Shloka 16

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

Account of Sarasvatī’s Manifestation and the Humbling of the Devas

Devanagari script

तूष्णीं भूत्वा ततो वायुर्जगामेन्द्रं सभां प्रति । कथयामास तद् वृत्तं स्वकीयाभिभवान्वितम्

Transliteration

tūṣṇīṃ bhūtvā tato vāyurjagāmendraṃ sabhāṃ prati | kathayāmāsa tad vṛttaṃ svakīyābhibhavānvitam

Translation

Then Vāyu fell silent, and went to Indra’s royal assembly. There he recounted that entire incident—how he himself had been overpowered.

Word by Word

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); भू धातोः; ‘having become’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोगः (adverb)

• वायुः: Vāyu (the Wind-god)
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इन्द्रम्: Indra
• इन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• सभाम्: assembly hall
• सभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Dik/Adhikaraṇa-nibandhana (दिक्/अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/निपात (preposition-like indeclinable)

• कथयामास: told, narrated
• कथयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Periphrastic Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषण (of वृत्तम्)

• वृत्तम्: event, account
• वृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• स्वकीय-अभिभव-अन्वितम्: accompanied by his own defeat
• स्वकीय-अभिभव-अन्वितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वकीय (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिभव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषण (of वृत्तम्); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वकीयः अभिभवः यस्य/येन अन्वितम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s account to the sages, reporting Vayu’s action)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Indra

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva theme that pride dissolves before higher truth: even a deva like Vāyu must acknowledge being overcome, pointing to the supremacy of Pati (the Lord) over all limited powers.

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

By showing devas meeting limits and reporting to Indra, the story prepares the mind to seek refuge in the supreme Saguna Shiva—often approached through Linga-worship as the accessible sign of the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is inner humility and silence (tūṣṇīm): a devotee can pair quiet self-restraint with japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to reduce ego and align with Shiva’s grace.