Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

संरुद्धूगतिसामर्थ्यान्करोतु कृतवीर्यजः । सृणिसाहस्रनिर्भिन्नान्सहस्रशरखंडितान् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

saṃruddhūgatisāmarthyānkarotu kṛtavīryajaḥ | sṛṇisāhasranirbhinnānsahasraśarakhaṃḍitān || 53 ||

Translation

فليُظهِر ابنُ كِرتَفِيرْيَةَ قوّةَ الاندفاعِ المكبوحِ والسرعة؛ وليَطعن ألفاً من رجال سِرْني، وليُسقِطهم بألفِ سهمٍ قاطع.

Word by Word

• saṃruddha-ūgati-sāmarthyān: (their) powers of movement/advance, restrained
• saṃruddha-ūgati-sāmarthyān: Karma (कर्म/object of karotu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃ-√rudh (सं-रुध्) + ta (क्त) + ūgati (ऊगति प्रातिपदिक) + sāmarthya (सामर्थ्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; मुख्यपदम् ‘सामर्थ्य’ (neuter) बहुवचन? रूपं ‘सामर्थ्यान्’ = पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रायः द्वितीया बहुवचन; अर्थतः ‘ऊगतिसामर्थ्य’ (power of movement/advance) ‘संरुद्ध’ (checked) इति विशेषण; द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• karotu: let (him) make/do
• karotu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• kṛtavīrya-jaḥ: the son of Kṛtavīrya
• kṛtavīrya-jaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtavīrya (कृतवीर्य प्रातिपदिक) + ja (ज)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘कृतवीर्यस्य जः’ (son of Kṛtavīrya); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sṛṇi-sāhasra-nirbhinnān: pierced by a thousand sṛṇi weapons
• sṛṇi-sāhasra-nirbhinnān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sṛṇi (सृणि प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (सहस्र) + nir-√bhid (निर्भिद्) + ta (क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘निर्भिन्न’ (क्त-कृदन्त) विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘सृणि-साहस्रेण निर्भिन्नान्’ (pierced by a thousand sṛṇi-weapons)

• sahasra-śara-khaṇḍitān: shattered by a thousand arrows
• sahasra-śara-khaṇḍitān: Karma (कर्म/object; further qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (सहस्र) + śara (शर) + khaṇḍita (खण्डित प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘खण्डित’ (क्त-कृदन्त) विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘सहस्रशरैः खण्डितान्’

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the dialogue tradition to the Sanatkumara brothers, as typical for this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Krtavirya
• Sreni (Sṛṇi clan)

FAQs

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

It highlights the peak of worldly prowess—speed, restraint, and destructive capability—implicitly contrasting temporal power with the Purana’s broader aim: directing the mind beyond violence and fame toward dharma and ultimately devotion.

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

This specific verse is not a direct bhakti instruction; rather, it serves as narrative material showing the limits of heroism. In the Narada Purana’s larger frame, such accounts often function as a foil to emphasize that lasting refuge is found in Vishnu-bhakti, not in sheer might.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily demonstrates precise Sanskrit compound usage and action-verbs (useful for Vyākaraṇa/grammar study), showing how martial descriptions are compressed into dense compounds typical of Purāṇic Sanskrit.