Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

महावश्यकरीयुक्तः सर्वशत्रुविनाशकृत् । महेषुचापधृक्पातु मम प्राचेतसीं दिशम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

mahāvaśyakarīyuktaḥ sarvaśatruvināśakṛt | maheṣucāpadhṛkpātu mama prācetasīṃ diśam || 19 ||

Translation

Möge der Herr, Träger des großen Bogens, ausgestattet mit der Kraft höchster Bezwingung (Mahāvaśyakarī) und Vernichter aller Feinde, meine Richtung Prācetasa beschützen.

Word by Word

• महा-आवश्यकरी-युक्तः: endowed with the great ‘avaśyakarī’ power
• महा-आवश्यकरी-युक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + आवश्यकरी (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘महाआवश्यकरी-शक्त्या युक्तः’ (endowed with the great avaśyakarī power)

• सर्व-शत्रु-विनाश-कृत्: doer of the destruction of all enemies
• सर्व-शत्रु-विनाश-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘कृत्’ (कर्तरि) = doer; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वशत्रूणां विनाशं करोति’

• मह-इषु-चाप-धृक्: bearer of great arrows and bow
• मह-इषु-चाप-धृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मह (प्रातिपदिक) + इषु (प्रातिपदिक) + चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘धृक्’ = bearer; तत्पुरुषः—‘महदिषुचापं धरति’ (bearer of great arrows and bow)

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

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• प्राचेतसीम्: Prācetasī (a named direction/quarter)
• प्राचेतसीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राचेतसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with दिशम्)

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

Speaker

Narada (in a teaching context to the Sanatkumara tradition; protective-directional formulation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Maheshuchapadhṛk (bow-bearing Deity/Protector)

FAQs

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

It functions as a directional protection (dik-rakṣā) invocation, asking a powerful bow-bearing protector to guard the eastern quarter and remove hostile forces—symbolizing safeguarding one’s ritual space and inner resolve.

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

Bhakti is expressed as reliance on divine guardianship: the devotee prays for protection and obstacle-removal, surrendering fear and hostility to the Lord’s power while maintaining disciplined practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga used in ritual procedure—directional sealing/protection (dik-bandhana/dik-rakṣā), a technical application aligned with Vedic liturgical practice and correct recitation discipline.