Devi Bhagavatam 9.5.7 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 7

Skandha 9, Adhyaya 5: Yajnavalkya's Hymn to Goddess Saraswati

Devanagari script

ज्ञानं देहि स्मृतिं विद्यां शक्तिं शिष्यप्रबोधिनीम् । ग्रन्थकर्तृत्वशक्तिं च सुशिष्यं सुप्रतिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

jñānaṃ dehi smṛtiṃ vidyāṃ śaktiṃ śiṣyaprabodhinīm .

granthakartṛtvaśaktiṃ ca suśiṣyaṃ supratiṣṭhitam

Translation

Berikanlah hamba pengetahuan, ingatan, pembelajaran, dan kekuatan untuk membangkitkan serta membimbing murid-murid. Berikanlah hamba keupayaan untuk menulis kitab-kitab besar, dan berkatilah hamba dengan murid-murid yang baik.

Word by Word

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna
• Form: Accusative Singular Neuter

• dehi: give
• dehi: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ) 2nd Person Singular

• smṛtim: memory
• smṛtim: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: smṛti
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• vidyām: learning
• vidyām: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• śaktim: power
• śaktim: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• śiṣyaprabodhinīm: awakening the disciples
• śiṣyaprabodhinīm: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiṣyaprabodhinī
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• granthakartṛtvaśaktim: power of authorship
• granthakartṛtvaśaktim: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: granthakartṛtvaśakti
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• suśiṣyam: good disciple
• suśiṣyam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: suśiṣya
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

• supratiṣṭhitam: well-established
• supratiṣṭhitam: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: supratiṣṭhita
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

Speaker

Sage Yajnavalkya

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: Sarasvati

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: Bestower of Knowledge

Tattva Discussed: Vidya

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: setup

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: null

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: null

Tantric Practice Type: null

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: Stotra

Recitation Occasion: Daily

Phala Shruti: Authorship and good disciples

Devotee Offering Stuti: Yajnavalkya

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Vyasa

Listener: Janamejaya

Dialogue Context: Narrating Yajnavalkya's prayer to Sarasvati

Narrative Layer: sub-embedded

Ritual Context

Text: A highly potent verse often chanted by students, teachers, and writers seeking inspiration, memory retention, and academic success.

Philosophical Significance

Text: Knowledge is not meant to be hoarded; the prayer explicitly asks for the power to teach and pass it on to worthy disciples, sustaining the tradition.

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Jnana (Knowledge)
• Smriti (Memory)
• Vidya (Learning)

FAQs

What specific intellectual gifts does Yajnavalkya ask for?

He asks for knowledge (Jnana), memory (Smriti), learning (Vidya), and the creative power to author texts (Granthakartritvashakti).

What does he ask for regarding his role as a teacher?

He requests the power to effectively awaken and instruct disciples, and asks to be blessed with excellent, well-established students.