Devi Bhagavatam 9.5.9 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

यथाङ्‌कुरं भस्मनि च करोति देवता पुनः । ब्रह्मस्वरूपा परमा ज्योतीरूपा सनातनी

Transliteration

yathāṅ‌kuraṃ bhasmani ca karoti devatā punaḥ .

brahmasvarūpā paramā jyotīrūpā sanātanī

Translation

جس طرح دیوتا راکھ سے بھی کونپل اگا سکتا ہے۔ تو برہمن کی فطرت ہے، اعلیٰ ترین، نور کی شکل اور ابدی ہے۔

Word by Word

• yathā: as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā
• Form: Indeclinable

• aṅkuram: sprout
• aṅkuram: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅkura
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

• bhasmani: in ashes
• bhasmani: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman
• Form: Locative Singular Neuter

• karoti: makes
• karoti: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ
• Form: Present (Laṭ) 3rd Person Singular

• devatā: the deity
• devatā: Kartṛ
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• brahmasvarūpā: whose form is Brahman
• brahmasvarūpā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmasvarūpa
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• paramā: supreme
• paramā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• jyotīrūpā: whose form is light
• jyotīrūpā: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyotīrūpa
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• sanātanī: eternal
• sanātanī: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātanī
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

Speaker

Sage Yajnavalkya

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: Sarasvati

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: Supreme Light

Tattva Discussed: Shakti

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: Vidya-Maya

Creation Role: Rejuvenation and Sustenance

Shakti Philosophy: Shakta Advaita

Relation To Brahman: Identical to Brahman

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Vyasa

Listener: Janamejaya

Dialogue Context: Narrating Yajnavalkya's prayer to Sarasvati

Narrative Layer: sub-embedded

Ritual Context

Text: A meditative verse used to visualize the Goddess not just as a deity of arts, but as the formless, eternal light of consciousness.

Philosophical Significance

Text: Elevates Sarasvati from a functional deity of learning to the ultimate Vedantic reality (Brahman), a core tenet of Shakta philosophy.

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Brahman

FAQs

What metaphor is used to describe the Goddess's power?

Her power is compared to the miraculous ability of a deity to make a fresh green sprout grow out of dead ashes, symbolizing her ability to restore Yajnavalkya's destroyed intellect.

How is Goddess Sarasvati described philosophically here?

She is described as Brahmasvarupa (the embodiment of the Supreme Brahman), Parama (the Supreme), Jyotirupa (of the form of Light), and Sanatani (Eternal).