The Glory of the Urdhva-Pundra

Verse 1 (padma.6.225.1)

शंकर उवाच- ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रस्य माहात्म्यं वक्ष्यामि शुभदर्शने । धारणादेव मुच्येत भवबंधाद्द्विजोत्तमः ।

śaṁkara uvāca ūrddhvapuṁḍrasya māhātṁyaṁ vakṣyāmi śubhadarśane dhāraṇādeva mucyeta bhavabaṁdhāddvijottamaḥ

Shankara said: I shall tell the glory of the Urdhva-pundra, O fair one; by wearing it alone, a twice-born is freed from the bondage of worldly existence.

Verse 2 (padma.6.225.2)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रस्य मध्ये तु विशाले सुमनोहरे । लक्ष्म्या सार्द्धं समासीनो देवदेवो जनार्दनः ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍrasya madhye tu viśāle sumanohare lakṣṁyā sārddhaṁ samāsīno devadevo janārdanaḥ

In the midst of the Urdhva-pundra, broad and beautiful, dwells, seated together with Lakshmi, the god of gods, Janardana.

Verse 3 (padma.6.225.3)

तस्माद्यस्य शरीरे तु ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं धृतो भवेत् । तस्यदेहं भगवतो विमलं मंदिरं शुभम् ।

tasmādyasya śarīre tu ūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ dhṛto bhavet tasyadehaṁ bhagavato vimalaṁ maṁdiraṁ śubham

Therefore, the body of one on whose form the Urdhva-pundra is worn becomes a spotless, auspicious temple of the Lord.

Verse 4 (padma.6.225.4)

स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षितः । धारयेदूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं यो मृदाशुभ्रेण वैष्णवः ।

sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu sarvayajṁeṣu dīkṣitaḥ dhārayedūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ yo mṛdāśubhreṇa vaiṣṇavaḥ

He has bathed in all sacred waters, been initiated into all sacrifices — that Vaishnava who wears the Urdhva-pundra in white clay.

Verse 5 (padma.6.225.5)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रधरो विप्रः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितः । विमानवरमारुह्य याति विष्णोः परं पदम् ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍradharo vipraḥ sarvalokeṣu pūjitaḥ vimānavaramāruhya yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam

A brahmin bearing the Urdhva-pundra is honored in all the worlds; mounting the finest celestial chariot, he goes to the supreme abode of Vishnu.

Verse 6 (padma.6.225.6)

धारयेदूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं तु त्रिसंध्यं तु द्विजोत्तमः । सर्वपापविशुद्ध्यर्थमिष्टापूर्तफलाप्तये ।

dhārayedūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ tu trisaṁdhyaṁ tu dvijottamaḥ sarvapāpaviśuddhyarthamiṣṭāpūrtaphalāptaye

The best of the twice-born should wear the Urdhva-pundra at the three daily junctures, for the purification of all sin and the attainment of the fruit of sacrifice and charitable works.

Verse 7 (padma.6.225.7)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रधरं दृष्ट्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । नमस्कृत्वाथवा भक्त्या सर्वदानफलं लभेत् ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍradharaṁ dṛṣṭvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate namaskṛtvāthavā bhaktyā sarvadānaphalaṁ labhet

Merely seeing a bearer of the Urdhva-pundra frees one from all sins; and bowing to him with devotion earns the fruit of every gift.

Verse 8 (padma.6.225.8)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रधरं विप्रं यः श्राद्धे भोजयिष्यति । आकल्पकोटिपितरस्तस्य तृप्ता न संशयः ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍradharaṁ vipraṁ yaḥ śrāddhe bhojayiṣyati ākalpakoṭipitarastasya tṛptā na saṁśayaḥ

Whoever feeds a brahmin bearing the Urdhva-pundra at a shraddha rite — his ancestors, for ten million kalpas, are satisfied, without doubt.

