Shloka 94

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

लसच्छारदबालेन्दुचन्द्रिकाचन्दितालकम् । भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गं कर्पूरार्जुनविग्रहम्

Transliteration

lasacchāradabālenducandrikācanditālakam | bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṅgaṃ karpūrārjunavigraham

Translation

His hair shone as though bathed in the moonlight of an autumnal young moon; his entire body was dusted with bhasma, the sacred ash; and his form appeared white and lustrous like camphor and the pale bark of the Arjuna tree—thus was the auspicious saguna form of Lord Śiva described.

Word by Word

• लसत्-शारद-बाल-इन्दु-चन्द्रिका-चन्दित-आलकम्: whose locks are brightened by the shining autumnal young-moonlight
• लसत्-शारद-बाल-इन्दु-चन्द्रिका-चन्दित-आलकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लसत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + शारद (प्रातिपदिक) + बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्रिका (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्दित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (लसत्या शारदबालिन्दुचन्द्रिकया चन्दिताः आलकाः यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भस्म-उद्धूलित-सर्व-अङ्गम्: whose whole body is smeared with ash
• भस्म-उद्धूलित-सर्व-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मन्/भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (भस्मना उद्धूलितानि सर्वाणि अङ्गानि यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कर्पूर-अर्जुन-विग्रहम्: having a form (white) like camphor and arjuna (tree)
• कर्पूर-अर्जुन-विग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (कर्पूरार्जुन-सदृशः विग्रहः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages, describing Lord Shiva’s form)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A dhyāna-style physical description of Śiva’s auspicious saguna appearance—moonlit locks, bhasma-smeared limbs—serving as contemplative support for worship at the described kṣetra.

Significance: Meditating on bhasma and soma-candra symbolism fosters vairāgya and śivānusandhāna; it is also a cue for adopting vibhūti as Śaiva identity and protection.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva’s auspicious, approachable (saguṇa) form: radiant like pure moonlight and marked by bhasma, symbolizing purity, detachment, and the burning of bondage (pāśa) under the grace of Pati (Śiva).

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

It supports saguṇa-upāsanā (devotional meditation on form) that naturally culminates in Liṅga-worship: the same Śiva who is formless is contemplated through luminous signs—moonlike radiance and bhasma—leading the devotee from form to the transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply bhasma with reverence (Tripuṇḍra), then perform Śiva-dhyāna visualizing His moonlike purity; accompany it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as a discipline of inner renunciation.