Shloka 24

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिर्दधती हस्तैर्वरपाशांकुशाभयान् । श्रुतिभिस्सेविता रम्या नवयौवनगर्विता

Transliteration

caturbhirdadhatī hastairvarapāśāṃkuśābhayān | śrutibhissevitā ramyā navayauvanagarvitā

Translation

With four hands she bore the boons-giving gesture, the noose, the goad, and the sign of fearlessness. Attended upon by the Vedas themselves, she appeared supremely beautiful—radiant with the proud fullness of fresh youth.

Word by Word

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: Karaṇa/Sahacāra (करण/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, तृतीया (instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); संख्या-विशेषण

• दधती: bearing/holding
• दधती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हस्तैः: by (her) hands
• हस्तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• वर-पाश-अङ्कुश-अभयान्: boon, noose, goad, and fearlessness (gesture)
• वर-पाश-अङ्कुश-अभयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): वरः च पाशः च अङ्कुशः च अभयम् च

• श्रुतिभिः: by the Vedas (Śrutis)
• श्रुतिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• सेविता: served/worshipped
• सेविता: Karta-bhāva/Predicate-adj (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रम्या: lovely
• रम्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नव-यौवन-गर्विता: proud of fresh youth
• नव-यौवन-गर्विता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + यौवन (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गर्व्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/हेतौ: ‘नवयौवनेन गर्विता’ (proud due to fresh youth)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Iconographic description of Devī with pāśa and aṅkuśa—symbols of binding and directing the bound soul—rather than a site narrative.

Significance: Contemplation of Devī’s iconography teaches how bondage (pāśa) and guidance (aṅkuśa) operate under divine governance, culminating in protection (abhaya) and boon-bestowal (vara).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Vedas (Shrutis)

FAQs

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

It presents Umā as the compassionate Shakti of Śiva: she grants boons and fearlessness while also restraining and guiding beings—signifying grace (anugraha) that leads the soul beyond bondage.

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

The verse supports saguna upāsanā: the Divine is approached through sacred form and attributes. In Śaiva practice, worship of Śiva-liṅga is complemented by reverence to Umā as Śiva’s inseparable power, through whom devotees receive protection and spiritual uplift.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Umā’s four hands—boon, noose, goad, and abhaya—while repeating the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and praying for fearlessness and release from pāśa (bondage), optionally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as Śaiva marks of discipline.