Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

स्वां स्वां गीतिमतः सर्वे तिरस्कृत्यैव मूर्च्छिता । तूष्णीभूतं समभवद्देवर्षिगणदानवम् ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

svāṃ svāṃ gītimataḥ sarve tiraskṛtyaiva mūrcchitā | tūṣṇībhūtaṃ samabhavaddevarṣigaṇadānavam || 120 ||

Translation

സ്വന്തംസ്വന്തം ഗീതികളിൽ നിപുണരായ എല്ലാവരും തള്ളിക്കളഞ്ഞതുപോലെ മൂർഛിതരായി; അവരുടെ സ്വരധാര മൂടപ്പെട്ടതുപോലെ, ദേവർഷികളും ദാനവരും കൂടിയ സഭ നിശ്ശബ്ദമായി।

Word by Word

• स्वाम्: one's own
• स्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem., acc. sg.)

• स्वाम्: each his own
• स्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-प्रयोगः (fem., acc. sg.; distributive)

• गीतिमतः: of the singers / of those having songs
• गीतिमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (masc., gen. pl.)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masc., nom. pl.)

• तिरस्कृत्य: having disregarded
• तिरस्कृत्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तिरस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having disregarded/insulted’

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• मूर्च्छिताः: became stunned/fainted
• मूर्च्छिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मूर्च्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘fainted/overwhelmed’ (masc., nom. pl.)

• तूष्णीभूतम्: silenced / become silent
• तूष्णीभूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तूष्णी + भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘become silent’ (neut., nom./acc. sg.)

• समभवत्: became/occurred
• समभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg.)

• देवर्षिगणदानवम्: the assemblage of divine seers, groups, and demons (collectively)
• देवर्षिगणदानवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि-गण-दानव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (देवर्षयः + गणाः + दानवाः) समाहार-द्वन्द्व (neut., nom./acc. sg.)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual narration within the dialogue of Nārada and the Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (awe-silence)

Characters & Entities

• Devarṣis
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

It highlights the overpowering force of a higher, sacred presence or revelation: even accomplished singers are rendered speechless, showing how worldly artistry becomes secondary before transcendent śabda (sacred sound) and spiritual authority.

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

By portraying collective silence and humility, the verse points to a key bhakti-mood: when confronted with divine greatness, ego and display subside, and receptive stillness arises—an inner condition supportive of hearing, chanting, and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly underscores Śikṣā (phonetics) and the discipline of sound—how mastery of voice, tone, and musical expression can be surpassed by a more potent sacred utterance, reminding practitioners that technical skill should serve dharma and spiritual intent.