Verse 9 (padma.6.225.9)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रधरो यस्तु कुर्याछ्रांद्धं शुभानने । कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि गयाश्राद्धफलं लभेत् ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍradharo yastu kuryāchrāṁddhaṁ śubhānane kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi gayāśrāddhaphalaṁ labhet

And whoever, bearing the Urdhva-pundra, himself performs a shraddha, O fair-faced one, obtains for thousands of ten millions of kalpas the fruit of a shraddha performed at Gaya.

Verse 10 (padma.6.225.10)

यज्ञदानतपश्चर्या जपहोमादिकं च यत् । ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रधरः कुर्यात्तस्य पुण्यमनंतकम् ।

yajṁadānatapaścaryā japahomādikaṁ ca yat ūrddhvapuṁḍradharaḥ kuryāttasya puṁyamanaṁtakam

Whatever sacrifice, gift, austerity, japa, or fire-offering a bearer of the Urdhva-pundra performs — its merit becomes endless.

Verse 11 (padma.6.225.11)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रविहीनस्तु किंचित्कर्म करोति यः । इष्टापूर्तादिकं सर्वं निष्फलं स्यान्न संशयः ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍravihīnastu kiṁcitkarma karoti yaḥ iṣṭāpūrtādikaṁ sarvaṁ niṣphalaṁ syāṁna saṁśayaḥ

But whoever, lacking the Urdhva-pundra, performs any rite — all his sacrifice, charitable works and the like become fruitless, without doubt.

Verse 12 (padma.6.225.12)

यच्छरीरं मनुष्याणामूर्द्ध्वपुंड्र विवर्जितम् । द्रष्टव्यं नैव तत्किंचित्श्मशानसदृशं भवेत् ।

yaccharīraṁ manuṣyāṇāmūrddhvapuṁḍra vivarjitam draṣṭavyaṁ naiva tatkiṁcitśmaśānasadṛśaṁ bhavet

A human body devoid of the Urdhva-pundra should not even be looked upon; it becomes like a cremation ground.

Verse 13 (padma.6.225.13)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रविहीनस्तु सन्ध्याकर्मादिकं चरेत् । तत्सर्वं राक्षसैर्नीतं नरकं चावगच्छति ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍravihīnastu saṁdhyākarmādikaṁ caret tatsarvaṁ rākṣasairnītaṁ narakaṁ cāvagacchati

If one devoid of the Urdhva-pundra performs the twilight rites and the like, all of that is carried off by demons, and he goes to hell.

Verse 14 (padma.6.225.14)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रधरोद्विप्रो मृदाशुभ्रेण वैदिकः । न तिर्यग्धारयेद्विद्वानापद्यपि कदाचन ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍradharodvipro mṛdāśubhreṇa vaidikaḥ na tiryagdhārayedvidvānāpadyapi kadācana

A Vedic brahmin bearing the Urdhva-pundra in white clay, though wise, should never wear it horizontally, even in adversity.

Verse 15 (padma.6.225.15)

विप्राणामूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं स्यात्तिलकं तु महीभृतः । पट्टाकारं तु वैश्यानां शूद्राणां वै त्रिपुंड्रकम् ।

viprāṇāmūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ syāttilakaṁ tu mahībhṛtaḥ paṭṭākāraṁ tu vaiśyānāṁ śūdrāṇāṁ vai tripuṁḍrakam

For brahmins the mark is the Urdhva-pundra; for kings it is a tilaka; for vaishyas it is band-shaped; and for shudras it is the tripundra.

Verse 16 (padma.6.225.16)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं मृदा कार्यं कस्तूर्य्यास्तिलकं तथा । पट्टाकारं तु गंधेन भस्मनैव त्रिपुंड्रकम् ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ mṛdā kāryaṁ kastūryyāstilakaṁ tathā paṭṭākāraṁ tu gaṁdhena bhasmanaiva tripuṁḍrakam

The Urdhva-pundra should be made of clay; the tilaka of musk; the band-shape of sandal paste; and the tripundra of ash alone.

