Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

अधरोष्ठौ सदा पातु ब्रह्ज्ञेयो द्विजान्कविः । सर्वशास्त्रकलाधारी जिह्वां चिबुकमव्ययः ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

adharoṣṭhau sadā pātu brahjñeyo dvijānkaviḥ | sarvaśāstrakalādhārī jihvāṃ cibukamavyayaḥ || 35 ||

Translation

Möge meine Unterlippe stets vom Brahman-Kenner, dem Dichter unter den Zweimalgeborenen, geschützt sein. Möge der Unvergängliche, Träger aller Śāstras und Künste, meine Zunge und mein Kinn behüten.

Word by Word

• अधर-ओष्ठौ: the two lower lips
• अधर-ओष्ठौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर (प्रातिपदिक) + ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); कर्मधारय: 'अधरौ ओष्ठौ' (the lower lips)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• ब्रह-ज्ञेयः: knowable as Brahman
• ब्रह-ज्ञेयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'ब्रह्मणः ज्ञेयः' (knowable as Brahman)

• द्विजान्: the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कविः: sage/poet
• कविः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व-शास्त्र-कला-धारी: bearer of all scriptures and arts
• सर्व-शास्त्र-कला-धारी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): 'सर्वेषां शास्त्राणां कलानां च धारी'

• जिह्वाम्: tongue
• जिह्वाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चिबुकम्: chin
• चिबुकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिबुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अव्ययः: the imperishable one
• अव्ययः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a protective nyasa/kavacha sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (as Brahma-jñāna)
• Kavi (seer-poet)
• Dvija (twice-born)

FAQs

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

It treats speech as sacred: the lower lip, tongue, and chin are entrusted to a Brahman-knower and an imperishable, all-scripture-bearing protector—implying that purified knowledge and disciplined speech guard one’s spiritual life.

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

By safeguarding the organs of speech, it supports bhakti through faultless praise, japa, and recitation—devotion is preserved when one’s words are protected from error, harshness, and distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-sādhana: correct articulation and disciplined speech are treated as protective power, supported by śāstra-knowledge and cultivated kalā (skill) in recitation.