Devi Bhagavatam — Skandha 9 - Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच कृपां कुरु जगन्मातर्मामेवं हततेजसम् । गुरुशापात्स्मृतिभ्रष्टं विद्याहीनं च दुःखितम्

Transliteration

yājñavalkya uvāca

kṛpāṃ kuru jaganmātarmāmevaṃ hatatejasam .

guruśāpātsmṛtibhraṣṭaṃ vidyāhīnaṃ ca duḥkhitam

Translation

یاگیہ ولکیہ نے کہا: اے مادرِ کائنات، مجھ پر رحم فرما! گرو کی بددعا سے میری چمک ختم ہو گئی، یادداشت چلی گئی، اور میں علم سے محروم و غمزدہ ہوں۔

Word by Word

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

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ) 3rd Person Singular

• kṛpām: mercy
• kṛpām: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• kuru: do/grant
• kuru: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ) 2nd Person Singular

• jaganmātaḥ: O Mother of the Universe
• jaganmātaḥ: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaganmātṛ
• Form: Vocative Singular Feminine

• mām: me
• mām: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: asmad
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

• evam: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam
• Form: Indeclinable

• hatatejasam: one whose luster is destroyed
• hatatejasam: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hatatejas
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

• guruśāpāt: from the guru's curse
• guruśāpāt: Apādāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: guruśāpa
• Form: Ablative Singular Masculine

• smṛtibhraṣṭam: fallen from memory
• smṛtibhraṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smṛtibhraṣṭa
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

• vidyāhīnam: devoid of knowledge
• vidyāhīnam: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyāhīna
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

• duḥkhitam: grieved
• duḥkhitam: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

Speaker

Sage Yajnavalkya

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: Sarasvati

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: Grace and Mercy

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: null

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: The opening of the actual Sarasvati Stotra. It begins with an honest confession of the seeker's helpless state.

Philosophical Significance

Text: True prayer starts with an acknowledgment of one's limitations and absolute dependence on the Divine Mother's grace.

Characters & Entities

• Yajnavalkya
• Jaganmata (Sarasvati)

FAQs

How does Yajnavalkya address Goddess Sarasvati?

He addresses her as 'Jaganmata', the Mother of the Universe.

What is Yajnavalkya's condition as described in this verse?

He describes himself as having his brilliance destroyed, his memory lost due to a curse, devoid of knowledge, and filled with sorrow.