Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

व्यस्तवेदतया लोके वेदव्यास इति श्रुतः । पुराणानाञ्च संक्षिप्तं चतुर्लक्षप्रमाणतः

Transliteration

vyastavedatayā loke vedavyāsa iti śrutaḥ | purāṇānāñca saṃkṣiptaṃ caturlakṣapramāṇataḥ

Translation

Because he arranged and classified the Vedas, he is renowned in the world as Vedavyāsa. He also compiled the Purāṇas in a condensed form, their total extent being four hundred thousand verses.

Word by Word

• vyasta-vedatayā: by (his) being the arranger/divider of the Vedas
• vyasta-vedatayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyasta-veda-tā (प्रातिपदिक; vyasta + veda + tā)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); तद्धितान्त (tā-pratyaya: abstract noun)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• veda-vyāsaḥ: Vedavyāsa
• veda-vyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-प्रयोग (quotative particle)

• śrutaḥ: is heard/known (as)
• śrutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• purāṇānām: of the Purāṇas
• purāṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• saṃkṣiptam: abridged/condensed
• saṃkṣiptam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃkṣipta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṣip with saṃ-, PPP)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• catur-lakṣa-pramāṇataḥ: according to the measure of four lakhs (of verses)
• catur-lakṣa-pramāṇataḥ: Hetu/Pramāṇa (हेतु/प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: catur + lakṣa + pramāṇa + tas (प्रातिपदिक + तसिल्)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'in measure/according to'), समास: संख्या-विशेषणपूर्वक तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vedavyasa
• Vedas
• Puranas

FAQs

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

It establishes scriptural lineage: the Purāṇas are not random tales but a deliberate, dharma-preserving condensation by Vedavyāsa, supporting right understanding that leads the soul (paśu) toward liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

By affirming the Purāṇas’ compiled authority, it validates Purāṇic Śaiva practices—especially accessible saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā—presented as practical means for seekers in the present age.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Study (svādhyāya) and recitation of Purāṇic Śaiva teaching is implied; a fitting takeaway is daily remembrance of Śiva through mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—grounded in scriptural guidance.