Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

हरिरूपः शंकरात्मा मारुतिः कपिसत्तमः । पर्यायैरुच्यतेऽधीशः साक्षाद्विष्णुः शिवः परः ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

harirūpaḥ śaṃkarātmā mārutiḥ kapisattamaḥ | paryāyairucyate'dhīśaḥ sākṣādviṣṇuḥ śivaḥ paraḥ || 91 ||

Translation

ആരുടെയോ രൂപം ഹരി, അന്തസ്സ്വരൂപം ശങ്കരൻ—ആ മാർുതി, കപിശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ, പല പര്യായനാമങ്ങളാൽ സ്തുതിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; ആ അധീശൻ സാക്ഷാൽ വിഷ്ണു, പരമ ശിവൻ.

Word by Word

• hari-rūpaḥ: one of Hari’s form / Hari-formed
• hari-rūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘hareḥ rūpam’/‘hari-rūpa’ (having Hari as form)

• śaṃkara-ātmā: whose self is Śaṅkara
• śaṃkara-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘śaṃkaraḥ ātmā yasya’ (having Śaṅkara as self)

• mārutiḥ: Māruti (Hanumān)
• mārutiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruti (मारुति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• kapi-sattamaḥ: best of monkeys
• kapi-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘kapīnām sattamaḥ’ (best among monkeys)

• paryāyaiḥ: by synonyms / by alternate names
• paryāyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryāya (पर्याय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular; Ātmanepada, passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• adhīśaḥ: the supreme lord
• adhīśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhīśa (अधीश प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sākṣāt: directly, in person
• sākṣāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (विष्णु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (पर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Shankara
• Maruti (Hanuman)
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms the non-contradiction of Viṣṇu and Śiva at the supreme level and presents Hanumān as a direct embodiment where Hari’s form and Śaṅkara’s essence are united, guiding the devotee toward non-sectarian devotion.

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

By emphasizing paryāya (multiple sacred names/epithets), it supports bhakti through nāma-stuti—praising the Lord in many names—while keeping the focus on one Supreme Reality expressed as Viṣṇu/Śiva.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse uses a Vedanga-like approach to meaning: understanding paryāya (synonymous appellations) and precise semantic identification of deities—an interpretive method aligned with nirukta/lexical analysis and disciplined scriptural exegesis.