Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

श्रीकरीशक्तिसहितो मारीभयविनाशकः । शरचापधरः श्रीमान् दिशं मे पातु दक्षिणाम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

śrīkarīśaktisahito mārībhayavināśakaḥ | śaracāpadharaḥ śrīmān diśaṃ me pātu dakṣiṇām || 18 ||

Translation

Möge der ruhmreiche Herr—begleitet von der Śrīkarī-Śakti, die Wohlstand verleiht, der Vernichter der aus Seuchen und Leiden entspringenden Ängste, der erhabene Träger von Bogen und Pfeilen—meine südliche Richtung beschützen.

Word by Word

• श्रीकरी-शक्ति-सहितः: accompanied by the ‘śrīkarī’ power
• श्रीकरी-शक्ति-सहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीकरी (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘श्रीकरी-शक्त्या सहितः’ (accompanied by the śrīkarī power)

• मारी-भय-विनाशकः: destroyer of fear of pestilence
• मारी-भय-विनाशकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारी (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मारीभयस्य विनाशकः’ (destroyer of fear of pestilence/epidemic)

• शर-चाप-धरः: bearer of arrows and bow
• शर-चाप-धरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘शरचापं धरति’ (bearer of arrows and bow)

• श्रीमान्: glorious, auspicious
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन

• मे: me, for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु, रक्षणे)
• Form: लोट्; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

• दक्षिणाम्: southern
• दक्षिणाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with दिशम्)

Speaker

Narada (within a protective hymn/recitation taught in the Narada Purana’s instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames the Lord as the guardian of space (the southern quarter here) and as the remover of collective calamities like epidemic fear, teaching reliance on divine protection alongside disciplined recitation.

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

Bhakti is expressed as surrender through praise and petition—remembering the Lord’s auspicious power and martial protection (bow and arrows) and asking Him to guard one’s life-space in every direction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-recitation practice (mantra/stotra use) aligned with traditional directional safeguarding (dik-bandha/dik-rakṣā), a common technical element in Purāṇic ritual manuals connected with correct chant and procedure.