Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । साधु साधु महाप्राज्ञ सर्व तंत्रविशारद । त्वया मह्यं समाख्यातं विधानं तंत्रगोपितम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | sādhu sādhu mahāprājña sarva taṃtraviśārada | tvayā mahyaṃ samākhyātaṃ vidhānaṃ taṃtragopitam || 1 ||

Translation

Nārada sprach: „Vortrefflich, vortrefflich! O höchst Weiser, in allen Tantras kundig—du hast mir die vorgeschriebene Ordnung dargelegt, die in den Tantras verborgen gehalten wird.“

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• साधु: well done!
• साधु: Sambodhana/Prayojaka (सम्बोधन/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रशंसावाचक-निपात (particle of approval)

• साधु: well done!
• साधु: Sambodhana/Prayojaka (सम्बोधन/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), पुनरुक्त-प्रशंसा (repeated approval)

• महाप्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक: महा + प्राज्ञ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व: all (in every respect)
• सर्व: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• तन्त्रविशारद: O expert in the tantras
• तन्त्रविशारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्त्रविशारद (प्रातिपदिक: तन्त्र + विशारद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• समाख्यातम्: has been explained/told
• समाख्यातम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; described as 'told')
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• विधानम्: procedure; ordinance
• विधानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• तन्त्रगोपितम्: hidden/kept secret in the tantra
• तन्त्रगोपितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तन्त्रगोपित (प्रातिपदिक: तन्त्र + गोपित)
• Form: कृदन्त (गोपित = √गुप्/गोपाय् क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier of विधानम्)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It marks Nārada’s reverent acknowledgement that authentic spiritual practice depends on correct vidhi (procedure), especially when the teaching is traditionally guarded as esoteric (tantra-gopita).

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by emphasizing faithful adherence to properly taught methods; devotion becomes effective when joined with right instruction and disciplined observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights vidhi—procedural precision in ritual/technical instruction—aligned with Vedāṅga-style disciplined transmission (clear exposition of rules rather than improvisation).