Shloka 111

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य व्यासस्यामलचेतसः । शुचि स्मित्वा महादेवो बालरूपधरोऽब्रवीत्

Transliteration

iti śrutvā vacastasya vyāsasyāmalacetasaḥ | śuci smitvā mahādevo bālarūpadharo'bravīt

Translation

Having thus heard the words of the pure-minded Vyāsa, Mahādeva—assuming the form of a child—smiled gently and spoke.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-प्रकारवाचक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• व्यासस्य: of Vyāsa
• व्यासस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अमलचेतसः: of the pure-minded
• अमलचेतसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—qualifier of Vyāsa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः कर्मधारय (अमलं चेतः यस्य)

• शुचि: purely/brightly
• शुचि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शुचि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: purely/brightly)

• स्मित्वा: having smiled
• स्मित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• बालरूपधरः: bearing the form of a boy
• बालरूपधरः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल-रूप-धर (प्रातिपदिक); धर (कृदन्त, अच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः तत्पुरुष (बालस्य रूपं धरति इति)

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Mahadeva) in child-form (Bālarūpa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): the Supreme Pati responds to the pure-hearted seeker (Vyāsa) not with intimidation but with a gentle, approachable form, showing that divine knowledge is given through compassion to the purified mind.

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

By showing Mahādeva taking a visible child-form, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with form—through which devotees become fit to realize His deeper, transcendent (nirguṇa) truth also taught in the Uma-saṃhitā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate inner purity (amalacetas) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and steady devotion; approach Śiva with humility—this verse implies receptivity to His teaching rather than prescribing a specific external rite.