Shloka 48

Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati

Sanskrit

जड उवाच एवं स्तुता तदा देवी विष्णोर्जिह्वा सरस्वती ।

प्रत्युवाच महात्मानं नागमश्वतरं ततः ॥

Transliteration

jaḍa uvāca evaṃ stutā tadā devī viṣṇorjihvā sarasvatī /

pratyuvāca mahātmānaṃ nāgamaśvataraṃ tataḥ

Translation

జడుడు అన్నాడు: ఈ విధంగా స్తుతింపబడిన దేవి—విష్ణువు యొక్క జిహ్వ అయిన సరస్వతి—అప్పుడు మహాత్ముడైన నాగ అశ్వతరునికి ప్రత్యుత్తరం చెప్పింది।

Word by Word

• jaḍaḥ: Jaḍa (name)
• jaḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• stutā: praised
• stutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stu (स्तु धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with devī

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• devī: the goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• jihvā: tongue
• jihvā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; in apposition to sarasvatī/devī

• sarasvatī: Sarasvatī
• sarasvatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to devī

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; with prefix prati-

• mahātmānam: the great-souled one
• mahātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक; mahā + ātman)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय ‘great-souled’

• nāgam: the serpent
• nāgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; in apposition to aśvataram

• aśvataram: Aśvatara (name)
• aśvataram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvatara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः = thereafter/from that)

Speakers

• Narrator: Jaḍa; Dialogue: Sarasvatī ↔ Aśvatara

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bhakti", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Sarasvatī
• Viṣṇu

Shakti Aspects

• Sarasvatī as Vāk-śakti of Viṣṇu

Key Themes

• Frame narration
• Boons
• Devotion rewarded
• Sarasvatī identity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Praise (stuti) is portrayed as efficacious: sincere recognition of Devī’s supremacy elicits direct grace and instruction/boons.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is narrative linkage (upākhyāna) rather than pancalakṣaṇa material; it supports dharma through exemplifying devotion and divine response.

What is the esoteric significance?

Calling Sarasvatī ‘Viṣṇu’s tongue’ encodes the idea that preservation (Viṣṇu) operates through sacred speech—mantra, knowledge, and right articulation.