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

Hiểu như vậy, vị yogin lừng danh ấy quả thật hành xử đúng theo đó. Dẫu dáng vẻ bên ngoài có thể như kẻ cuồng—kỳ dị hay méo lệch—người vẫn được tôn xưng là bậc có tự ngã chính là Śaṅkara (Śiva).

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.