Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 158

Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice and the Manifestation of Sarasvatī

with Tīrtha-Merit Teachings

Devanagari script

प्राचीनत्वं सरस्वत्या यथा भूतं शृणुष्व तत् । सरस्वती पुरा प्रोक्ता देवैः सर्वैः सवासवैः

Transliteration

prācīnatvaṃ sarasvatyā yathā bhūtaṃ śṛṇuṣva tat | sarasvatī purā proktā devaiḥ sarvaiḥ savāsavaiḥ

Translation

Pakinggan mo ang sinaunang salaysay ni Sarasvatī, ayon sa tunay na naganap. Noong unang panahon, si Sarasvatī ay ipinahayag ng lahat ng mga diyos, kasama ang mga Vasu.

Word by Word

• प्राचीनत्वम्: ancientness, antiquity
• प्राचीनत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राचीनत्व (प्रातिपदिक; प्राचीन + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• सरस्वत्याः: of Sarasvatī
• सरस्वत्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• यथा: as, how
• यथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (as, in the manner that)

• भूतम्: as it was, true
• भूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (यथाभूतम् = as it really was)

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• तत्: that (account)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly)

• प्रोक्ता: was proclaimed/declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्तृ), बहुवचन

• सर्वैः: all
• सर्वैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (देवैः)

• सवासवैः: together with the Vasus/Indras (Asavas)
• सवासवैः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवासव (प्रातिपदिक; स + वासव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (वासवैः सह)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Adhyaya 18)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सरस्वत्या→सरस्वत्याः (IAST sarasvatyā intended genitive); सवासवैः = स + वासवैः (saha-artha)

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvatī
• Devas
• Vasus

FAQs

What is the main point of this verse?

It introduces an ancient, authoritative narration about Sarasvatī, stating that her account was recognized and spoken of by all the gods along with the Vasus.

Who are the Vasus mentioned here?

The Vasus are a group of eight Vedic deities associated with natural and cosmic principles; the verse presents them as participating with the other gods in acknowledging Sarasvatī.

Why does the verse emphasize “as it truly happened” (yathā bhūtam)?

It signals that the forthcoming narration is intended as a faithful traditional account, strengthening the text’s claim to antiquity and reliability within Purāṇic storytelling.