Shloka 11

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

तमुवाच विशालाक्षीं वचनं स्मितपूर्वकम् । किमिदं क्रियये कर्म वाचंयम विगर्हितम्

Transliteration

tamuvāca viśālākṣīṃ vacanaṃ smitapūrvakam | kimidaṃ kriyaye karma vācaṃyama vigarhitam

Translation

He then spoke to the large-eyed lady with a gentle, smiling preface: “What is this censurable act you are attempting to do—an action unworthy of one who is self-restrained in speech?”

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (object of ‘उवाच’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (speech act)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• विशालाक्षीम्: the large-eyed (woman)
• विशालाक्षीम्: कर्ता (speaker in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (formally Accusative here as apposition to speaker implied ‘सा’), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘she whose eyes are large’)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: कर्म (object—‘words’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्मितपूर्वकम्: with a prior smile / smilingly
• स्मितपूर्वकम्: क्रिया-विशेषण (manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मित (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (‘with a smile beforehand’), ‘वचनम्’ इति विशेषण

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म/प्रश्न (interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘किम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• क्रियये: do I perform
• क्रियये: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (क्रीयते/क्रिये—here ‘क्रियये’ as 1st sg middle, Vedic/epic variant)

• कर्म: deed/action
• कर्म: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वाचंयम: speech-restrained / self-controlled in speech
• वाचंयम: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक) + यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘one who restrains speech’), ‘कर्म’ इति विशेषण

• विगर्हितम्: blameworthy / censured
• विगर्हितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगर्हित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गर्ह् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘कर्म’ इति विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Pati (the divine Lord and teacher) guiding the soul toward purity: true spiritual life requires alignment of intention, speech, and action, avoiding blameworthy karma even when emotions arise.

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

Saguna Shiva is not only worshiped as the Linga in ritual but also encountered as the compassionate Guru who refines the devotee’s conduct; disciplined speech and restraint are presented as part of worthy devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice vāṅ-niyama (restraint of speech) alongside japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), letting words become measured, truthful, and devotional rather than impulsive.