Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 115

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

शुश्राव गीतिं मधुरां शंकरो लोकभावतः । स्वयं गातुं हि ललितं मंदंमंदं प्रचक्रमे ॥ ११५ ॥

Transliteration

śuśrāva gītiṃ madhurāṃ śaṃkaro lokabhāvataḥ | svayaṃ gātuṃ hi lalitaṃ maṃdaṃmaṃdaṃ pracakrame || 115 ||

Translation

Ao ouvir a doce melodia, Śaṅkara—movido pelo sentimento comum do mundo—começou ele mesmo a cantar, suave e graciosamente, pouco a pouco.

Word by Word

• śuśrāva: heard
• śuśrāva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• gītim: song
• gītim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (sg.)

• madhurām: sweet
• madhurām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण of gītim

• śaṃkaraḥ: Shankara (Śiva)
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• lokabhāvataḥ: due to/according to worldly sentiment
• lokabhāvataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: loka + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः—पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषात् अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘लोकभावात्’ = ‘from/according to the feeling of the people/world’

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः/स्वतः (reflexive adverb)

• gātum: to sing
• gātum: Prayojana/Anukriya (प्रयोजन/अनुक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), ‘to sing’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• lalitam: gracefully
• lalitam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lalita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘in a graceful manner’

• mandaṃ: slowly
• mandaṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः—नपुंसक एकवचन द्वितीया used adverbially; first member of repetition

• mandaṃ: slowly (again)
• mandaṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) for intensity/continuity; adverbial use

• pracakrame: began/undertook
• pracakrame: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kram (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.); प्र-उपसर्ग

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration; verse describes Śaṅkara’s action)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It highlights the sanctifying power of sacred sound: a sweet hymn stirs even Śaṅkara, showing how devotional music (gīta/stotra) naturally awakens reverence and elevates the mind.

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

Bhakti is shown as spontaneous and heart-led: on hearing a sweet devotional melody, Śaṅkara responds by singing himself—illustrating that sincere hearing (śravaṇa) and singing (kīrtana/gāna) flow naturally in devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to disciplined vocal expression and cadence—skills aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics/proper utterance) and Chandas (rhythmic flow)—as foundations for effective recitation and sacred singing.