Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

सहस्रादित्यसंकाशे नानारत्नसमुज्ज्वंले । भास्वद्ध्वजपताकाढ्ये तुरगायुतभूषिते ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sahasrādityasaṃkāśe nānāratnasamujjvaṃle | bhāsvaddhvajapatākāḍhye turagāyutabhūṣite || 4 ||

Translation

Es strahlte wie tausend Sonnen, flammend von mancherlei Edelsteinen—geschmückt mit leuchtenden Bannern und Fahnen und geziert mit Tausenden von Pferden.

Word by Word

• सहस्रादित्यसंकाशे: in/with (something) having the radiance of a thousand suns
• सहस्रादित्यसंकाशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्रादित्यसंकाश (प्रातिपदिक: सहस्र + आदित्य + संकाश)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (describing a locus/object)

• नानारत्नसमुज्ज्वले: in/with (something) brilliantly shining with various jewels
• नानारत्नसमुज्ज्वले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नानारत्नसमुज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक: नाना + रत्न + समुज्ज्वल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• भास्वत्: shining
• भास्वत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-पूर्वपद (adjectival first member)

• ध्वजपताकाढ्ये: in/with (something) rich in banners and pennants
• ध्वजपताकाढ्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वजपताकाढ्य (प्रातिपदिक: ध्वज + पताका + आढ्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• तुरगायुतभूषिते: in/with (something) adorned with ten-thousands of horses
• तुरगायुतभूषिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुरगायुतभूषित (प्रातिपदिक: तुरग + अयुत + भूषित)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूषित = √भूष् क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the dialogue to Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

The verse uses Purāṇic alankāra (sacred poetic imagery) to convey divine splendor—suggesting that what is connected with the divine is luminous, orderly, and richly endowed, drawing the mind toward reverence and contemplation.

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

Though not a direct instruction on bhakti, the vivid glorification functions like stuti: it elevates attention from the mundane to the divine, which is a classic Purāṇic method for awakening devotion through visualized praise.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly demonstrates chandas-style compact description and Sanskrit poetic compounds (samāsa), aligning with Vyākaraṇa and Nirukta sensibilities rather than prescribing a specific ritual or astrological rule.