Verse 17 (padma.6.225.17)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं तु सर्वेषां न निषिद्धं कदाचन । धारयेत्क्षत्रियाद्योऽपि विष्णुभक्तो भवेद्यदि ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ tu sarveṣāṁ na niṣiddhaṁ kadācana dhārayetkṣatriyādyo'pi viṣṇubhakto bhavedyadi

The Urdhva-pundra, however, is never forbidden to anyone; even a kshatriya or other may wear it, if he is a devotee of Vishnu.

Verse 18 (padma.6.225.18)

विप्राणां नैव कार्य्यं स्यात्तिर्य्यक्पट्टादिधारणम् । नारायणात्परेशानादन्येषामर्चनं न तु ।

viprāṇāṁ naiva kāryyaṁ syāttiryyakpaṭṭādidhāraṇam nārāyaṇātpareśānādaṁyeṣāmarcanaṁ na tu

For brahmins the wearing of horizontal marks, bands, and the like should never be done; nor should worship be given to anyone other than the Supreme Lord Narayana.

Verse 19 (padma.6.225.19)

ब्राह्मणः कुलजो विद्वान्भस्मधारी भवेद्यदि । वर्जयेत्तादृशं देवि मद्योच्छिष्टं घटं यथा ।

brāhmaṇaḥ kulajo vidvāṁbhasmadhārī bhavedyadi varjayettādṛśaṁ devi madyocchiṣṭaṁ ghaṭaṁ yathā

If a well-born, learned brahmin should become a bearer of ash instead, one should avoid such a one, O goddess, as one would a pot soiled with the leavings of liquor.

Verse 20 (padma.6.225.20)

त्रिपुंड्रं शूद्रकल्पानां शूद्राणां च विधिस्तथा । त्रिपुंड्र धारणाद्विप्रः पतितः स्यान्न संशयः ।

tripuṁḍraṁ śūdrakalpānāṁ śūdrāṇāṁ ca vidhistathā tripuṁḍra dhāraṇādvipraḥ patitaḥ syāṁna saṁśayaḥ

The tripundra is the rule for those of shudra-like status and for shudras themselves; by wearing the tripundra a brahmin falls, without doubt.

Verse 21 (padma.6.225.21)

एकांतिनो महाभागाः सर्वभूतहिते रताः । सांतरालं प्रकुर्वीरन्पुंड्रं हरिपदाकृतिम् ।

ekāṁtino mahābhāgāḥ sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ sāṁtarālaṁ prakurvīraṁpuṁḍraṁ haripadākṛtim

Those exclusively devoted to Hari, most fortunate, delighting in the welfare of all beings, should make the pundra with a gap in the middle, in the shape of Hari's foot.

Verse 22 (padma.6.225.22)

हरेः पादाकृतिं कुर्यादूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं विधानतः । मध्यछिद्रेण संयुक्तं तद्धि वै मंदिरं हरेः ।

hareḥ pādākṛtiṁ kuryādūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ vidhānataḥ madhyachidreṇa saṁyuktaṁ taddhi vai maṁdiraṁ hareḥ

One should duly make the Urdhva-pundra in the shape of Hari's foot, joined with a gap in its middle; that indeed is the temple of Hari.

Verse 23 (padma.6.225.23)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रमृजुं सौम्यं सुपार्श्वं सुमनोहरम् । दंडाकारं सुशोभाढ्यं मध्येछिद्रं प्रकल्पयेत् ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍramṛjuṁ sauṁyaṁ supārśvaṁ sumanoharam daṁḍākāraṁ suśobhāḍhyaṁ madhyechidraṁ prakalpayet

One should fashion the Urdhva-pundra straight, gentle, well-sided, beautiful, rod-shaped, richly graceful, with a gap in the middle.

