Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 111

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

खङ्गभृत्कामदः कांतः कालघ्नः कमलेक्षणः । भद्रवादप्रियो वैद्यो विबुधो वरदो वशी ॥ १११ ॥

Transliteration

khaṅgabhṛtkāmadaḥ kāṃtaḥ kālaghnaḥ kamalekṣaṇaḥ | bhadravādapriyo vaidyo vibudho varado vaśī || 111 ||

Translation

هو حاملُ السيف؛ وواهِبُ العطايا المَرغوبة؛ والمحبوبُ المتلألئ؛ وقاتلُ الزمان (الموت)؛ والربُّ ذو العينين كاللوتس. يَسُرُّهُ الكلامُ المبارك؛ وهو الطبيبُ الإلهي؛ والحكيمُ العليمُ بكلِّ شيء؛ ومانحُ البركات؛ والسيدُ المتحكِّمُ بنفسه.

Word by Word

• खङ्गभृत्: sword-bearer
• खङ्गभृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खङ्ग + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृदन्त), ‘धारणकर्ता’

• कामदः: giver of desires/boons
• कामदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + द (दा/ददाति धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कामान् ददाति’ इति (द-प्रत्ययान्त)

• कान्तः: beloved; handsome
• कान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कालघ्नः: slayer of Time/death
• कालघ्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + घ्न (हन् धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; घ्न-प्रत्ययान्त (‘हन्ता’)

• कमलेक्षणः: lotus-eyed
• कमलेक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘कमलम् इव ईक्षणं यस्य’

• भद्रवादप्रियः: fond of auspicious speech
• भद्रवादप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र + वाद + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘भद्रवादस्य प्रियः’

• वैद्यः: physician; healer
• वैद्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विबुधः: wise; enlightened
• विबुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वरदः: boon-giver
• वरदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर + द (दा/ददाति धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘वरं ददाति’

• वशी: self-controlled; masterful
• वशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Narada (as reciter/teacher within the Narada Purana’s instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse presents power-names of Vishnu that frame Him as protector (sword-bearer), benefactor (boon-giver), and liberator (destroyer of death), guiding the devotee toward fearlessness, auspicious conduct, and God-centered remembrance.

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

By meditating on Vishnu’s qualities—beauty, compassion, healing, and mastery—Bhakti becomes concrete through nāma-smaraṇa (name-remembrance) and inner transformation: cultivating auspicious speech, self-control, and trust in divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse supports disciplined sacred recitation (linked with Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa in practice): clear pronunciation, meaning-based contemplation, and ethical speech (bhadravāda) as a practical rule for effective mantra/nāma-japa.