Shloka 3

व्यासशौनकादिसंवादः | Vyāsa–Śaunaka and the Sages: Opening Dialogue of the Kailāsa-saṃhitā

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । शृणुत प्रीतितो वत्साः कैलासाख्यां हि संहिताम् । शिवतत्त्वपरान्दिव्यां वक्ष्ये वः स्नेहतः पराम्

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | śṛṇuta prītito vatsāḥ kailāsākhyāṃ hi saṃhitām | śivatattvaparāndivyāṃ vakṣye vaḥ snehataḥ parām

Translation

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

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्

• शृणुत: listen
• शृणुत: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्; मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd), बहुवचनम्

• प्रीतितः: with pleasure, gladly
• प्रीतितः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): प्रीतितः = ‘out of affection/with pleasure’

• वत्साः: dear children
• वत्साः: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्; सम्बोधनार्थे (vocative-sense though nominative form used)

• कैलास-आख्याम्: called ‘Kailāsa’
• कैलास-आख्याम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कैलास इति आख्या यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘संहिताम्’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• संहिताम्: the compendium
• संहिताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• शिव-तत्त्व-पराम्: devoted to Śiva-tattva
• शिव-तत्त्व-पराम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवतत्त्वे परा); स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘संहिताम्’)

• दिव्याम्: divine
• दिव्याम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘संहिताम्’)

• वक्ष्ये: I will tell
• वक्ष्ये: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्; उत्तमपुरुषः (1st), एकवचनम्

• वः: to you / for you
• वः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), बहुवचनम्; एन्क्लिटिक रूपम्

• स्नेहतः: affectionately
• स्नेहतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): स्नेहतः = ‘out of affection’

• पराम्: supreme, excellent
• पराम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘संहिताम्’)

Speaker

Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa
• Kailasa

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

This verse frames the Kailāsa-saṃhitā as a “supreme” and “divine” teaching centered on Śiva-tattva—pointing the listener toward understanding Śiva as Pati (the Lord) and the highest reality who grants liberation when known with devotion and right discernment.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By announcing a compendium devoted to Śiva-tattva, the verse prepares the reader for teachings where Saguna worship—such as reverence to the Śiva-liṅga—functions as a compassionate means to realize the deeper truth of Śiva beyond limitation, aligning practice with philosophy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is śravaṇa (reverent listening) with prīti (joy) and bhakti (affection). As a practical takeaway, one may listen/recite this section after offering simple liṅga-upacāra (water, bilva) and mentally repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady attention.