Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 115

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

इत्यष्टशतनामोत्त्या मूर्तयो दश दिक्पथि । सम्यग्दशदिशो व्याप्य पालयंतु च मां सदा ॥ ११५ ॥

Transliteration

ityaṣṭaśatanāmottyā mūrtayo daśa dikpathi | samyagdaśadiśo vyāpya pālayaṃtu ca māṃ sadā || 115 ||

Translation

So, durch die Rezitation der hundertacht Namen angerufen, mögen die zehn göttlichen Gestalten, die auf den Pfaden der zehn Richtungen stehen, die zehn Himmelsgegenden ganz durchdringen und mich stets beschützen.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-इत्यादि अव्ययम्; quotation/closure particle

• अष्टशतनाम: eight-hundred names
• अष्टशतनाम: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + शत + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-आधार); द्विगु-समासः—‘अष्टशतं नामानि’

• उत्त्या: by the utterance
• उत्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘उक्ति/उच्चारण’

• मूर्तयः: forms; manifestations
• मूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (मूर्तयः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्) प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• दिक्पथि: on the path of the directions; in the quarters
• दिक्पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘दिशां पथि’

• सम्यक्: properly; completely
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• दशदिशः: the ten directions
• दशदिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु—‘दश दिशः’

• व्याप्य: having pervaded
• व्याप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + आप् (आप्/व्याप्नोति धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘व्याप्य’ = having pervaded

• पालयन्तु: may they protect
• पालयन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (पालयति धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents nāma-recitation (ashtottara/108 names) as a consecrating invocation that establishes protective divine presence in all directions, symbolizing total spiritual safeguarding and completeness.

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

By emphasizing praise through sacred names, it frames bhakti as direct remembrance and invocation—where devotion (nāma-japa/stuti) itself becomes the means of protection and divine nearness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga (ritual application of recitation) and structured liturgical practice—how a defined name-list (nāma-stotra) is used for rakṣā by ritually extending sanctity to the ten directions.