Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

दिशं चान्ये महावर्णा मन्त्ररूपा महोज्ज्वलाः । व्यापकत्वेन पांत्वस्मानापादतलमस्तकम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

diśaṃ cānye mahāvarṇā mantrarūpā mahojjvalāḥ | vyāpakatvena pāṃtvasmānāpādatalamastakam || 32 ||

Translation

Und mögen jene anderen großen Mächte—von erhabener Gestalt, höchst leuchtend und ihrem Wesen nach Mantra—uns aus allen Richtungen schützen, uns völlig durchdringend von den Fußsohlen bis zum Scheitel.

Word by Word

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• महा-वर्णाः: of great color/splendor
• महा-वर्णाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: 'महान्तः वर्णाः'

• मन्त्र-रूपाः: having the form of mantras
• मन्त्र-रूपाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'मन्त्रस्य रूपाः'

• महत्-उज्ज्वलाः: very brilliant
• महत्-उज्ज्वलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: 'महान्तः उज्ज्वलाः'

• व्यापकत्वेन: by pervasiveness
• व्यापकत्वेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यापकत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पान्तु: may (they) protect
• पान्तु: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपदम्

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आ-पाद-तल-मस्तकम्: from foot-soles to head
• आ-पाद-तल-मस्तकम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial): 'आ पादतलात् मस्तकं यावत्' (from the soles of the feet up to the head)

Speaker

Narada (within a protective-mantra context taught in the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It invokes mantra-formed, radiant protective powers to surround the practitioner in all directions, expressing the Vedic idea that sacred sound (mantra) can function as an all-pervading spiritual armor.

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

Even without naming a deity, the verse models devotional dependence (śaraṇāgati) through prayerful surrender—seeking protection not by ego-effort but by reverent invocation of divine mantra-śakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-viniyoga (practical application of mantras) used in rakṣā-prayoga—directional protection and full-body guarding—an applied, technical use of sacred recitation aligned with Vedanga-oriented practice.