Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

गह्वरे सर्वसंकीर्णे संध्याकाले नृपालये । विवादे विपुलावर्ते समुद्रे च नदीतटे ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

gahvare sarvasaṃkīrṇe saṃdhyākāle nṛpālaye | vivāde vipulāvarte samudre ca nadītaṭe || 47 ||

Translation

In einer tiefen Schlucht; an einem von allen Seiten überfüllten Ort; zur Dämmerzeit; in der königlichen Residenz; mitten im Streit; in einem mächtigen Strudel; und am Meer oder am Flussufer—sei wachsam und beginne dort oder dann keine unziemlichen Handlungen.

Word by Word

• gahvare: in a ravine/cavern
• gahvare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gahvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-saṃkīrṇe: in (a place) completely crowded
• sarva-saṃkīrṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + saṃkīrṇa (संकिर्ण, कृदन्त from √kṝ/√kṛ? here √kṝ ‘to scatter’ with sam-; adjectival PPP)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya ‘entirely crowded/filled’ qualifying gahvare

• saṃdhyā-kāle: at twilight time
• saṃdhyā-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhyā + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: saṃdhyāyāḥ kālaḥ ‘time of twilight’

• nṛpa-ālaye: in the king’s palace
• nṛpa-ālaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: nṛpasya ālayaḥ ‘king’s palace’

• vivāde: in a dispute
• vivāde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vipula-āvarte: in a vast whirlpool
• vipula-āvarte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipula + āvarta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya ‘great whirlpool/eddy’

• samudre: in the sea
• samudre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• nadī-taṭe: on the river-bank
• nadī-taṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī + taṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: nadyāḥ taṭaḥ ‘river-bank’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical-dharma/vedanga styled instruction, traditionally in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred acts require a sattvic setting; unstable, dangerous, politically charged, or conflict-filled places and twilight conditions disturb concentration and purity, reducing the efficacy of dharmic practice.

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

Bhakti depends on steady remembrance; the verse indirectly supports devotion by advising environments that protect mental steadiness (ekāgratā) for japa, pūjā, and contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Applied prayoga-guidance aligned with Kalpa (ritual procedure): selecting appropriate deśa (place) and kāla (time), avoiding sandhyā-time hazards and disruptive locations for successful performance.