Shloka 96

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

दधानं कोटिकन्दर्प्पदर्पहानि तनुद्युतिम् । नग्रं प्रहसितास्याब्जं गायन्तं साम लीलया

Transliteration

dadhānaṃ koṭikandarppadarpahāni tanudyutim | nagraṃ prahasitāsyābjaṃ gāyantaṃ sāma līlayā

Translation

He bore a subtle radiance that humbled the pride of countless Kāma-devas; naked and utterly free of coverings, with a lotus-like face gently smiling, He playfully sang the Sāman hymns.

Word by Word

• dadhānam: bearing/holding
• dadhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg. neut.)

• koṭi-kandarpa-darpa-hāni: destroying the pride of crores of Kandarpa(s)
• koṭi-kandarpa-darpa-hāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + kandarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + darpa (प्रातिपदिक) + hānin (हानिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg. neut.), विशेषणम्

• tanu-dyutim: of slender radiance/with delicate lustre
• tanu-dyutim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tanu (तनु प्रातिपदिक) + dyuti (द्युतिः प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (कर्मधारयः); स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg. fem.), विशेषणम्

• nagnam: naked
• nagnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nagna (नग्न प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg. masc.), विशेषणम्

• prahasita-āsya-abjam: whose face-lotus is smiling
• prahasita-āsya-abjam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prahasita (प्रहसित कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (आस्य प्रातिपदिक) + abja (अब्ज प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg. neut.), विशेषणम्; ‘प्रहसितम् आस्यम्’ इति (smiling face)

• gāyantam: singing
• gāyantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (गै धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg. masc.)

• sāma: Sāma-chant
• sāma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāman (सामन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg. neut.)

• līlayā: playfully; as a sport
• līlayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (लीला प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचन (instr. sg.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implicit) sāma-gāna / sāmans; no direct quotation in the verse

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kamadeva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose serene splendor subdues desire itself (Kāma’s pride), teaching that liberation arises when passion is transcended and consciousness rests in Shiva’s grace-filled presence.

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

By describing Shiva’s visible qualities—smiling face, ascetic nakedness, and Vedic song—the verse supports Saguna contemplation: devotees may worship the Linga while meditating on these attributes as expressions of the same Nirguna reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests mantra-japa and Vedic-aligned devotion: chant “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with inner detachment (vairāgya), and meditate on Shiva’s calm, desireless radiance; optionally accompany with Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines.