Shloka 5

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

निषादमाह धर्मात्मा कुर्वन्तं भोजनन्तदा । नयस्व यमुनापारं जलयानेन मामरम्

Transliteration

niṣādamāha dharmātmā kurvantaṃ bhojanantadā | nayasva yamunāpāraṃ jalayānena māmaram

Translation

Then the righteous-souled one said to the Niṣāda who was preparing food: “Take me at once to the far bank of the Yamunā by a watercraft.”

Word by Word

• निषादम्: the Niṣāda (ferryman)
• निषादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु √ah ‘say’)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect, लिट्-लकार), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous-souled one
• धर्मात्मा: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (धर्म, प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (आत्मन्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.), ‘यस्य आत्मा धर्मः’

• कुर्वन्तम्: doing, engaged in
• कुर्वन्तम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.), निषादस्य विशेषणम्

• भोजनम्: eating, meal
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal adverb), कालवाचक (then)

• नयस्व: take (me), lead
• नयस्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative, लोट्-लकार), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• यमुनापारम्: to the far bank of the Yamunā
• यमुनापारम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yamunā (यमुना, प्रातिपदिक) + pāra (पार, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: यमुनायाः पारः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.), गन्तव्यदेशः

• जलयानेन: by a boat (water-vehicle)
• जलयानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (जल, प्रातिपदिक) + yāna (यान, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (जलस्य यानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया एकवचन (Instr. sg.)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• अरम्: quickly, at once
• अरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aram (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पर्याप्त्यर्थक (sufficiently/quickly; ‘at once’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the direct speaker in the verse is the dharmātmā addressing the Niṣāda)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Symbolic ‘crossing’ motif: seeking passage from saṃsāra toward dharma; evokes tīrtha-idea of rivers as liminal sanctifiers.

Characters & Entities

• Yamuna
• Nishada

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic resolve and purposeful movement toward a sacred goal—an inner readiness that, in Shaiva Siddhanta, supports the soul’s turning from worldly delay (pāśa) toward Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).

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

Though the verse is narrative, it frames the attitude required for Saguna Shiva worship—promptness, discipline, and intent to reach a holy place or act, which traditionally culminates in Linga-darśana, pūjā, and remembrance of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is saṅkalpa (clear intent) before pilgrimage or pūjā: begin with Shiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while undertaking the journey or transition indicated by the crossing.