Shloka 15

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

वेदव्यासस्तु यो नाम्ना प्राप्तवानतुलं यशः । सोऽपि शंकरमाराध्य त्रिकालज्ञानमाप्तवान्

Transliteration

vedavyāsastu yo nāmnā prāptavānatulaṃ yaśaḥ | so'pi śaṃkaramārādhya trikālajñānamāptavān

Translation

He who is renowned by the name Vedavyāsa attained incomparable fame; and even he, having duly worshipped Śaṅkara, obtained knowledge of the three times—past, present, and future.

Word by Word

• वेदव्यासः: Vedavyāsa
• वेदव्यासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदव्यास (प्रातिपदिक: वेद + व्यास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘वेदानां व्यासः’ = arranger of the Vedas)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (adversative/emphatic particle)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• नाम्ना: by name/as named
• नाम्ना: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• प्राप्तवान्: attained
• प्राप्तवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘attained’

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘यशः’

• यशः: fame
• यशः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (additive particle)

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having worshipped’

• त्रिकालज्ञानम्: knowledge of past, present, and future
• त्रिकालज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिकाल + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘त्रिकालस्य ज्ञानम्’ = knowledge of the three times)

• आप्तवान्: obtained
• आप्तवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘obtained’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the glory of Shiva’s worship in the Uma Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vedavyasa

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that even the most celebrated sage, Vedavyāsa, attained higher spiritual insight by worshipping Śiva—showing that true jñāna arises through Śiva’s grace (Pati’s anugraha) rather than fame or mere scholarship.

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

It emphasizes ārādhana—devotional propitiation of Śaṅkara in a worshipful, approachable (saguṇa) form, commonly expressed in Purāṇic practice through Liṅga-pūjā, mantra, and ritual devotion, which then ripens into liberating knowledge by Śiva’s blessing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady Śiva-ārādhana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Liṅga worship with devotion, and contemplative remembrance of Śiva—seeking jñāna as a fruit of grace rather than as an egoic attainment.