Devi Bhagavatam 9.5.29 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

यां स्तोतुं किमहं स्तौमि तामेकास्येन मानवः । इत्युक्त्वा याज्ञवल्क्यश्च भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरः

Transliteration

yāṃ stotuṃ kimahaṃ staumi tāmikāsyena mānavaḥ .

ityuktvā yājñavalkyaśca bhaktinamrātmakandharaḥ

Translation

...Ao louvá-la; como então eu, um mero humano com apenas um rosto, posso louvá-la adequadamente? Tendo falado assim, Yajnavalkya, com o pescoço curvado em profunda devoção...

Word by Word

• yām: whom
• yām: Object
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• stotum: to praise
• stotum: Purpose
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu
• Form: Tumun Pratyaya (Infinitive)

• kim: what
• kim: Object
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim
• Form: Accusative Singular Neuter

• aham: I
• aham: Subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad
• Form: Nominative Singular Masculine

• staumi: praise
• staumi: Action
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu
• Form: 1st Person Singular Present Indicative Parasmaipada

• tām: her
• tām: Object
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• ekāsyena: with one mouth
• ekāsyena: Instrument
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekāsya
• Form: Instrumental Singular Neuter

• mānavaḥ: human
• mānavaḥ: Subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava
• Form: Nominative Singular Masculine

• iti: thus
• iti: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti
• Form: Indeclinable

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: null
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Gerund)

• yājñavalkyaḥ: Yajnavalkya
• yājñavalkyaḥ: Subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: yājñavalkya
• Form: Nominative Singular Masculine

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca
• Form: Indeclinable

• bhaktinamrātmakandharaḥ: whose neck was bent with devotion
• bhaktinamrātmakandharaḥ: Subject Modifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaktinamrātmakandhara
• Form: Nominative Singular Masculine

Speaker

Sage Yajnavalkya / Lord Narayana

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: Sarasvati

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: Incomprehensible to mortals

Tattva Discussed: null

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: resolution

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: null

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: Yajnavalkya

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Narayana

Listener: Narada

Dialogue Context: Yajnavalkya's surrender

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: Marks the emotional climax of the Stotra, where words fail and give way to silent, physical surrender.

Philosophical Significance

Text: True devotion culminates in the realization of one's own insignificance before the infinite. Silence and surrender become the highest form of praise.

Characters & Entities

• Yajnavalkya
• Sarasvati

FAQs

What realization does Yajnavalkya come to regarding his prayer?

He realizes that if multi-faced gods fail to praise her adequately, he, as a mere human with only one face, is entirely incapable of doing her justice.

How does Yajnavalkya conclude his spoken prayer?

He concludes his words in absolute humility, keeping his neck bowed down in deep, silent devotion.