Shloka 35

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

मीनगन्धां समालक्ष्य त्वां मोहवशगोऽभवम् । न बाले भालपट्टस्थो ब्रह्मलेखोऽन्यथा भवेत्

Transliteration

mīnagandhāṃ samālakṣya tvāṃ mohavaśago'bhavam | na bāle bhālapaṭṭastho brahmalekho'nyathā bhavet

Translation

ನಿನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀನುಗಂಧವನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿ ನಾನು ಮೋಹವಶನಾದೆ. ಓ ಬಾಲೆ, ನುಡಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಬರೆಯಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಲೇಖ ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಬೇರೆ ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

Word by Word

• मीन-गन्धाम्: the fish-scented one (name/epithet)
• मीन-गन्धाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मीन (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मीनस्य गन्धा)

• समालक्ष्य: having observed
• समालक्ष्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), उपसर्ग-सम्+आ; ‘having noticed/observed’

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मोह-वश-गः: gone under delusion’s control
• मोह-वश-गः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘मोहस्य वशे गतः’

• अभवम्: I became
• अभवम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• बाले: O girl
• बाले: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Vocative/Locative), एकवचन; अत्र सम्बोधन ‘O girl’

• भाल-पट्ट-स्थः: situated on the forehead-plate (forehead)
• भाल-पट्ट-स्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाल (प्रातिपदिक) + पट्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘भालपट्टे स्थितः’

• ब्रह्म-लेखः: Brahmā’s inscription (fate-mark)
• ब्रह्म-लेखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लेख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः लेखः)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘otherwise’)

• भवेत्: would be / could become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

An unnamed male speaker in the narrative of Umāsaṃhitā (contextually a worldly character expressing infatuation and fatalism, as relayed by the Purāṇic narrator)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how sense-impressions can trigger moha (bondage), while also pointing to the force of karmic destiny (brahmalekha). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it urges the seeker to recognize pasha (bondage) and turn toward Pati (Shiva) for liberation rather than being ruled by infatuation.

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

It contrasts worldly attraction with the steadiness gained through Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upasana). Devotion, japa, and disciplined conduct purify the senses so the mind stops being dragged by moha and becomes fit to contemplate Shiva as the liberating Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint supported by Shiva-sadhana: daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), wearing rudraksha with remembrance of Shiva, and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder to overcome desire and karmic bondage.