Shloka 34

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

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

Devanagari script

यथा दारुमयीं योषां नर्तयत्यैन्द्रजालिकः । तथैव सर्वभूतानि नर्तयाम्यहमीश्वरी

Transliteration

yathā dārumayīṃ yoṣāṃ nartayatyaindrajālikaḥ | tathaiva sarvabhūtāni nartayāmyahamīśvarī

Translation

Just as a conjurer makes a wooden puppet-woman dance, so too do I, the Sovereign Goddess (Īśvarī), cause all beings to move and act.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: as)

• दारुमयीम्: wooden
• दारुमयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुमयी (प्रातिपदिक; दारु + मयट्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मयट्-प्रत्ययान्त (made of) विशेषण

• योषाम्: a woman (doll)
• योषाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नर्तयति: makes (her) dance
• नर्तयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) ‘makes dance’

• ऐन्द्रजालिकः: a magician
• ऐन्द्रजालिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐन्द्रजालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सर्वाणि भूतानि’

• नर्तयामि: I make (them) dance
• नर्तयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st), एकवचन; णिच् (causative)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ईश्वरी: the Goddess, the sovereign lady
• ईश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Parvati (Umā), speaking as Īśvarī (the Divine Sovereign Power)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that individual beings (paśu) act within the binding power of māyā and karmic bonds (pāśa), while the Supreme Lord and His Śakti (pati) are the true inner governors; liberation arises through devotion, knowledge, and surrender to Shiva-Shakti.

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

The Linga worship trains the devotee to recognize a single supreme controller behind all movement and change; by worshipping Saguna Shiva (with form) one transcends fascination with worldly ‘performances’ and turns toward the eternal Pati beyond māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inward surrender, contemplating that all actions are moved by the Divine; support this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of detachment and Shiva-centered awareness.