Shloka 74

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

इति चिन्तातुरो व्यासः शिवभक्तिरतात्मवान् । क्षणं विचारयामास ध्यानसुस्थिरचेतसा

Transliteration

iti cintāturo vyāsaḥ śivabhaktiratātmavān | kṣaṇaṃ vicārayāmāsa dhyānasusthiracetasā

Translation

अशा रीतीने शिवभक्तीत रत व्यास चिंताकुल झाले; आणि ध्यानाने स्थिर झालेल्या चित्ताने त्यांनी क्षणभर विचार केला।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-समाप्तिसूचक (quotative/iti-marker)

• चिन्ता-आतुरः: distressed with worry
• चिन्ता-आतुरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चिन्तया आतुरः = anxious due to worry)

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शिव-भक्ति-रत-आत्मवान्: whose mind was devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• शिव-भक्ति-रत-आत्मवान्: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त; √रम् धातु) + आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य आत्मा शिवभक्तौ रतः सः)

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण-शब्दः

• विचारयामास: he considered
• विचारयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √चर् (धातु) (causative/णिच्: विचारयति)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; causative sense (made/caused to consider = considered)

• ध्यान-सु-स्थिर-चेतसा: with a mind made very steady by meditation
• ध्यान-सु-स्थिर-चेतसा: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + सु (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental) प्रयोगः; समासः (ध्यानात् सुस्थिरं चेतः यस्य/येन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Vyāsa’s anxiety and subsequent dhyāna indicate the transition from external multiplicity (many liṅgas) to inner steadiness where Śiva’s grace (anugraha) clarifies the proper refuge.

Significance: Models the pilgrim’s remedy: when confused, stabilize the mind through dhyāna and let Śiva’s guidance arise; emphasizes inner qualification over mere geographic choice.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It shows that even a great sage like Vyāsa meets inner turmoil, yet he turns to Śiva-bhakti and dhyāna to steady the mind—illustrating the Shaiva path where devotion to Pati (Śiva) matures into meditative clarity that loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

Vyāsa is described as śivabhaktiratātmavān—one absorbed in devotion to Śiva—implying Saguna worship (such as Liṅga-upāsanā) as a stabilizing support that gathers the mind and makes it fit for dhyāna and deeper understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is dhyāna with steadiness of mind: sit quietly, focus attention on Śiva (often supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and let devotion calm anxiety into clear reflection.