Shloka 38

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

सापि गर्भं दधाराशु द्वादशात्मसमप्रभम् । असूत सूर्य्यजाद्वीपे कामदेवमिवात्मजम्

Transliteration

sāpi garbhaṃ dadhārāśu dvādaśātmasamaprabham | asūta sūryyajādvīpe kāmadevamivātmajam

Translation

She too soon conceived, bearing within her a splendour equal to twelvefold powers; and on the island called Sūryyajā-dvīpa she gave birth to a son like Kāmadeva himself.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• गर्भम्: embryo, pregnancy
• गर्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• दधार: bore, carried
• दधार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• द्वादशात्मसमप्रभम्: having splendor equal to twelve suns (lit. twelve-souls)
• द्वादशात्मसमप्रभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निर्धारण/विशेषण-सम्बन्धः): 'द्वादश-आत्म-सम-प्रभ' = द्वादशात्मनां समा प्रभा यस्य

• असूत: gave birth
• असूत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सूर्य्यजाद्वीपे: in the island called Sūryyaja
• सूर्य्यजाद्वीपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य्यज (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): सूर्य्यजस्य द्वीपः

• कामदेवम्: Kāmadeva
• कामदेवम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक निपात (comparative particle)

• आत्मजम्: a son
• आत्मजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse is a birth-account set in Sūryyajā-dvīpa, emphasizing extraordinary tejas of the child.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Kamadeva

FAQs

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

The verse uses sacred birth imagery to show how divine qualities (radiance, power, beauty) manifest in the created order; in Shaiva Siddhanta this points to Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate source, while such beings are empowered expressions within māyā, not independent absolutes.

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

It supports Saguna narration—God’s play expressed through forms, places, and lineages—guiding devotees from story and devotion toward the Linga as the stable symbol of Śiva beyond all births, while still honoring His manifested governance of creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to contemplate Śiva as the inner source of all splendour while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering a simple abhiṣeka to the Śiva-liṅga, dedicating the mind’s desire-nature to Śiva for purification.