Shloka 44

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

द्वीपे जातो यतो बालस्तेन द्वैपायनोऽभवत् । वेदशाखाविभजनाद्वेदव्यासः प्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

dvīpe jāto yato bālastena dvaipāyano'bhavat | vedaśākhāvibhajanādvedavyāsaḥ prakīrtitaḥ

Translation

ద్వీపంలో జన్మించినందున ఆ బాలుడు ‘ద్వైపాయనుడు’గా ప్రసిద్ధి పొందెను; వేదశాఖలను విభజించినందున ‘వేదవ్యాసుడు’గా కీర్తింపబడెను।

Word by Word

• द्वीपे: on an island
• द्वीपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• जातः: born
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता; participle agreeing with बालः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यतः: since/because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/यतः-ततः सम्बन्ध (since/because)

• बालः: the boy
• बालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेन: therefore/by that (reason)
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु/Reason—‘therefore’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• द्वैपायनः: Dvaipāyana
• द्वैपायनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संज्ञा (name)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेद-शाखा-विभजनात्: because of dividing the Vedic branches
• वेद-शाखा-विभजनात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause; ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + शाखा (प्रातिपदिक) + विभजन (प्रातिपदिक; √भज् + वि + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेदशाखानां विभजनम् = division of Vedic branches)

• वेद-व्यासः: Vedavyāsa
• वेद-व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेदानां व्यासः = arranger of the Vedas)

• प्रकीर्तितः: is proclaimed/called
• प्रकीर्तितः: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘is called/celebrated’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Vyāsa as a grace-instrument: organizing Vedic revelation for the benefit of bound souls (paśu) in Kali-yuga—scripture itself becomes a salvific ‘tīrtha’ of knowledge.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Implicit yuga-dharma context: Vyāsa’s veda-vibhāga traditionally linked to the onset/needs of Kali-yuga (not explicit in the verse).

Characters & Entities

• Vedavyasa
• Veda

FAQs

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

It honors Vyāsa as a divinely empowered preserver of dharma: by arranging the Veda for the welfare of beings, he supports right knowledge (jñāna) that ultimately leads the soul (paśu) toward liberation under the grace of Pati (Śiva).

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

By establishing Vyāsa’s authority as a Veda-arranger, the verse strengthens the scriptural foundation for Śaiva practice—Vedic and Purāṇic teachings together guide devotees toward Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) as a disciplined path of devotion and purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is svādhyāya (reverent study/recitation) alongside Śiva-bhakti—regular chanting of Śiva’s names or the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a purified mind, supported by scriptural understanding.