vyAsaH 1 Distribution, separation into parts. 2 Dissolution or analysis of a compound. 3 Severalty, distinction. 4 Diffusion, extension. 5 Width, breadth. 6 The diameter of a circle. 7 A fault in pronunciation. 8 Arrangement, compilation. 9 An arranger, a compiler. 10 N. of a celebrated sage. [He was the son of the sage Parāśara by Satyavatī (born before her marriage with Śantanu q. v. ); but he retired to the wilderness as soon as he was born, and there led the life of a hermit, practising the most rigid austerities until he was called by his mother Satyavatī to beget sons on the widows of her son Vicitravīrya. He was thus the father of Pāṇḍu and Dhṛtarāṣṭra and also of Vidura; q.q. v.v. He was at first called ‘Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana’ from his dark complexion and from his having been brought forth by Satyavatī on a Dvīpa or island; but he afterwards came to be called Vyāsa or ‘the arranger ’, as he was supposed to have arranged the Vedas in their present form; vivyAsa vedAn yasmAtsa tasmAd vyAsa iti smftaH . He is believed to be the author of the great epic the Mahābhārata which he is said to have composed with Gaṇapati for his scribe. The eighteen Purāṇas, as also the Brahma-sūtras and several other works are also ascribed to him. He is one of the seven ( pb ) chirajīvins or deathless persons; cf. cirajIvin ]. 11 A Brāhmaṇa who recites or expounds the Purāṇas in public.