Shloka 12

Devanagari script

एशि: परिवृतो व्यास: शिष्यै: पञ्चभिरुत्तमै: । शुशुभे हिमवत्पादे भूतैर्भूतपतिर्यथा,इन पाँच उत्तम शिष्योंसे घिरे हुए व्यासजी हिमालयके शिखरपर भूतोंसे परिवेष्टित भूतनाथ भगवान्‌ शिवके समान शोभा पाते थे

Transliteration

eṣiḥ parivṛto vyāsaḥ śiṣyaiḥ pañcabhir uttamaiḥ | śuśubhe himavatpāde bhūtair bhūtapatir yathā ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Surrounded by his five excellent disciples, the sage Vyāsa shone on the slopes of the Himālaya—like Lord Śiva, master of beings, encircled by his attendant spirits.

Word by Word

• आसि: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• परिवृतः: surrounded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वृ 'to cover/surround' with pari-, past passive participle)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• शिष्यैः: by/with disciples
• शिष्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• पञ्चभिः: by/with five
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• उत्तमैः: excellent, best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• शुशुभे: shone, was splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), 3, singular, आत्मनेपद

• हिमवत्-पादे: on the foot/slope of Himavat (Himalaya)
• हिमवत्-पादे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• भूतैः: by/with beings (spirits)
• भूतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, instrumental, plural

• भूतपतिः: lord of beings (Bhūtapati, Śiva)
• भूतपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• यथा: as, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Vyāsa
• five disciples of Vyāsa
• Himavat (Himālaya)
• Bhūtapati (Śiva)
• bhūtas (attendant beings/spirits)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dignity of spiritual lineage: a true teacher’s radiance is enhanced by worthy disciples, and the guru’s presence in a sacred place symbolizes disciplined learning, humility, and reverence—ethical foundations for receiving higher instruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes Vyāsa standing on the Himalayan slopes, surrounded by five eminent disciples. Vyāsa’s splendor is likened to Śiva (Bhūtapati) encircled by his attendant beings, emphasizing Vyāsa’s spiritual stature and the solemnity of the setting.