Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

गुरुर्हि मुख्यो हनुमज्जनिर्महान्रामाङ्घ्रिभक्तो हनुमान्सदैव / एवं विदित्वा परमं हरिं च पुत्रं पुनर्मुख्यदेवस्य वायोः

Transliteration

gururhi mukhyo hanumajjanirmahānrāmāṅghribhakto hanumānsadaiva / evaṃ viditvā paramaṃ hariṃ ca putraṃ punarmukhyadevasya vāyoḥ

Translation

महाबली वायुपुत्र हनुमान हाच मुख्य गुरु आहे; तो सदैव श्रीरामचरणांचा भक्त आहे. असे परम हरिला जाणून, आणि पुन्हा देवांमध्ये मुख्य वायूचा पुत्र हनुमान आहे हे समजून, त्याचा यथोचित सन्मान करावा।

Word by Word

• guruḥ: the guru
• guruḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• mukhyaḥ: chief
• mukhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies guruḥ)

• hanumat-janīr: Hanumān's mother
• hanumat-janīr: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat + janī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: हनुमतः जननी (mother of Hanumān)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies implied subject/hanumān or guru)

• rāma-aṅghri-bhaktaḥ: devotee of Rama's feet
• rāma-aṅghri-bhaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + aṅghri + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: रामस्य अङ्घ्रिः (feet) तस्य भक्तः (devotee of Rama's feet)

• hanumān: Hanumān
• hanumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb): 'always'

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक: 'thus'

• viditvā: having known
• viditvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, absolutive/gerund): 'having known'; धातु: विद् (to know)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies hariṃ)

• harim: Hari
• harim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• punar: again/further
• punar: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति/क्रमवाचक: 'again, further'

• mukhya-devasya: of the chief deity
• mukhya-devasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukhya + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मुख्यः देवः (the chief deity)

• vāyoḥ: of Vāyu
• vāyoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hanumān, son of Vāyu, is foremost guru because he is eternally devoted to Rāma’s feet; honoring him follows from knowing Hari as supreme and Hanumān’s divine lineage.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as the most effective upāya; guru-tattva embodied in the perfected devotee who reveals Hari through service.

Application: Cultivate Hanumān-sevā and Rāma-nāma; approach devotion through humility and service to the Lord’s foremost servant.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: epic sacred landscape (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.34 (proper worship); Garuda Purana 3.1.37-3.1.38 (definition of Vaiṣṇava; exclusive refuge)

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Rama
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of Hanuman as a guru in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Hanuman as the foremost guide because his life exemplifies unwavering devotion to Rama and direct knowledge of the Supreme Hari, making him an ideal model for discipleship and bhakti.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader spiritual teaching?

Even within a text known for afterlife and dharma themes, the Garuda Purana repeatedly grounds liberation-oriented instruction in devotion and right guidance; here, knowing Hari and honoring the guru-bhakta (Hanuman) is highlighted as spiritually decisive.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion (regular prayer/japa), seek guidance from exemplars of humility and service, and remember the ideal of surrender at the Lord’s feet—qualities embodied by Hanuman.