Shloka 33

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

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

Devanagari script

मत्प्रभावाज्जितास्सर्वे युष्माभिर्द्दितिनन्दनाः । तामविज्ञाय मां यूयं वृथा सर्वेशमानिनः

Transliteration

matprabhāvājjitāssarve yuṣmābhirdditinandanāḥ | tāmavijñāya māṃ yūyaṃ vṛthā sarveśamāninaḥ

Translation

O sons of Diti, all of you have been conquered by my very power. Not recognizing me as that supreme Reality, you—vainly imagining yourselves to be lords of all—have acted in futility.

Word by Word

• मत्प्रभावात्: because of my power
• मत्प्रभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी) + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मम प्रभावः’

• जिताः: conquered/defeated
• जिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त, √जि ‘to conquer’ क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• युष्माभिः: by you (all)
• युष्माभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• दितिनन्दनाः: O sons of Diti
• दितिनन्दनाः: Sambodhana/Karta (सम्बोधन/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘दितेः नन्दनाः’ (sons of Diti)

• ताम्: her/that (one)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अविज्ञाय: not recognizing
• अविज्ञाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अविज्ञाय (कृदन्त, अवि/अ- + √ज्ञा ‘to know’ ल्यप्/क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive), क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having not known/recognised)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वृथा: in vain
• वृथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: in vain)

• सर्वेशमानिनः: thinking (yourselves) lords of all
• सर्वेशमानिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वेश + मानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वेषां ईशः’ + ‘मानिन्’ (one who thinks/prides)

Speaker

Goddess Uma (Parvati)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It condemns ahankāra (ego) and the delusion of “I am the controller,” teaching that all power ultimately belongs to the divine Reality (Pati), and liberation begins with recognition and surrender.

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

The verse urges recognition of the true Lord behind appearances; Linga/Saguna worship trains the mind to bow to Shiva’s supreme sovereignty, dissolving the pride that makes one feel ‘lord of all.’

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a humility-vow, ideally with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrāksha, as a discipline to subdue ego and remember the true Lord.