Shloka 2

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

व्यासस्य जननी प्रोक्ता नाम्ना सत्यवती शुभा । विवाहिता तु सा देवी राज्ञा शन्तनुना किल

Transliteration

vyāsasya jananī proktā nāmnā satyavatī śubhā | vivāhitā tu sā devī rājñā śantanunā kila

Translation

The blessed Satyavatī is declared to be the mother of Vyāsa. Indeed, that revered lady was married to King Śantanu.

Word by Word

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

• जननी: mother
• जननी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोक्ता: is said/was declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (finite sense: 'is said/was declared')

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; (by name)

• सत्यवती: Satyavatī
• सत्यवती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies 'सत्यवती')

• विवाहिता: was married
• विवाहिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वह् (धातु) → विवाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (finite sense: 'was married')

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

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवी: the lady/goddess-like woman
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन (apposition to 'सा')

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• शन्तनुना: by Śantanu
• शन्तनुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शन्तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• किल: it is said/indeed
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: indeed/traditionally/it is said)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Genealogical/narrative setup: identifies Satyavatī as Vyāsa’s mother and her marriage to King Śantanu, anchoring the Mahābhārata lineage.

Significance: Hearing sacred lineages (vaṃśa-kathā) is treated as purifying and as establishing adhikāra for later teachings attributed to Vyāsa.

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Satyavati
• Shantanu

FAQs

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

By identifying Vyāsa’s mother as Satyavatī and her marriage to Śantanu, the Purāṇa anchors its sacred teaching in a trustworthy lineage, reminding devotees that dharma and devotion to Pati (Śiva) are transmitted through sanctified history and righteous household life.

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

Though genealogical, the verse supports Saguna Śiva-oriented Purāṇic transmission: Vyāsa, the great arranger of scripture, becomes a reliable channel through which the Linga’s glory, Śiva-bhakti, and dharma are taught to the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of the Purāṇic lineage while chanting the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate reverence for the scripture’s source and steadiness in bhakti.