Shloka 87

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

वाय्वादीनां त्रयाणां च सेव्यत्वात्सेव्यता स्मृता / भूभारहरणे विष्णोः प्रधानाङ्गं हि मारुतिः

Transliteration

vāyvādīnāṃ trayāṇāṃ ca sevyatvātsevyatā smṛtā / bhūbhāraharaṇe viṣṇoḥ pradhānāṅgaṃ hi mārutiḥ

Translation

ولأنَّ الثلاثة الذين يبتدئون بڤايو جديرون بالخدمة الموقّرة، أُعلِنَت عبادتهم لائقة. وفي عمل ڤيشنو لرفع عبء الأرض، فإنَّ ماروتي (هنومان) هو حقًّا أداته العظمى—كأنه العضو الرئيس من أعضائه.

Word by Word

• वाय्वादीनाम्: of Vāyu and others
• वाय्वादीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—वायु + आदि (आदि-शब्देन सह)

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• त्रयाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सेव्यत्वात्: because of being worthy of service/veneration
• सेव्यत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेव्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

• सेव्यता: venerability
• सेव्यता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेव्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्मृता: is said/remembered
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्मृ’ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययः

• भू-भार-हरणे: in the removal of the earth’s burden
• भू-भार-हरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू + भार + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—भूभारस्य हरणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• प्रधान-अङ्गम्: the principal limb/part
• प्रधान-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—प्रधानं च तत् अङ्गं च (कर्मधारय)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुबोधक अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• मारुतिः: Māruti (Hanumān)
• मारुतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vāyu and related beings are sevya (worthy of reverent service) due to their role; Hanuman is Vishnu’s principal instrument in dharma-restoration.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as nimitta (primary agent) working through empowered instruments (karaṇa); bhakti expressed as śeṣatva (servanthood).

Application: Emulate Hanuman: channel strength into selfless service for dharma; honor divine instruments without mistaking them for the Supreme.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic battlefield/earthly realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.88-89 (limbs of Hari; limits of namaskāra)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Vishnu
• Maruti (Hanuman)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping the three deities beginning with Vāyu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that they are inherently “sevyāḥ” (worthy of reverent service), so honoring them is considered a proper and meritorious devotional practice.

How does this verse describe Hanumān’s role in Viṣṇu’s mission?

It calls Māruti the “pradhānāṅga” of Viṣṇu in removing the earth’s burden—meaning Hanumān functions as Viṣṇu’s foremost agent in restoring dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate devotion and disciplined service: honor divine forces that uphold life (like Vāyu) and emulate Hanumān’s loyalty, courage, and selfless support of dharma.