Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 39

Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha

Indra–Namuci Expiation

Devanagari script

ततः सरस्वती शप्ता विश्वामित्रेण धीमता

Transliteration

tataḥ sarasvatī śaptā viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā

Translation

Then Sarasvatī was cursed by the wise Viśvāmitra—an episode showing how even revered powers and sacred forces may be drawn into strife when anger and rivalry overrun restraint.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्यय), अर्थे: 'तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम्'

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī (the river/goddess)
• सरस्वती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शप्ता: was cursed
• शप्ता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु) → शप्त (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि) ; स्त्रीलिङ्गे शप्ता
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विश्वामित्रेण: by Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• धीमता: wise; intelligent
• धीमता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (विश्वामित्रेण इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvatī
• Viśvāmitra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral danger of uncontrolled anger and hostile speech: even the wise can set harmful consequences in motion through a curse, showing why self-restraint and dharmic speech are essential.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha narrates that Sarasvatī becomes the object of Viśvāmitra’s curse, signaling a turning point where a sacred power is drawn into a conflict shaped by rivalry and wrath.