Shloka 109

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

तत उत्थाय हृष्टात्मा मुनिर्व्यासो महातपाः । प्रत्यब्रवीत्किमज्ञातं सर्वज्ञस्य तव प्रभो

Transliteration

tata utthāya hṛṣṭātmā munirvyāso mahātapāḥ | pratyabravītkimajñātaṃ sarvajñasya tava prabho

Translation

Then the great ascetic sage Vyāsa rose up, his heart filled with joy, and replied: “O Lord, what could ever be unknown to You, the all-knowing?”

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तर-अव्यय (temporal indeclinable: 'then/thereupon')

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having risen'

• हृष्टात्मा: one whose heart was delighted
• हृष्टात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (यस्य आत्मा हृष्टः), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• महातपाः: great ascetic
• महातपाः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् तपाः), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रत्यब्रवीत्: replied/spoke
• प्रत्यब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative)

• अज्ञातम्: unknown
• अज्ञातम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + ज्ञात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वज्ञस्य: of the omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वं जानाति इति), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sage Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It expresses bhakti and śaraṇāgati (reverent surrender): Vyāsa affirms Shiva as sarvajña, the supreme Pati whose knowledge transcends all limitation, encouraging the devotee to trust Shiva’s guidance.

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

Addressing Shiva as “Prabhu” and “sarvajña” supports Saguna worship—approaching the Lord in a personal form (such as the Linga) while recognizing His limitless, all-pervading awareness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with humility—especially the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating the attitude that Shiva knows the devotee’s inner state and leads toward purification and liberation.