Verse 24 (padma.6.225.24)

तस्माच्छिद्रान्वितं पुंड्रं दण्डाकारं सुशोभनम् । विप्राणां सततं कार्यं स्त्रीणां च शुभदर्शने ।

tasmācchidrāṁvitaṁ puṁḍraṁ daṁḍākāraṁ suśobhanam viprāṇāṁ satataṁ kāryaṁ strīṇāṁ ca śubhadarśane

Therefore, O fair one, brahmins and women alike should constantly wear the pundra thus with a gap, rod-shaped and beautiful.

Verse 25 (padma.6.225.25)

ऊर्ध्वपुण्ड्रस्य मध्ये तु विशाले सुमनोहरे । सान्तराले समासीनो हरिरस्ति श्रिया सह ।

ūrdhvapuṁḍrasya madhye tu viśāle sumanohare sāṁtarāle samāsīno harirasti śriyā saha

In the midst of the Urdhva-pundra, broad and beautiful, in that gap, sits Hari together with Shri.

Verse 26 (padma.6.225.26)

निरन्तरालं यः कुर्यादूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं द्विजाधमः । स हि तत्रस्थितं विष्णुं श्रियं चैव व्यपोहति ।

niraṁtarālaṁ yaḥ kuryādūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ dvijādhamaḥ sa hi tatrasthitaṁ viṣṇuṁ śriyaṁ caiva vyapohati

Whoever, the lowest of the twice-born, makes the Urdhva-pundra without that gap, he indeed drives away Vishnu and Shri dwelling there.

Verse 27 (padma.6.225.27)

अच्छिद्रमूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं तु ये कुर्वंति द्विजाधमाः । तेषां ललाटे सततं शुनःपादो न संशयः ।

acchidramūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ tu ye kurvaṁti dvijādhamāḥ teṣāṁ lalāṭe satataṁ śunaḥpādo na saṁśayaḥ

Those lowest of the twice-born who make the Urdhva-pundra without a gap — on their foreheads forever is placed the footprint of a dog, without doubt.

Verse 28 (padma.6.225.28)

तस्माच्छिद्रान्वितं पुंड्रं सहरिद्रं शुभान्वितम् । धारयेद्ब्राह्मणो नित्यं हरिसालोक्यसिद्धये ।

tasmācchidrāṁvitaṁ puṁḍraṁ saharidraṁ śubhāṁvitam dhārayedbrāhmaṇo nityaṁ harisālokyasiddhaye

Therefore a brahmin should always wear the pundra with a gap, together with turmeric, auspicious, for the attainment of dwelling in Hari's world.

Verse 29 (padma.6.225.29)

आदाय परया भक्त्या वेङ्कटाद्रौ हृदे मृदम् । धारयेदूर्ध्वपुण्ड्राणि हरिसायुज्यसिद्धये ।

ādāya parayā bhaktyā veṁkaṭādrau hṛde mṛdam dhārayedūrdhvapuṁḍrāṇi harisāyujyasiddhaye

Taking with supreme devotion the clay from the sacred pool at Venkatadri, one should wear the Urdhva-pundra for the attainment of union with Hari.

Verse 30 (padma.6.225.30)

श्रीकृष्णतुलसीमूले मृदमादाय भक्तिमान् । धारयेदूर्द्ध्वपुंड्राणि हरिस्तत्र प्रसीदति ।

śrīkṛṣṇatulasīmūle mṛdamādāya bhaktimān dhārayedūrddhvapuṁḍrāṇi haristatra prasīdati

A devotee, taking the clay from the root of the Tulasi plant grown for Sri Krishna, should wear the Urdhva-pundra; Hari is pleased by that.

