Hindi

Proper noun

सरस्वती • ‎(Sarasvatī) f ‎(Urdu spelling سرسوتی)

1. Saraswati (Hindu deity)
2. Sarasvati River

Synonyms

• सरसूती ‎(sarsūtī)

Sanskrit

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *sáras-wn̥t-iH ‎(“she with many pools”); compare Sanskrit सरस् ‎(sáras, “pond, pool”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬵𐬀𐬭𐬀𐬑𐬬𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬍 ‎(Haraxwaitī), a region described to be rich in rivers, and the Old Persian [script needed] ‎(Hara[h]uvatiš), the Helmand river system.

Proper noun

सरस्वती • ‎(Sárasvatī) f

1. the Saraswati river
   • RV 7.95.1

     पर कषोदसा धायसा सस्र एषा सरस्वती धरुणमायसी पूः|

     परबाबधाना रथ्येव याति विश्वा अपो महिना सिन्धुरन्याः||

     pra kṣodasā dhāyasā sasra eṣā sarasvatī dharuṇamāyasī pūḥ|

     prabābadhānā rathyeva yāti viśvā apo mahinā sindhuranyāḥ||

     THIS stream Sarasvatī with fostering current comes forth, our sure defence, our fort of iron.

     As on a car, the flood flows on, surpassing in majesty and might all other waters.

2. name of a region abounding in pools and lakes
3. name of a well-known small river (held very sacred by the Hindus; identified with the modern Sursooty)
4. name of various rivers (especially of rivers which in sacredness are equal to Saraswati and which are three according to Atharvaveda vi, 101, and seven according to Mahabharata ix, 2188)
5. Saraswati, the goddess of eloquence and learning
6. name of various plants (Cardiospermum halicacabum, Aegle marmelos, Ruta graveolens etc.)
7. name of a two-year-old girl representing दुर्गा ‎(durgā) at her festival
8. name of a poetess
9. name of various other women
10. name of one of the ten mendicant orders traced back to शंकराचार्य ‎(śaṃkarācārya) (whose members add the word sarasvatī to their names)

Noun

सरस्वती • ‎(sárasvatī) f

1. any river
2. speech or the power of speech, eloquence, learning wisdom
3. a celestial or oracular voice
4. cow
5. excellent woman

Declension

Descendants

• English: Saraswati
• Telugu: సరస్వతి ‎(sarasvati)