Shloka 39

Sarasvatī-avatāra-prasaṅgaḥ

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

Devanagari script

एवं विज्ञाय मां देवास्स्वं स्वं गर्वं विहाय च । भजत प्रणयोपेताः प्रकृतिं मां सनातनीम्

Transliteration

evaṃ vijñāya māṃ devāssvaṃ svaṃ garvaṃ vihāya ca | bhajata praṇayopetāḥ prakṛtiṃ māṃ sanātanīm

Translation

Wahai para dewa, setelah mengenal-Ku demikian, tinggalkanlah kesombongan masing-masing dan sembahlah Aku dengan bhakti penuh kasih—Aku, Prakṛti yang abadi.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘वि’ उपसर्ग

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

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

• स्वम्: one's own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of गर्वम् (own)

• स्वम्: each one's own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (each his own)

• गर्वम्: pride
• गर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विहाय: having abandoned
• विहाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘वि’ उपसर्ग

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भजत: worship/serve
• भजत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• प्रणयोपेताः: endowed with affection/devotion
• प्रणयोपेताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणय-उपेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of देवाः. क्त (PPP) from √इ (to go) with उपसर्ग उप-; समासः: प्रणयेन उपेताः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रकृतिम्: Prakṛti / primordial nature
• प्रकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to प्रकृतिम्

• सनातनीम्: eternal
• सनातनीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of प्रकृतिम्

Speaker

Goddess Umā (Pārvatī) instructing the devas (contextual inference within Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Prakriti (Shakti/Uma)

FAQs

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

It teaches that true knowledge culminates in humility: once the devas recognize the divine principle, they must renounce ego (garva) and approach the eternal Reality with loving devotion—an essential Shaiva path to grace and liberation.

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

In Shaiva understanding, worship is effective when ego is surrendered; devotion to Shiva (often through the Linga as Saguna support) is fulfilled when one honors Shiva’s inseparable power (Śakti/Prakṛti) and approaches with praṇaya (heartfelt reverence).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is ego-offering through bhakti: perform Shiva-pūjā with humility, repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion, and mentally relinquish pride before worship.