Shloka 19

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

दुर्गन्धाहं मुनिश्रेष्ठ कृष्णवर्णा निषादजा । भवांस्तु परमोदारविचारो योगिसत्तमः

Transliteration

durgandhāhaṃ muniśreṣṭha kṛṣṇavarṇā niṣādajā | bhavāṃstu paramodāravicāro yogisattamaḥ

Translation

Wahai resi termulia, aku berbau tak sedap, berkulit gelap, dan lahir dari keturunan Niṣāda; sedangkan engkau berhati luhur dalam pertimbangan, yang utama di antara para yogi.

Word by Word

• durgandhā: foul-smelling
• durgandhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durgandhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga; Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Eka-vacana; used predicatively

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Eka-vacana

• muni-śreṣṭha: O best of sages
• muni-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'munīnām śreṣṭhaḥ'; Puṃliṅga; Sambodhana (Vocative), Eka-vacana

• kṛṣṇa-varṇā: dark-complexioned
• kṛṣṇa-varṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'kṛṣṇaḥ varṇaḥ yasyāḥ sā'; Strīliṅga; Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• niṣāda-jā: born of a Niṣāda (tribal)
• niṣāda-jā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣāda (प्रातिपदिक) + jā (कृदन्त; √jan/जन्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (पञ्चमी/षष्ठी sense): 'niṣādāt jātā' (born of a Niṣāda); feminine adjective; Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• bhavān: you (sir)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Honorific pronoun; Puṃliṅga; Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)

• parama-udāra-vicāraḥ: of supremely noble judgment
• parama-udāra-vicāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + udāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vicāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (multi-member descriptive): 'paramaś ca udāraś ca vicāraḥ'; Puṃliṅga; Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• yogi-sattamaḥ: the best of yogis
• yogi-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी): 'yoginām sattamaḥ'; Puṃliṅga; Prathamā, Eka-vacana

Speaker

A Niṣāda-born woman (speaking to a great sage/yogin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights humility and self-surrender: spiritual worth is not determined by birth or outward condition, but by inner disposition and the grace awakened through dharma, yoga, and devotion—central to Shaiva teaching that the soul (paśu) can turn toward Pati (Shiva) through right discernment.

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

By contrasting outer impurity with inner nobility, it supports the Shiva Purana’s emphasis that approaching Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship) with sincere bhakti and reverence purifies the devotee; the Lord accepts the devotee’s intent over social labels.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate yogic discernment and humility alongside Shiva-upasana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and simple, sincere worship (with bhasma/rudraksha if one follows those observances) as inner purification rather than mere external display.