Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

अनेकानन्तब्रह्माण्डधृते ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणे । समीरणात्मने तस्मै नतोऽस्म्यात्मस्वरूपिणे ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

anekānantabrahmāṇḍadhṛte brahmasvarūpiṇe | samīraṇātmane tasmai nato'smyātmasvarūpiṇe || 31 ||

Translation

എണ്ണമറ്റ അനന്ത ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡങ്ങളെ ധരിക്കുന്ന, ബ്രഹ്മസ്വരൂപനും, പ്രാണവായുരൂപമായി വസിക്കുന്ന ആ പരമാത്മാവിന്—ആത്മാവിന്റെ സത്യസ്വരൂപനായ അവനോട്—ഞാൻ നമസ്കരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अनेकानन्तब्रह्माण्डधृते: to the supporter of countless infinite universes
• अनेकानन्तब्रह्माण्डधृते: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + धृत (धृ-धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अनेकानि अनन्तानि ब्रह्माण्डानि धृतानि येन/यस्मै)

• ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणे: to the one whose nature is Brahman
• ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मस्वरूपिन् = whose nature is Brahman)

• समीरणात्मने: to the one whose essence is wind/breath
• समीरणात्मने: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (समीरणः आत्मा यस्य/यः)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नतः: bowed
• नतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate of speaker)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आत्मस्वरूपिणे: to the one whose nature is the Self
• आत्मस्वरूपिणे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आत्मस्वरूपिन् = whose nature is the Self)

Speaker

Narada (stuti/obeisance within the Vedanga-oriented discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Prana (Samirana/Vayu)
• Atman

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

The verse fuses cosmic theology with inner realization: the Supreme who sustains innumerable universes is also Brahman itself and is directly present as prāṇa and the very Self (ātman), making worship and self-knowledge converge toward mokṣa.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti here is not merely external praise; it is reverence to the indwelling Lord as one’s own deepest reality—bowing to the Supreme as the Self—so devotion becomes a contemplative, inward surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly highlights the Vedanga-style interpretive move of reading mantra/stuti with layered meanings—cosmic (brahmāṇḍa-dhṛt), metaphysical (brahma-svarūpa), and physiological-spiritual (samīraṇa/prāṇa)—useful for disciplined recitation and contemplation.