Shloka 30

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

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

Devanagari script

कदाचिद्दयिताकारा कदाचित्पुरुषाकृतिः । कदाचिदुभयाकारा सर्वाकाराहमीश्वरी

Transliteration

kadāciddayitākārā kadācitpuruṣākṛtiḥ | kadācidubhayākārā sarvākārāhamīśvarī

Translation

At times I appear in the form of the beloved (the feminine), at times in the form of a man; at times I manifest as both together. I, the Sovereign Goddess, am indeed of every form.

Word by Word

• kadācit: sometimes
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• dayitā-ākārā: in the form of a beloved
• dayitā-ākārā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayitā (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having the form of a beloved (woman)’

• kadācit: sometimes
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• puruṣa-ākṛtiḥ: (she is) of male form
• puruṣa-ākṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having a man’s shape’

• kadācit: sometimes
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• ubhaya-ākārā: of both forms
• ubhaya-ākārā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having both forms’

• sarva-ākārā: of all forms
• sarva-ākārā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having all forms’

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular

• īśvarī: the sovereign goddess
• īśvarī: Pratijñā/Predicate nominal (प्रत्ययार्थः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate nominal

Speaker

Goddess Umā (Pārvatī), teaching her identity as Śakti inseparable from Śiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Umā as the all-pervading Śakti who can manifest as feminine, masculine, or their unified form—pointing to the non-dual inseparability of Śiva and Śakti that leads the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

Liṅga worship honors the formless (nirguṇa) reality expressed through a sacred form (saguṇa). This verse supports that principle by declaring that the Divine can assume any form, including unified Śiva-Śakti (as in Ardhanārīśvara), without being limited by form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the unity of Śiva-Śakti while chanting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating the Divine as beyond gender and yet present in all forms; offer bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and devotion with this inclusive vision.