Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 160

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

सौभाग्यकरवर्मांते कवचं पारिकीर्तितम् । सुरासुरांते मनुजसुंदरीति पदं वदेत् ॥ १६० ॥

Transliteration

saubhāgyakaravarmāṃte kavacaṃ pārikīrtitam | surāsurāṃte manujasuṃdarīti padaṃ vadet || 160 ||

Translation

Am Ende der Schutzformel „Saubhāgyakara-varman“ ist das Kavaca (heilige Schutzrüstung) ordnungsgemäß verkündet worden. Beim Abschluss des (mit) „surāsura“ (endenden Mantras) soll man die Wendung „manuja-sundarī“ sprechen.

Word by Word

• saubhāgya-kara-varma-ante: at the end of “saubhāgyakaravarma”
• saubhāgya-kara-varma-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saubhāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक) + varman (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverbial-locative sense “at the end of ‘saubhāgyakara-varma’”

• kavacam: the armor (kavaca)
• kavacam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular

• pāri-kīrtitam: is proclaimed
• pāri-kīrtitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāri-kīrtita (कृदन्त; √kīrtay/√kīrt ‘to proclaim’ with pāri-/pari-)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; “is fully/especially proclaimed”

• surāsura-ante: at the end of “surāsura”
• surāsura-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverbial-locative sense “at the end of ‘surāsura’”

• manuja-sundarī: “manujasundarī”
• manuja-sundarī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuja (प्रातिपदिक) + sundarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st; प्रथमा), Singular as quoted form with iti (mantra citation)

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

• padam: the word/segment
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd; द्वितीया), Singular

• vadet: should say/utter
• vadet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Optative/vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical mantra-prayoga as received in the tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual efficacy depends on correct mantra-sequencing: the kavaca is not only devotional but also a precise protective practice whose power is preserved by accurate endings and prescribed insertions.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined recitation—devotion guided by śāstra—where reverent attention to the taught form of the kavaca becomes an act of faithful obedience to the lineage of instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga precision akin to Vyākaraṇa/Śikṣā concerns: exact words (pada), proper placement (at the end of a segment), and correct completion rules for ritual recitation.