Shloka 36

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

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

Devanagari script

कदाचिद्देववर्गाणां कदाचिद्दितिजन्म नाम् । करोमि विजयं सम्यक्स्वतन्त्रा निजलीलया

Transliteration

kadāciddevavargāṇāṃ kadācidditijanma nām | karomi vijayaṃ samyaksvatantrā nijalīlayā

Translation

At times I grant complete victory to the hosts of the Devas, and at other times to those born of Diti (the Daityas). Being wholly independent, I bring about these outcomes through my own divine play (līlā).

Word by Word

• kadācit: sometimes
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: ‘sometimes’)

• deva-vargāṇām: of the groups of gods
• deva-vargāṇām: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानां वर्गः)

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

• diti-janma-nām: of those born of Diti (Daityas)
• diti-janma-nām: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diti (प्रातिपदिक) + janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (दितेः जन्म येषां ते)

• karomi: I make / I bring about
• karomi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vijayam: victory
• vijayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• samyak: properly / fully
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb: ‘properly, completely’)

• svatantrā: independent (I, as independent)
• svatantrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svatantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्तृवाचक)

• nija-līlayā: by (my) own play
• nija-līlayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (निजा च सा लीला)

Speaker

Goddess Umā (Pārvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Daityas
• Diti

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that victory and defeat in cosmic conflicts are not ultimate realities but expressions of the Divine’s sovereign will (svatantratā) operating through līlā; the seeker should therefore cultivate surrender and seek liberation rather than worldly triumph.

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

It supports Saguna worship by affirming a personal, sovereign Divine who actively governs outcomes; Linga-worship becomes a practice of aligning oneself with that Supreme will beyond partisan attachment to “Deva vs. Asura” results.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhakti and śaraṇāgati, offering success and failure alike to the Lord while maintaining inner steadiness.