Shloka 31

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

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

Devanagari script

विरञ्चिः सृष्टिकर्ताहं जगत्पाताहमच्युतः । रुद्रः संहारकर्ताहं सर्वविश्वविमोहिनी

Transliteration

virañciḥ sṛṣṭikartāhaṃ jagatpātāhamacyutaḥ | rudraḥ saṃhārakartāhaṃ sarvaviśvavimohinī

Translation

“I am Virañci (Brahmā), the creator; I am Acyuta (Viṣṇu), the protector of the world; I am Rudra, the agent of dissolution—and I am that power who casts delusion across the entire universe.”

Word by Word

• विरञ्चिः: Brahmā (Virañci)
• विरञ्चिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरञ्चि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सृष्टि-कर्ता: creator of creation
• सृष्टि-कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘सृष्टेः कर्ता’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जगत्-पाता: protector of the world
• जगत्-पाता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘जगतः पाता’ (protector of the world)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संहार-कर्ता: agent of dissolution
• संहार-कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहार (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘संहारस्य कर्ता’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-विश्व-विमोहिनी: the deluder/enchantress of the entire universe
• सर्व-विश्व-विमोहिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): ‘सर्वस्य विश्वस्य विमोहिनी’

Speaker

Goddess Umā (Pārvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic creation-preservation-dissolution (kalpa rhythm implied)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Rudra
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that the cosmic functions of creation, preservation, and dissolution—and even the binding force of delusion (māyā)—operate through one supreme divine reality, expressed here as Umā’s all-pervading Śakti, which Shaiva Siddhanta treats as inseparable from Shiva (Pati).

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

Linga worship centers the mind on Shiva as the transcendent Pati beyond the changing play of māyā; recognizing that even Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra-functions arise within the Lord’s power helps the devotee fix devotion on Saguna Shiva (with qualities) while progressing toward the Nirguna truth (beyond qualities).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with the intent of piercing delusion (vimohana/māyā), supported by Shiva Purana-aligned sādhana such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and remembrance.