Shloka 8

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

इति विज्ञापिता पित्रा मत्स्यगन्धा महामुनिम् । संवाहयति नौकायामासीनं सूर्य्यरोचिषम्

Transliteration

iti vijñāpitā pitrā matsyagandhā mahāmunim | saṃvāhayati naukāyāmāsīnaṃ sūryyarociṣam

Translation

Thus instructed by her father, Matsyagandhā began to gently attend and massage the great sage Sūryyarociṣ as he sat in the boat.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/quotative particle

• विज्ञापिता: having been informed/requested
• विज्ञापिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञाप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘having been informed/requested’

• पित्रा: by (her) father
• पित्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by the father’

• मत्स्यगन्धा: Matsyagandhā (fish-scented maiden)
• मत्स्यगन्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य-गन्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मत्स्यस्य गन्धः यस्याः) as name

• महामुनिम्: the great sage
• महामुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘great sage’

• संवाहयति: she massages/fans (attends upon)
• संवाहयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-वाह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नौकायाम्: in the boat
• नौकायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative ‘in the boat’

• आसीनम्: seated
• आसीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies महा-मुनिम्

• सूर्य्यरोचिषम्: Sun-radiant (one)
• सूर्य्यरोचिषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य-रोचिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘having sun-like radiance’ (epithet of the sage)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Service (sevā) to a sage is portrayed as karmically potent; in Śaiva ethics, such service can become a conduit for later grace—though here it also becomes a stage for concealment (tirodhāna) via kāma.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Matsyagandhā (Satyavatī)
• Sūryyarociṣ (sage)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights sevā (humble service) performed in obedience to dharma; in Shaiva understanding, such selfless conduct refines the pashu (individual soul) and prepares it for Shiva’s grace by reducing ego and karmic impurity.

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

While no Linga worship is described here, the attitude shown—reverent service to a realized sage—aligns with Saguna Shiva-bhakti, where honoring Shiva’s devotees and carriers of sacred knowledge is treated as an extension of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is cultivating daily sevā with mantra-remembrance—mentally repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while serving elders/teachers—though the verse itself does not prescribe bhasma, rudraksha, or a specific rite.