Shloka 14

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

विद्यया वपुषा वाचा कुलशीलेन चान्वितः । कामबाणवशं यातो महदाश्चर्यमत्र हि

Transliteration

vidyayā vapuṣā vācā kulaśīlena cānvitaḥ | kāmabāṇavaśaṃ yāto mahadāścaryamatra hi

Translation

Walau dianugerahi ilmu, rupa elok, tutur halus, keturunan mulia, dan budi pekerti, ia tetap jatuh di bawah kuasa panah Kāma—sungguh ini keajaiban besar di sini.

Word by Word

• विद्यया: by learning, by knowledge
• विद्यया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• वपुषा: by body, by physique
• वपुषा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कुलशीलेन: by (good) family and conduct
• कुलशीलेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): कुलं च शीलं च

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अन्वितः: endowed (with)
• अन्वितः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वि + त (धातु √अन्वि/अनु-इ, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कामबाणवशम्: the sway of Kāma's arrows
• कामबाणवशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + बाण + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कामस्य बाणानां वशः

• यातः: has gone (fallen)
• यातः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु √या, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक—'gone/come under'

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आश्चर्यम्: wonder, marvel
• आश्चर्यम्: कर्म/विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अत्र: here, in this matter
• अत्र: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• हि: indeed, surely
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-samhita account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that worldly excellences—learning, beauty, eloquence, pedigree, and good conduct—do not by themselves free a person from the bondage (pāśa) of desire. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, kama is a form of pasha that must be transcended through Shiva-oriented devotion, discernment, and inner restraint.

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

By showing the surprising power of Kāma over even a qualified person, the text indirectly points to the need for refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva). Linga/Saguna Shiva worship disciplines the senses and redirects the mind from kama toward Shiva-bhakti, supporting steadiness and purity necessary for liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint supported by Shiva upasana—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative vigilance over desire, offered mentally at the Linga as a means to weaken kama’s hold.