Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

इति बुद्ध्व्या तथा कुर्वन्स हि योगी महायशः । उन्मत्तविकृताकारः शंकरात्मेति कीर्तितः ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

iti buddhvyā tathā kurvansa hi yogī mahāyaśaḥ | unmattavikṛtākāraḥ śaṃkarātmeti kīrtitaḥ || 88 ||

Translation

இவ்வாறு உணர்ந்து அதன்படி நடக்கும் அந்தப் பெருமைமிக்க யோகி—வெளிப்புறத்தில் பித்தன் போலவும் விகாரமான தோற்றமுடையவனாகவும் தோன்றினாலும்—‘சங்கராத்மா’, அதாவது சங்கரனே அவன் ஆத்மா எனப் போற்றப்படுகிறான்।

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यादि-निर्देशक-अव्यय)

• buddhvā: having understood
• buddhvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √budh (बुध् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), 'having understood'

• tathā: thus / in that way
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• kurvan: doing
• kurvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/हेतु-प्राय-अव्यय)

• yogī: yogi
• yogī: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahāyaśaḥ: greatly renowned
• mahāyaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'mahac ca tat yaśaḥ' (great-famed)

• unmatta-vikṛta-ākāraḥ: having a mad and distorted appearance
• unmatta-vikṛta-ākāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unmatta (प्रातिपदिक) + vikṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ कृ) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); descriptive compound qualifying yogī

• śaṃkara-ātmā: one whose self is Śaṅkara / Śaṅkara-souled
• śaṃkara-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'śaṃkaraḥ eva ātmā yasya' (sense close to karmadhāraya/bahuvrīhi in meaning; here used as epithet)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यादि-निर्देशक-अव्यय)

• kīrtitaḥ: is called
• kīrtitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (कीर्त् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); passive sense: 'is called/celebrated'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shankara
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true realization is inward: an accomplished yogin may appear socially unconventional, yet is honored as one established in Śiva-consciousness (śaṅkarātmatā).

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

While the verse is framed in yogic realization, it supports bhakti by emphasizing God-centered identity: the realized one is described as ‘Śaṅkara-ātmā,’ indicating unwavering absorption in the Divine beyond external display.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway aligned with Vedāṅga ethics (dharma/ācāra) is discernment: do not judge spiritual attainment by outward markers; assess steadiness of knowledge and conduct according to śāstra rather than appearance.