Verse 31 (padma.6.225.31)

द्वारवत्यां शुभे रम्ये वासुदेवहृदे तथा । तत्रोद्भवां मृदं रम्यामादाय द्विजसत्तमः ।

dvāravatyāṁ śubhe raṁye vāsudevahṛde tathā tatrodbhavāṁ mṛdaṁ raṁyāmādāya dvijasattamaḥ

At auspicious, beautiful Dvaravati, likewise at the pool of Vasudeva, taking the beautiful clay arising there, that best of the twice-born—

Verse 32 (padma.6.225.32)

धारयेदूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रांणि सर्वकामफलाप्तये । आदाय परया भक्त्या गंगातीरोद्भवां मृदम् ।

dhārayedūrddhvapuṁḍrāṁṇi sarvakāmaphalāptaye ādāya parayā bhaktyā gaṁgātīrodbhavāṁ mṛdam

— should wear the Urdhva-pundra for the attainment of the fruit of all desires. Taking with supreme devotion the clay arising on the bank of the Ganga,

Verse 33 (padma.6.225.33)

तया धृतोर्द्ध्वपुंड्राणि सर्वयज्ञफलो लभेत् । चंदनं च हरिद्रा च तथा भस्माग्निहोत्रजम् ।

tayā dhṛtorddhvapuṁḍrāṇi sarvayajṁaphalo labhet caṁdanaṁ ca haridrā ca tathā bhasmāgnihotrajam

one who wears the Urdhva-pundra with it obtains the fruit of all sacrifices. Sandal paste, turmeric, and likewise the ash born of the fire-sacrifice —

Verse 34 (padma.6.225.34)

सर्ववश्यकरं प्रोक्तमूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रस्य धारणात् । यत्र पुण्यं हरिक्षेत्रं तत्र वै मृदमाहरेत् ।

sarvavaśyakaraṁ proktamūrddhvapuṁḍrasya dhāraṇāt yatra puṁyaṁ harikṣetraṁ tatra vai mṛdamāharet

all of these are declared to bring all under one's sway, through the wearing of the Urdhva-pundra. Wherever there is a sacred field of Hari, one should gather clay there.

Verse 35 (padma.6.225.35)

पर्वताग्रे नदीतीरे बिल्वमूले जलाशये । सिंधुतीरे च वल्मीके हरिक्षेत्रे विशेषतः ।

parvatāgre nadītīre bilvamūle jalāśaye siṁdhutīre ca valmīke harikṣetre viśeṣataḥ

On a mountain peak, on a riverbank, at the root of a bilva tree, at a lake, on the shore of the ocean, at an anthill, and especially in a sacred field of Hari —

Verse 36 (padma.6.225.36)

विष्णोः स्नानोदकं यत्र प्रवाहयति नित्यशः । पुंड्राणां धारणार्थाय गृह्णीयात्तत्र मृत्तिकाम् ।

viṣṇoḥ snānodakaṁ yatra pravāhayati nityaśaḥ puṁḍrāṇāṁ dhāraṇārthāya gṛhṇīyāttatra mṛttikām

wherever the bathing-water of Vishnu ever flows, there one should take the clay for the wearing of the pundras.

Verse 37 (padma.6.225.37)

श्रीरङ्गे वेङ्कटाद्रौ च श्रीकूर्मे द्वारके शुभे । प्रयागेनारसिंहाद्रौ वाराहे तुलसीवने ।

śrīraṁge veṁkaṭādrau ca śrīkūrme dvārake śubhe prayāgenārasiṁhādrau vārāhe tulasīvane

At Shrirangam, at Venkatadri, at Shrikurma, at auspicious Dvaraka, at Prayaga, at the Narasimha hill, at Varaha-kshetra, in a Tulasi grove —

Verse 38 (padma.6.225.38)

गृहीत्वा मृत्तिकां भक्त्या विष्णुपादजलैः सह । धृत्वा पुंड्राणि चांगेषु विष्णुसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् ।

gṛhītvā mṛttikāṁ bhaktyā viṣṇupādajalaiḥ saha dhṛtvā puṁḍrāṇi cāṁgeṣu viṣṇusāyujyamāpnuyāt

— taking the clay with devotion, together with the waters that have touched Vishnu's feet, and wearing the pundras on the limbs, one attains union with Vishnu.

