Shloka 80

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

यः प्रधानतया काश्या मध्ये तिष्ठति शङ्करः । स्वपुरीजन सौख्यार्थमतोऽसौ मध्यमेश्वरः

Transliteration

yaḥ pradhānatayā kāśyā madhye tiṣṭhati śaṅkaraḥ | svapurījana saukhyārthamato'sau madhyameśvaraḥ

Translation

ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಅಧಿಪತಿಯಾಗಿ ಕಾಶಿಯ ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿರುವ ಶಂಕರನು ತನ್ನ ಪುರಿಯ ಜನರ ಕ್ಷೇಮ ಮತ್ತು ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕ ಸುಖಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕರುಣೆ ತೋರುವುದರಿಂದ, ಅವನು ‘ಮಧ್ಯಮೇಶ್ವರ’ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• pradhānatayā: as the chief (one), primarily
• pradhānatayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhānatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/प्रकारार्थे (in the manner of/with primacy)

• kāśyāḥ: of Kāśī
• kāśyāḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), सप्तमी-अर्थे (locative adverb)

• tiṣṭhati: stands/dwells
• tiṣṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• śaṅkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṅkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; yaḥ इत्यस्य विशेष्य/समनाधिकरण

• sva-purī-jana-saukhya-artham: for the happiness of the people of his own city
• sva-purī-jana-saukhya-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + purī + jana + saukhya + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (मुख्यतः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: sva-purī-jana-स्य saukhya-artham); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्-अर्थे

• asau: that one (he)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• madhyameśvaraḥ: Madhyameśvara
• madhyameśvaraḥ: Pratijñā/Predicate (प्रत्यय/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyama + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the sacred geography and glory of Kāśī to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Śaṅkara is said to ‘stand in the middle’ of Kāśī as the principal Lord for the welfare (saukhyārtha) of his own citizens; the epithet Madhyameśvara is grounded in sacred geography and benevolent guardianship.

Significance: Frames Śiva as the sustaining protector of the kṣetra and its inhabitants; pilgrimage is not only merit-seeking but entering a city under Śiva’s direct guardianship and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)
• Kashi (Varanasi)

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who dwells at the heart of Kāśī to grant welfare and inner ease to beings—implying that the kṣetra is centered on His grace and presence, supporting liberation-oriented living.

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

By naming Śaṅkara as Madhyameśvara based on His abiding presence in Kāśī, the verse affirms Saguna Śiva worship through a specific shrine-form and locality, where devotees approach Him through concrete dhāma/linga-centered devotion while seeking His liberating favor.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Kāśī-centered Śiva-bhakti is implied: visit and worship Madhyameśvara with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), offer water and bilva, and meditate on Śiva as the indwelling Lord who grants śānti and mokṣa.