Character

Vyasa

व्यासVyāsa

Also called Ved Vyas

verses
3,245
books
23
chapters
1,176

What the texts say

In the Mahabharata, Vyasa, also called Dvaipayana, "island-born", is the son of Satyavati and the sage Parashara. Mahabharata 1.57.71Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.60.2 The Vishnu Purana tells how he divided the single Veda into four parts, so that sacred knowledge might be upheld. Vishnu Purana 3.4.2, 3.2.58 The Devi Bhagavatam says he composed the eighteen Puranas. Devi Bhagavatam 1.3.17 In the Mahabharata's opening chapter, he remembers Ganesha, who appears, and asks him to write down the Bharata as he dictates. Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.1.75, 1.1.77 The epic also names him grandsire of the Pandavas, heroes of the story, and father of the wise Vidura. Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.60.2, 1.63.114 In the same epic, he first teaches his son Shuka, then other suitable disciples, among them Vaishampayana. Mahabharata 1.1.63, 1.54.21 In the Bhagavata Purana, his son Shuka says he studied the Bhagavatam from his father, Vyasa. Bhagavatam 2.1.8, 9.22.21

Where to read

Every verse that names Vyasa, book by book.

  1. Devi Bhagavatam

    692 verses · 174 chapters

    All 692 verses in the Devi Bhagavatam
    • 6.25.1

      Description of Vyasa's own delusion. Vyasa said: Hearing such words of mine, Vasavi (Satyavati) was startled. Extremely anxious for a son, the daughter of the fisherman spoke to me thus.

    • 1.14.1

      The description of the duties of a householder by Vyasa. Suta said: Seeing that dark-eyed lady (Ghritachi), Vyasa became anxious. 'What should I do? This divine maiden, an Apsara, is not suitable for me.'

    • 1.20.1

      (Description of the birth of Dhritarashtra and others) The Rishis said: 'Shuka, the best among the divine beings, attained the supreme perfection. What did Vyasa do after that? Tell us that in detail.'

  2. Skanda Purana

    687 verses · 215 chapters

    All 687 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 5.3.97.4

      O lord of men, Vyāsa’s sacred ford (Vyāsatīrtha) is exceedingly rare for all beings to attain. Afflicted by the weight of old age, I am not fit (for strenuous effort), O prince.

    • 6.1.147.2

      At that Vāṭikā (holy grove), the best of twice-born ones formerly performed austerity and obtained a son; and when Śuka went to the forest, Kapiñjala came (there) from Vyāsa.

    • 4.2.45.1

      Vyāsa said: Listen, O Sūta of great understanding, to what Skanda has spoken. (Hear) the future that concerns me, spoken before that wise one—Agastya, born of the pot.

  3. Mahabharata

    455 verses · 218 chapters

    All 455 verses in the Mahabharata

    Also in the Gita Press edition: 2,319 verses

    • 16.9.4

      Seeing Pārtha repeatedly sighing, his mind unsettled and despondent, Vyāsa said this to him.

    • 1.99.24

      The great seer, having sprinkled her with water and respectfully greeted her, Vyāsa—the elder-born son—then spoke to his mother.

    • 12.315.10

      When the disciples had descended, Vyāsa—assisted by his son—sat in solitude, silent and intent on meditation, the wise one.

  4. Shiva Purana

    363 verses · 117 chapters

    All 363 verses in the Shiva Purana
    • 6.1.3

      Vyāsa said: “Listen with joy, dear children, to this compilation known as the Kailāsa-saṃhitā. Divine and devoted to the supreme truth of Śiva, I shall expound it to you with affection—this highest teaching.”

    • 5.4.4

      Vyāsa said: O Sanatkumāra, O all-knowing one—please narrate to me this auspicious account of Śaṅkara, the great Lord (Maheśa), who sports in manifold divine līlās.

    • 2.5.8.1

      Vyāsa said: “O Sanatkumāra—omniscient one, foremost among the devotees of Śiva, and of noble understanding—dear child, this wondrous account has been heard (by me) as it was proclaimed concerning Parameśvara (the Supreme Lord Śiva).”

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Vyasa matters most.

  1. Arjuna’s Lament and Vyāsa’s Counsel on Kāla (Mausala-parva, Adhyāya 9)

    Mahabharata 16.9 · 3 verses

    Seer-teacher interpreting catastrophe through kāla and dharma

  2. Vyāsatīrtha-prādurbhāvaḥ: Origin and Merit of Vyāsa Tīrtha (व्यासतीर्थप्रादुर्भावः)

    Skanda Purana 5.3.97 · 33 verses

  3. Vatikēśvara-Māhātmya and the Discourse on Śuka’s Renunciation (वटिकेश्वरमाहात्म्य-शुकवैराग्यसंवादः)

    Skanda Purana 6.1.147 · 24 verses

  4. Vyāsa-bhuja-stambha (व्यासभुजस्तंभ): Doctrinal Correction and the Establishment of Vyāseśvara

    Skanda Purana 4.2.45 · 20 verses

  5. Vyāsa's Description of His Own Delusion

    Devi Bhagavatam 6.25 · 4 verses

  6. Satyavatī’s Disclosure and the Summoning of Vyāsa (Niyoga for Kuru Succession)

    Mahabharata 1.99 · 6 verses

    Ascetic authority and instrument of continuity

  7. Restoring Vedic Recitation, the Anadhyaya Rule, and the Taxonomy of Winds

    Mahabharata 12.315 · 7 verses

    Central authority on Veda, discipline, and cosmology

  8. Births of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura

    Mahabharata 1.100 · 5 verses

    Agent of dharma and destiny

  9. Vyasa's Description of Grihastha Dharma and the Birth of Shuka

    Devi Bhagavatam 1.14 · 21 verses

  10. Description of the Birth of Dhritarashtra and Others

    Devi Bhagavatam 1.20 · 16 verses

Key episodes

  1. Ganesha Writes the Mahabharata as Vyasa Dictates

    Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.1

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q330521