Verse 39 (padma.6.225.39)

यस्मिन्कस्मिन्महाभागा वैष्णवा धारयंति वै । तस्मिन्वै मृत्तिका ग्राह्या ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रस्य धारणे ।

yasmiṁkasmiṁmahābhāgā vaiṣṇavā dhārayaṁti vai tasmiṁvai mṛttikā grāhyā ūrddhvapuṁḍrasya dhāraṇe

Wherever great and fortunate Vaishnavas themselves apply the mark, from there the clay should be taken for the wearing of the Urdhva-pundra.

Verse 40 (padma.6.225.40)

श्यामं शांतिकरं प्रोक्तं रक्तं वश्यकरं तथा । श्रीकरं पीतमित्याहुः श्वेतं मोक्षकरं शुभम् ।

śyāmaṁ śāṁtikaraṁ proktaṁ raktaṁ vaśyakaraṁ tathā śrīkaraṁ pītamityāhuḥ śvetaṁ mokṣakaraṁ śubham

Dark clay is said to bring peace; red clay brings others under one's sway; yellow brings prosperity; and white, auspicious, brings liberation.

Verse 41 (padma.6.225.41)

वर्तुलं तिर्यगछिद्रं ह्रस्वं दीर्घं ततं तनुम् । वक्रं विरूपं बद्धाग्रं छिन्नमूलं पदच्युतम् ।

vartulaṁ tiryagachidraṁ hrasvaṁ dīrghaṁ tataṁ tanum vakraṁ virūpaṁ baddhāgraṁ chiṁnamūlaṁ padacyutam

Round, slanted, without a gap, too short, too long, over-extended, too thin, crooked, misshapen, blunt-tipped, broken at the base, or off the foot-mark —

Verse 42 (padma.6.225.42)

अशुभं रूक्षमासक्तं तथानंगुलिकल्पितम् । विगंधमवसह्यं च पुंड्रमाहुरनर्थकम् ।

aśubhaṁ rūkṣamāsaktaṁ tathānaṁgulikalpitam vigaṁdhamavasahyaṁ ca puṁḍramāhuranarthakam

— inauspicious, rough, smudged, or made without the finger, foul-smelling, or unbearable to look at — such a pundra is declared to be useless.

Verse 43 (padma.6.225.43)

आरभ्य नासिकामूलं ललाटं तं लिखेन्मृदा । समारभ्य भ्रुवोर्मध्यमंतरालं प्रकल्पयेत् ।

ārabhya nāsikāmūlaṁ lalāṭaṁ taṁ likheṁmṛdā samārabhya bhruvormadhyamaṁtarālaṁ prakalpayet

Beginning from the root of the nose, one should draw it with clay up the forehead; beginning between the eyebrows, one should form the gap.

Verse 44 (padma.6.225.44)

अंतरालं द्व्यंगुलं स्यात्पार्श्वावंगुलिमात्रकौ । मृदा शुभ्रेण विलिखेत्पुण्ड्रं ऋजुतरं शुभम् ।

aṁtarālaṁ dvyaṁgulaṁ syātpārśvāvaṁgulimātrakau mṛdā śubhreṇa vilikhetpuṁḍraṁ ṛjutaraṁ śubham

The gap should be two fingers wide, and each side one finger's breadth; with white clay one should draw a very straight, auspicious pundra.

Verse 45 (padma.6.225.45)

ललाटे केशवं ध्यायेन्नारायणमथोदरे । वक्षस्थले माधवं च गोविंदं कंठकूबरे ।

lalāṭe keśavaṁ dhyāyeṁnārāyaṇamathodare vakṣasthale mādhavaṁ ca goviṁdaṁ kaṁṭhakūbare

On the forehead one should meditate upon Keshava; on the belly, Narayana; on the chest, Madhava; and at the throat-hollow, Govinda.

