Shloka 134

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

तत्तु स्कान्दं समाख्यातं वामनस्य तु वामनम् । कौर्मं कूर्मस्य चरितं मात्स्यं मत्स्येन कीर्तितम्

Transliteration

tattu skāndaṃ samākhyātaṃ vāmanasya tu vāmanam | kaurmaṃ kūrmasya caritaṃ mātsyaṃ matsyena kīrtitam

Translation

That indeed is declared to be the Skanda Purāṇa; and the Vāmana Purāṇa pertains to Vāmana. The Kūrma Purāṇa narrates the deeds of the Tortoise incarnation, and the Mātsya Purāṇa is proclaimed by the Fish incarnation.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Anuvāda (अनुवाद/that—topic resumption)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

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

• स्कान्दम्: Skānda (pertaining to Skanda)
• स्कान्दम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्कान्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier: Skanda-related)

• समाख्यातम्: is called / has been named
• समाख्यातम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicative to ‘tat’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘समाख्यात’ = ‘called/declared’

• वामनस्य: of Vāmana
• वामनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• वामनम्: the Vāmana (Purāṇa)
• वामनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; (पुराण-नाम)

• कौर्मम्: the Kaurma (Purāṇa)
• कौर्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (पुराण-नाम)

• कूर्मस्य: of the Tortoise (Kūrma)
• कूर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• चरितम्: deeds, narrative
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मात्स्यम्: the Mātsya (Purāṇa)
• मात्स्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (पुराण-नाम)

• मत्स्येन: by the Fish (Matsya)
• मत्स्येन: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• कीर्तितम्: praised/declared/told
• कीर्तितम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; continues Purāṇa taxonomy by associating each Purāṇa with its principal deity/incarnation (Skanda, Vāmana, Kūrma, Matsya).

Significance: Encourages broad scriptural literacy; indirectly supports Śiva Purāṇa’s claim to be situated within a recognized Purāṇic corpus.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Vamana
• Kurma
• Matsya

FAQs

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

The verse affirms the Purāṇic method of teaching dharma through named lineages and avatāra-centered narratives, helping seekers approach the highest truth—ultimately fulfilled, in Śaiva Siddhānta, by turning from story to realization of Pati (Śiva) as the liberating Lord.

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

By identifying Purāṇas through their presiding narrators/themes, it supports the Purāṇic framework in which Saguna forms and sacred histories prepare the mind for devotion; within the Shiva Purana, this culminates in Linga-upāsanā as a direct, universally accessible focus for Śiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) of Purāṇic teachings with faith, paired with steady Śiva-smaraṇa—ideally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as the mind’s daily discipline.