Shloka 85

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

श्रीकरो गोपिकासूनुः सेविता मध्यमेश्वरम् । गाणपत्यं समालेभे शिवस्य करुणात्मनः

Transliteration

śrīkaro gopikāsūnuḥ sevitā madhyameśvaram | gāṇapatyaṃ samālebhe śivasya karuṇātmanaḥ

Translation

Śrīkara, the son of Gopikā, worshipped Madhyameśvara; and by the compassionate grace of Lord Śiva, he attained the state and path of the Gaṇapatya tradition, devotion centered on Gaṇeśa.

Word by Word

• श्रीकरः: Śrīkara (name; ‘giver/maker of prosperity’)
• श्रीकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-कर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्रियाः करः = ‘श्रीं करोति/श्रीं ददाति’ इति नाम)

• गोपिका-सूनुः: son of a gopikā
• गोपिका-सूनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपिका + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गोपिकायाः सूनुः)

• सेविता: having served / worshipped
• सेविता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्तः (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘सेवितः’ अपेक्षितम्—पाठानुसारं ‘सेविता’ इति रूपं (प्रायः पुं.प्रथ.एक. अर्थे)

• मध्यम-ईश्वरम्: the ‘middle’ lord (Madhyameśvara)
• मध्यम-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मध्यमः ईश्वरः)

• गाणपत्यम्: the Gaṇapatya status/office (pertaining to Gaṇapati)
• गाणपत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाणपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समालेभे: obtained / attained
• समालेभे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• करुणा-आत्मनः: of the compassionate-souled
• करुणा-आत्मनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुणा + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (करुणा आत्मा यस्य सः) — ‘of the compassionate-souled (Śiva)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Mentions ‘Madhyameśvara’ as a specific Śiva manifestation/linga-title (‘Lord of the Middle’). The verse’s focus is doctrinal: Śiva’s compassion grants eligibility/affiliation to a devotional mārga (Gaṇapatya). No Jyotirliṅga identification is made.

Significance: Highlights Śiva as the source of adhikāra (spiritual qualification) across sectarian paths; devotion to Śiva can legitimately culminate in Gaṇeśa-centered upāsanā as a Śaiva-granted mārga.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha
• Madhyameshvara
• Shrikara
• Gopika

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere worship of Śiva (here as Madhyameśvara) bears fruit through Śiva’s karuṇā—divine compassion—by which a seeker gains spiritual standing, right devotion, and access to a liberating path.

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

Madhyameśvara indicates worship of Śiva in a manifest, accessible (saguṇa) form—commonly through the liṅga—showing that devotion to the visible symbol of Pati (Śiva) becomes a channel for grace and transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Liṅga-sevā (daily worship) with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed with devotion, is implied as the practical means to receive Śiva’s compassionate favor.