Shloka 39

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

वामे कमण्डलुं बिभ्रद्दक्षिणे दण्डमुत्तमम् । पिशंगीभिर्जटाभिश्च राजितो महसां चयः

Transliteration

vāme kamaṇḍaluṃ bibhraddakṣiṇe daṇḍamuttamam | piśaṃgībhirjaṭābhiśca rājito mahasāṃ cayaḥ

Translation

Holding a kamandalu water-pot in His left hand and an excellent staff in His right, that treasury of splendour shone forth, adorned with tawny, matted jata locks.

Word by Word

• वामे: in the left (hand/side)
• वामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative)

• कमण्डलुम्: water-pot
• कमण्डलुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• बिभ्रत्: bearing, holding
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणरूपेण (present active participle)

• दक्षिणे: in the right (hand/side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• दण्डम्: staff
• दण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; दण्डम् इति विशेषणम्

• पिशङ्गीभिः: with tawny (locks)
• पिशङ्गीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; करण/सहकारक (instrumental)

• जटाभिः: with matted locks
• जटाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• राजितः: was resplendent/adorned
• राजितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (appearing adorned/bright)

• महसाम्: of splendors, of lights
• महसाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• चयः: a mass/heap
• चयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Saguna Shiva as the ideal yogic ascetic—His kamaṇḍalu and staff symbolize disciplined living and inner purity, pointing the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation by surrender to Pati (Shiva) and loosening the bonds (pāśa) of desire.

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

While Linga worship emphasizes Shiva’s transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, this description supports Saguna upāsanā by giving devotees a contemplative form—Shiva as the radiant tapasvin—helping the mind become steady and devotional for Linga-centered worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the ascetic Lord while reciting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); cultivate simplicity and restraint (yama-niyama). If practiced ritually, pair it with reverent Linga worship and a calm, inward-focused japa.