Shloka 40

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

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

Devanagari script

इति देव्या वचः श्रुत्वा करुणागर्भितं सुराः । तुष्टुवुः परमेशानीं भक्तिसंनतकन्धराः

Transliteration

iti devyā vacaḥ śrutvā karuṇāgarbhitaṃ surāḥ | tuṣṭuvuḥ parameśānīṃ bhaktisaṃnatakandharāḥ

Translation

Al oír las palabras de la Diosa, preñadas de compasión, los devas alabaron a Parameśānī (Umā). Con el cuello inclinado en bhakti, le ofrecieron himnos reverentes.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative/marker)

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• करुणागर्भितम्: filled with compassion
• करुणागर्भितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुणा-गर्भित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of वचः. क्त (PPP) from √गर्भ्/गर्भय् (to fill/contain) in sense ‘filled with’; समासः: करुणया गर्भितम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तुष्टुवुः: praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• परमेशानीम्: Parameśānī (Supreme Goddess)
• परमेशानीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of praise). समासः: परमा च सा ईशानी (कर्मधारय)

• भक्तिसंनतकन्धराः: whose necks were bowed in devotion
• भक्तिसंनतकन्धराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति-संनत-कन्धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of सुराः. समासः: भक्त्या संनतः कन्धरः येषाम् ते (बहुव्रीहि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed as humility: the devas respond to compassion with reverent praise, showing that surrender and stuti soften the ego and align the soul (paśu) toward grace in the Shaiva path.

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

Though the verse praises Umā, it supports Saguna worship in Shaivism: devotees approach the Divine through accessible form and qualities—compassion, protection, and motherhood—leading the mind toward Shiva-tattva and the Linga as the supreme sign of Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice stuti and namaskāra (bowing) with a devotional attitude—reciting hymns to Umā-Śiva, and pairing it with japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate inner humility and steadiness.