Verse 46 (padma.6.225.46)

विष्णुं च दक्षिणे कुक्षौ बाहौ च मधुसूदनम् । त्रिविक्रमं कंधरे तु वामनं वामपार्श्वके ।

viṣṇuṁ ca dakṣiṇe kukṣau bāhau ca madhusūdanam trivikramaṁ kaṁdhare tu vāmanaṁ vāmapārśvake

Vishnu on the right side, Madhusudana on the arm; Trivikrama on the shoulder, and Vamana on the left side.

Verse 47 (padma.6.225.47)

श्रीधरं बाहुके वामे हृषीकेशं तु कंधरे । पृष्ठे वै पद्मनाभं तु त्रिके दामोदरं न्यसेत् ।

śrīdharaṁ bāhuke vāme hṛṣīkeśaṁ tu kaṁdhare pṛṣṭhe vai padmanābhaṁ tu trike dāmodaraṁ ṁyaset

Shridhara on the left arm, Hrishikesha on the shoulder; on the back, Padmanabha, and at the small of the back, Damodara should be placed.

Verse 48 (padma.6.225.48)

तत्प्रक्षालनतोयेन वासुदेवं तु मूर्द्धनि । ललाटे भुजयुग्मे तु पृष्ठयोः कंठकूबरे ।

tatprakṣālanatoyena vāsudevaṁ tu mūrddhani lalāṭe bhujayugme tu pṛṣṭhayoḥ kaṁṭhakūbare

With the water used to wash the marks, Vasudeva is placed on the crown of the head. On the forehead, on the two arms, on the two sides of the back, and at the throat-hollow —

Verse 49 (padma.6.225.49)

धारयेदूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं तु चतुरंगुलमात्रतः । कुक्षौ तत्पार्श्वयोः प्रोक्तमायतं तु दशांगुलम् ।

dhārayedūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ tu caturaṁgulamātrataḥ kukṣau tatpārśvayoḥ proktamāyataṁ tu daśāṁgulam

— one should wear the Urdhva-pundra of four fingers' measure. On the belly and its two sides it is declared to be extended, ten fingers long.

Verse 50 (padma.6.225.50)

बाह्वोर्वक्षस्थले पुंड्रंमष्टांगुलमुदाहृतम् । एवं द्वादशपुंड्राणि ब्राह्मणः सततं धरेत् ।

bāhvorvakṣasthale puṁḍraṁmaṣṭāṁgulamudāhṛtam evaṁ dvādaśapuṁḍrāṇi brāhmaṇaḥ satataṁ dharet

On the arms and on the chest, the pundra is declared to be eight fingers. Thus a brahmin should constantly wear twelve pundras.

Verse 51 (padma.6.225.51)

तत्तत्पुण्ड्राणि तन्मूर्तीर्ध्यात्वा मंत्रेण धारयेत् । अंतरालेषु सर्वेषु हरिद्रां धारयेच्छ्रियाम् ।

tattatpuṁḍrāṇi taṁmūrtīrdhyātvā maṁtreṇa dhārayet aṁtarāleṣu sarveṣu haridrāṁ dhārayecchriyām

He should wear each pundra, meditating on its corresponding form of the Lord, with its mantra. In all the gaps between the pundras he should apply turmeric, for Shri.

Verse 52 (padma.6.225.52)

चत्वारि भूभृतामाहुः पुंड्राणि द्वे विशां स्मृते । एकपुंड्रं तु नारीणां शूद्राणां च विधीयते ।

catvāri bhūbhṛtāmāhuḥ puṁḍrāṇi dve viśāṁ smṛte ekapuṁḍraṁ tu nārīṇāṁ śūdrāṇāṁ ca vidhīyate

Four pundras are prescribed for kings; two are declared for vaishyas; and a single pundra is ordained for women and for shudras.

