Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

शक्तयः पद्महस्ताश्चत नीलेंदीवरसन्न्निभाः । शुक्लमाल्यानुवसनाः सुलिप्ततिलकोज्ज्वलाः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śaktayaḥ padmahastāścata nīleṃdīvarasannnibhāḥ | śuklamālyānuvasanāḥ suliptatilakojjvalāḥ || 28 ||

Translation

Die göttlichen Śaktis, den Lotos in der Hand, erschienen wie blaue Wasserlilien; mit weißen Girlanden und Gewändern geschmückt, strahlten sie durch kunstvoll aufgetragenes Tilaka.

Word by Word

• शक्तयः: powers/Śaktis
• शक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पद्म-हस्ताः: lotus-handed
• पद्म-हस्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘पद्मं हस्ते येषाम्’ (having lotus in their hands)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• त: that (textually uncertain)
• त: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तरदोषसम्भावना (IAST 'cata')

• नील-इन्दीवर-सन्निभाः: resembling blue lotuses
• नील-इन्दीवर-सन्निभाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दीवर (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ‘नीलेन इन्दीवरेण सन्निभाः’ (resembling blue lotus)

• शुक्ल-माल्य-अनुवसनाः: wearing white garlands and garments
• शुक्ल-माल्य-अनुवसनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘शुक्लं माल्यं च अनुवसनं च येषाम्’ (having white garlands and garments)

• सु-लिप्त-तिलक-उज्ज्वलाः: bright with well-smeared tilaka
• सु-लिप्त-तिलक-उज्ज्वलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्ग) + लिप्त (कृदन्त; लिप् धातु) + तिलक (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: सुलिप्त (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) + तिलक (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + उज्ज्वल (कर्मधारयार्थ)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Padma (Lotus)

FAQs

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

It portrays auspicious divine energies as radiant and pure—lotus-bearing, lily-like, and marked with tilaka—signifying śuddhi (purity), maṅgala (auspiciousness), and the sanctity of sacred appearance in worship.

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

By highlighting garlands, clean garments, and tilaka, it reflects bhakti expressed through reverent presentation and devotional ornamentation—external signs that support inner remembrance and worshipful attitude.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual observance and auspicious markers—especially tilaka, dress, and garlanding—align with practical disciplines used in worship and injunction-based practice (kalpa-style ritual detail), even within a Vedanga-oriented section.