Shloka 192
Narasiṃha’s Greatness and the Slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu
Boon, Portents, and Cosmic Restoration
परं च यज्ञं परमं च होत्रं त्वामाहुरग्य्रं परमं पुराणम् । परं शरीरं परमं च ब्रह्म परं च योगं परमां च वाणीम्
paraṃ ca yajñaṃ paramaṃ ca hotraṃ tvāmāhuragyraṃ paramaṃ purāṇam | paraṃ śarīraṃ paramaṃ ca brahma paraṃ ca yogaṃ paramāṃ ca vāṇīm
Man nennt dich das höchste Opfer (yajña) und die höchste Darbringung; man ruft dich den Ersten, das höchste Purāṇa. Du bist der höchste Leib und das höchste Brahman; du bist das höchste Yoga und die erhabenste Rede.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from Adhyaya 45 narrative frame)
Concept: Purāṇa-kathā is equated with yajña and brahma—suggesting that devotion expressed through hearing/recitation is a complete sacrifice in Kali-yuga.
Application: Replace performative religiosity with consistent śravaṇa-kīrtana; sanctify speech (vāk) by speaking truth and Hari-kathā; treat study as daily yajña.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic altar appears where the fire is made of luminous syllables, and offerings are lotus petals turning into mantras. Above the altar, the Purāṇa manifests as a radiant scroll, while a serene Nārāyaṇa presence pervades the scene, implying that speech, yoga, and sacrifice converge in divine sound.","primary_figures":["Personified Padma Purāṇa","Hotṛ priest (symbolic)","Nārāyaṇa (subtle all-pervading form)"],"setting":"Celestial yajña-vedī floating in a starry void, lotus-shaped fire pit, mantra-letters swirling like sparks","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","molten gold","smoke gray","lotus white","crimson vermilion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a mantra-fire yajña with gold-leaf flames shaped like Sanskrit syllables, the Purāṇa-scroll enthroned above the altar with an embossed halo, hotṛ in ornate dhoti offering lotus petals, Nārāyaṇa’s blue form faintly behind with conch and discus, rich reds/greens, gem-like highlights on vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate yajña scene on a lotus platform under a twilight sky, thin wisps of smoke forming Devanāgarī letters, soft blues and greens, refined priestly figure, a translucent Viṣṇu aura in the background, lyrical minimalism and gentle gradients.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symmetrical altar with bold outlines, stylized flames as curved glyphs, priest and divine presence rendered with characteristic large eyes, red-yellow-green palette, temple-wall composition, decorative borders of lotus and creepers.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central lotus-yajña motif with concentric floral borders, Sanskrit syllables as decorative sparks, deep blue ground with gold detailing, small Viṣṇu medallions around, peacocks and lotuses framing the sacrificial scene in Nathdwara ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","soft mridangam","temple bells","crackling fire (symbolic)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: परम् च यज्ञम् परमम् च होत्रम् त्वाम् आहुः अग्र्यम् परमम् पुराणम् । परम् शरीरम् परमम् च ब्रह्म परम् च योगम् परमाम् च वाणीम् । (त्वामाहुः = त्वाम्+आहुः; आहुरग्य्रं/आहुरग्र्यं = आहुः+अग्र्यम्; वाणीम् final anusvāra per edition)
FAQs
It presents an all-encompassing identity: the addressed divine principle is equated with ritual (yajña, hotra), ultimate reality (Brahman), spiritual practice (yoga), and revelation/sacred speech (Vāk).
By saying the same ‘you’ are both yajña/hotra and Brahman, the verse collapses the divide between external sacrifice and the highest metaphysical principle, implying ritual’s deepest meaning culminates in the Absolute.
It encourages integrated practice: honor sacred speech and discipline (Vāk and yoga) while recognizing that worship and offerings are ultimately directed toward—and grounded in—the supreme reality.