Shloka 138

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

पराशरेण संयोगः पुनः शन्तनुना यथा । सत्यवत्या इव ब्रह्मन्नः संशयितुमर्हसि

Transliteration

parāśareṇa saṃyogaḥ punaḥ śantanunā yathā | satyavatyā iva brahmannaḥ saṃśayitumarhasi

Translation

O Brahmin, you may rightly harbor doubt—just as Satyavatī was united first with Parāśara and later with Śantanu.

Word by Word

• पराशरेण: by/with Parāśara
• पराशरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराशर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental case, Singular

• संयोगः: union/connection
• संयोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण — Indeclinable; adverb

• शन्तनुना: by/with Śantanu
• शन्तनुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शन्तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• यथा: as/just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक — Indeclinable; comparative/manner particle

• सत्यवत्या: by/with Satyavatī
• सत्यवत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक — Indeclinable; simile particle

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter (vocative usage), Vocative, Singular

• नः: of us/our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक रूप) — Pronoun, Genitive, Plural

• संशयितुम्: to doubt
• संशयितुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सं-शि (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग — Infinitive (to doubt)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Present indicative, 2nd person, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, inferred from Purana dialogue convention in Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Parashara
• Shantanu
• Satyavati

FAQs

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

The verse validates a seeker’s doubt and resolves it through an established example from sacred history, showing that Dharma and divine order can accommodate uncommon life-events without contradicting spiritual truth.

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

Though not directly about ritual, it supports the Shaiva approach of removing saṃśaya (doubt) so devotion (bhakti) toward Saguna Shiva and steadiness in Linga-worship can become firm and undistracted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa-manana—listening to scripture and reflecting to clear doubt; a devotee may pair this with daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize faith and understanding.