Verse 53 (padma.6.225.53)

ललाटे हृदि बाह्वोश्च चतुःपुंड्राणि धारयेत् । ललाटे हृदये द्वे तु फालेत्वेकं विधीयते ।

lalāṭe hṛdi bāhvośca catuḥpuṁḍrāṇi dhārayet lalāṭe hṛdaye dve tu phāletvekaṁ vidhīyate

Kings should wear four pundras — on the forehead, the chest, and the two arms. Vaishyas wear two, on the forehead and the chest; and for women and shudras a single one on the forehead is prescribed.

Verse 54 (padma.6.225.54)

ऊर्द्ध्वपुंड्रं ललाटे तु सर्वेषां प्रथमं स्मृतम् । ललाटादिक्रमेणैव धारणं तु विधीयते ।

ūrddhvapuṁḍraṁ lalāṭe tu sarveṣāṁ prathamaṁ smṛtam lalāṭādikrameṇaiva dhāraṇaṁ tu vidhīyate

The Urdhva-pundra on the forehead is declared to be primary for all; the wearing is ordained proceeding in order beginning from the forehead.

Verse 55 (padma.6.225.55)

मूर्तीस्तु वासुदेवाद्याश्चतुःपुंड्रेषु धारयेत् । द्वयोर्गोविंदकृष्णौ तु एकं नारायणं धरेत् ।

mūrtīstu vāsudevādyāścatuḥpuṁḍreṣu dhārayet dvayorgoviṁdakṛṣṇau tu ekaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ dharet

For the four pundras of kings and brahmins, the forms beginning with Vasudeva should be borne; for the two of vaishyas, Govinda and Krishna; for the one of women and shudras, Narayana should be borne.

Verse 56 (padma.6.225.56)

एवं पुंड्रविधिः प्रोक्तः सर्वेषां गिरिजे मया । अश्वत्थपत्रसंकाशो वेणुपत्राकृतिस्तथा ।

evaṁ puṁḍravidhiḥ proktaḥ sarveṣāṁ girije mayā aśvatthapatrasaṁkāśo veṇupatrākṛtistathā

Thus, O Girija, the rule of the pundra for all has been declared by me. The shape resembling a peepal leaf, and likewise the form of a bamboo leaf,

Verse 57 (padma.6.225.57)

पद्मकुड्मलसंकाशो मोहनं त्रितयं स्मृतम् । महाभागवतः शुद्धः पुंड्रं हरिपदाकृतिम् ।

padmakuḍmalasaṁkāśo mohanaṁ tritayaṁ smṛtam mahābhāgavataḥ śuddhaḥ puṁḍraṁ haripadākṛtim

and resembling a lotus bud — these three shapes are declared to be enchanting. The great and pure devotee should wear the pundra in the shape of Hari's foot,

Verse 58 (padma.6.225.58)

दंडाकारं तु वा देवि धारयेदूर्द्ध्वपुंड्रकम् । सुदर्शनेनांकितबाहुमूलास्तथोर्द्ध्वपुंड्रांकित सर्वगात्राः ।

daṁḍākāraṁ tu vā devi dhārayedūrddhvapuṁḍrakam sudarśanenāṁkitabāhumūlāstathorddhvapuṁḍrāṁkita sarvagātrāḥ

or, O goddess, rod-shaped, should he wear the Urdhva-pundra. Those whose arm-bases are marked with the Sudarshana, and whose whole bodies are marked with the Urdhva-pundra,

Verse 59 (padma.6.225.59)

मालारविंदाक्षधरा विशुद्धा रक्षंति लोकान्दुरितौघसंगात् ।

mālāraviṁdākṣadharā viśuddhā rakṣaṁti lokāṁduritaughasaṁgāt

who wear a rosary of lotus-seed beads, utterly pure — they protect the worlds from the mass of misfortune.