning up many and various foods, nourishes its own body with the finest essence from them,
तथाप्रपञ्चकर्तापिसशिवःपरमेश्वरः स्वाधिष्ठेयप्रपञ्चस्यदग्ध्वासारंगृहीतवान्
So too, the creator of the universe, Shiva, the Supreme Lord, after burning up the essence of the manifest world under his own control, has taken up that essence.
दग्ध्वाप्रपञ्चंतद्भस्मस्वात्मन्यारोपयच्छिवः उद्धूलनेनव्याजेन जगत्सारं गृहीतवान्
Having burned the universe, Shiva placed that ash upon himself; under the pretext of smearing, he has taken up the essence of the world.
स्वरत्नंस्थापयामास स्वकीयेहिशरीरके केशमाकाशसारेणवायुसारेणवैमुखम्
He established his own jewel (essence) in his body: his hair with the essence of space, his face with the essence of wind, turned away (from the world).
हृदयंचाग्निसारेणत्वपांसारेणवैकटिम् जानुचावनिसारेणतद्वत्सर्वं तदंगकम्
His heart with the essence of fire, his skin with the essence of earth, his knees with the essence of water; thus, all his limbs likewise.
ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोश्चरुद्राणांसारंचैवत्रिपुंड्रकम् तथातिलकरूपेणललाटान्तेमहेश्वरः
The essence of Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra is the tripundra; likewise, as a mark upon the forehead, Maheshvara (the Great Lord) wears it.
भवृद्ध्यासर्वमेतद्धिमन्यतेस्वयमैत्यसौ प्रपञ्चसारसर्वस्वमनेनैववशीकृतम्
He himself considers all this as his own expansion; thus, the entire essence of the universe is subdued by him through this.
तस्मादस्यवशीकर्तानास्तीतिसशिवःस्मृतः यथासर्वमृगाणांचहिंसकोमृगहिंसकः
Therefore, he is called the subduer of all, just as among all animals, the lion is called the subduer of beasts.
अस्यहिंसामृगोनास्तिततस्मात्सिंह इतीरितः शं नित्यंसुखमानंदमिकारः पुरुषः स्मृतः
Because there is no beast that does not fear him, he is called the lion; 'sha' always means happiness and bliss, and 'ma' is known as the person (purusha).
वकारः शक्तिरमृतंमेलनंशिव उच्यते तस्मादेवंस्वमात्मानं शिवंकृत्वार्चयेच्छिवम्
'Va' is said to be Shakti, immortality, and union; thus, one should worship Shiva by making one's own self Shiva in this way.
तस्मादुद्धूलनंपूर्वं त्रिपुंड्रंधारयेत्परम् पूजाकालेहिसजलंशुद्ध्यर्थंनिर्जलंभवेत्
Therefore, before smearing (the ash), one should wear the tripundra in the highest manner; at the time of worship, with water for purification, or without water.
दिवावा यदिवारात्रौनारीवाथनरोपिवा पूजार्थंसजलंभस्मत्रिपुंड्रेणैवधारयेत्
Whether by day or night, whether woman or man, for the purpose of worship, one should wear the tripundra of bhasma with water.
त्रिपुंड्रंसजलंभस्मधृत्वापूजांकरोतियः शिवपूजांफलंसांगंतस्यैवहिसुनिश्चितम्
Whoever, having worn the tripundra of bhasma with water, performs worship, certainly attains the complete fruit of Shiva worship.
भस्मवैशिवमंत्रेणधृत्वाह्यत्याश्रमीभवेत् शिवाश्रमीतिसंप्रोक्तः शिवैकपरमोयतः
Having worn the bhasma with the Shiva mantra, one becomes truly an ascetic; he is called a follower of Shiva, for he is devoted solely to Shiva.
शिवव्रतैकनिष्ठस्यनाशौचंनचसूतकम् ललाटे ऽग्रेसितंभस्मतिलकंधारयेन्मृदा
One devoted solely to the Shiva vow need not observe impurity or birth pollution; he should wear a mark of sacred ash on his forehead, applied with earth.
स्वहस्ताद्गुरुहस्ताद्वाशिवभक्तस्यलक्षणम् गुणान्रुंध इति प्रोक्तोगुरुशब्दस्यविग्रहः
Whether applied by his own hand or by the hand of his guru, this is the sign of a Shiva devotee; it is said to restrain qualities, and this is the meaning of the word 'guru.'
सविकारान्राजसादीन्गुणान्रुंधेव्यपोहति गुणातीतः परशिवोगुरुरूपंसमाश्रितः
He removes and dispels qualities such as passion and others; transcending qualities, Supreme Shiva is assumed in the form of the guru.
गुणत्रयंव्यपोह्याग्रेशिवंबोधयतीतिसः विश्वस्तानांतुशिष्याणांगुरुरित्यभिधीयते
Having dispelled the three qualities, he first awakens Shiva; therefore, for those disciples who trust him, he is called 'guru.'
तस्माद्गुरुशरीरंतुगुरुलिंगंभवेद्बुधः गुरुलिंगस्यपूजातुगुरुशुश्रूषणं भवेत्
Therefore, the wise recognize the guru's body as the guru's linga; service to the guru is worship of the guru's linga.
श्रुतंकरोतिशुश्रूषाकायेनमनसागिरा उक्तं यद्गुरुणापूर्वं शक्यंवा ऽशक्यमेववा
He listens and serves, with body, mind, and speech, whatever the guru has previously spoken, whether possible or impossible.
करोत्येवहिपूतात्माप्राणैरपिधनैरपि तस्माद्वैशासनेयोग्यः शिष्य इत्यभिधीयते
Indeed, the pure-minded one accomplishes it, even with his life-breath and wealth; therefore, he is called a disciple fit for initiation.
शरीराद्यर्थकंसर्वंगुरोर्दत्त्वासुशिष्यकः अग्रपाकंनिवेद्याग्रेभुंजीयाद्गुर्वनुज्ञया
Having given all things, beginning with his body, to the guru, the good disciple, after offering the first portion, may eat with the guru's permission.
शिष्यःपुत्र इति प्रोक्तः सदाशिष्यत्वयोगतः जिह्वालिंगान्मंत्रशुक्रंकर्णयोनौनिषिच्यवै
The disciple is called a son, always due to the connection of discipleship; the tongue, linga, mantra, semen, ear, and womb are consecrated.
जातःपुत्रोमंत्रपुत्रःपितरंपूजयेद्गुरुम् निमज्जयतिपुत्रंवैसंसारेजनकःपिता
Born as a son, the mantra-born son should worship the guru as father; the father immerses the son in worldly existence.
संतारयतिसंसाराद्गुरुर्वैबोधकः पिता उभयोरंतरंज्ञात्वापितरंगुरुमर्चयेत्
The guru, as awakener, leads him across worldly existence; knowing the difference between the two, one should worship the guru as father.
अंगशुश्रूषयाचापि धनाद्यैः स्वार्जितैर्गुरुम् पादादिकेशपर्यंतंलिंगान्यंगानियद्गुरोः
One should serve the guru's limbs with wealth and other possessions acquired by oneself, from feet to hair, whatever limbs and parts belong to the guru.