Shloka 1

Devanagari script

मुनय ऊचुः । व्यासोत्पत्तिं महाबुद्धे ब्रूहि सूत दयानिधे । कृपया परया स्वामिन्कृतार्थान्निष्कुरु प्रभो

Transliteration

munaya ūcuḥ | vyāsotpattiṃ mahābuddhe brūhi sūta dayānidhe | kṛpayā parayā svāminkṛtārthānniṣkuru prabho

Translation

ಮುನಿಗಳು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಹೇ ಮಹಾಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತ ಸೂತ, ದಯಾನಿಧಿ! ವ್ಯಾಸನ ಜನ್ಮೋತ್ಪತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಹೇಳು. ಹೇ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ಪ್ರಭು! ನಿನ್ನ ಪರಮ ಕೃಪೆಯಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಕೃತಾರ್ಥರನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡು.

Word by Word

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदी

• व्यासोत्पत्तिम्: the birth/origin of Vyāsa
• व्यासोत्पत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास + उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्यासस्य उत्पत्तिः = birth/origin of Vyāsa)

• महाबुद्धे: O great-minded one
• महाबुद्धे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् बुद्धिः यस्य = O great-intellect)

• ब्रूहि: tell (you)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• सूत: O Sūta
• सूत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दयानिधे: O treasure of compassion
• दयानिधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दयायाः निधिः = treasure of compassion)

• कृपया: by compassion
• कृपया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• परया: supreme/great
• परया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies 'कृपया')

• स्वामिन्: O lord
• स्वामिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृतार्थान्: fulfilled (us)
• कृतार्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (कृतः अर्थः येषाम् = fulfilled/successful)

• निष्कुरु: make (us)
• निष्कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; (निष्कुरु = make/bring out; here: 'make us accomplished')

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

The sages (Munis) of Naimiṣāraṇya

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is the sages’ request that initiates the Vyāsa-origin narrative.

Significance: Śravaṇa (listening) with humility is framed as a means to ‘kṛtārthatā’ (spiritual fulfillment), aligning with Purāṇic bhakti pedagogy.

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Suta

FAQs

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

It establishes the seeker’s attitude: humble inquiry, reverence for the teacher, and reliance on compassion (kṛpā) as the means by which sacred knowledge becomes transformative and fulfills the spiritual aim.

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

Though not naming the Liṅga directly, the verse reflects a core Shaiva approach: receiving Purāṇic wisdom through an authorized lineage. Such listening (śravaṇa) supports devotion to Saguna Shiva and leads the mind toward the higher truth beyond forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and satsanga—devout listening to Shiva Purana narration from a qualified speaker—supported by bhakti and reverence; this can be paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a steady inner discipline.