Shloka 18

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

पुनर्जग्राह तां बालां मुनिं कामप्रपीडितः । कंपमाना तु सा बाला तमुवाच दयानिधिम्

Transliteration

punarjagrāha tāṃ bālāṃ muniṃ kāmaprapīḍitaḥ | kaṃpamānā tu sā bālā tamuvāca dayānidhim

Translation

Overcome again by the torment of desire, the sage seized the young maiden once more. Trembling, the girl addressed him—who was otherwise a treasury of compassion.

Word by Word

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• jagrāha: seized/took
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ? actually Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect); Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Eka-vacana (singular)

• tām: her/that (female)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun); Strīliṅga; Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Eka-vacana

• bālām: the girl
• bālām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga; Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Eka-vacana

• munim: the sage
• munim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Eka-vacana

• kāma-prapīḍitaḥ: afflicted by desire
• kāma-prapīḍitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + prapīḍita (कृदन्त; √pīḍ/पीड्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध): 'kāmena prapīḍitaḥ'; Past passive participle (क्त); Puṃliṅga; Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Eka-vacana

• kampamānā: trembling
• kampamānā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamp (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/शानच्; here ātmanepada-style feminine -mānā); Strīliṅga; Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Eka-vacana

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Strīliṅga; Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Eka-vacana

• bālā: the girl
• bālā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga; Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Eka-vacana

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Eka-vacana

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect); Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana

• dayā-nidhim: the treasure of compassion (compassionate one)
• dayā-nidhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'dayāyāḥ nidhiḥ' (treasure of compassion); Puṃliṅga; Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Eka-vacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• a sage (muni)
• a young maiden (bālā)

FAQs

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

It highlights kāma as a form of pāśa (bondage) that can shake even an ascetic, implying that true spiritual strength lies in self-restraint and purification—key to approaching Pati (Śiva) with a steady mind.

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

By showing the fallibility of the mind under desire, the narrative indirectly points to the need for steady devotion (bhakti) and disciplined worship of Saguna Śiva/Liṅga, which stabilizes the mind and redirects impulses toward dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sense-restraint supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple śiva-dhyāna; cultivating vairāgya and inner vigilance is the practical takeaway.