Shloka 17
Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ
Account of Sarasvatī’s Manifestation and the Humbling of the Devas
सर्वेशत्वं वयं सर्वे मृषैवात्मनि मन्महे । न पारयामहे किंचिद्वि धातुं क्षुद्रवस्त्वपि
sarveśatvaṃ vayaṃ sarve mṛṣaivātmani manmahe | na pārayāmahe kiṃcidvi dhātuṃ kṣudravastvapi
All of us merely imagine within ourselves that we are ‘lords of all’—but that is indeed false. We are not capable of accomplishing even the smallest thing by our own power.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-samhita discourse; the verse voices the humility of finite beings before Pati, Lord Shiva)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It dismantles the ego’s claim of independent doership and reminds the pashu (bound soul) that true sovereignty belongs to Pati—Shiva alone—so liberation arises through humility and grace, not self-assertion.
By admitting our incapacity, the devotee turns to Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Linga—as the accessible form of the Supreme who empowers action and bestows anugraha (saving grace).
Practice japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a surrendering attitude, offering actions to Shiva; apply Tripundra (bhasma) as a reminder that ego and pride are to be reduced to ash.