Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

अङ्गानि पातु सत्त्वाढ्यः पातु पादांगुलीः सदा । मुखांगानि महाशूरः पातु रोमाणि चात्मवान् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

aṅgāni pātu sattvāḍhyaḥ pātu pādāṃgulīḥ sadā | mukhāṃgāni mahāśūraḥ pātu romāṇi cātmavān || 18 ||

Translation

Möge der an Sattva reiche Herr meine Glieder schützen; möge Er stets die Zehen meiner Füße behüten. Möge der Große Held die Organe meines Antlitzes bewahren, und möge der Selbstbeherrschte selbst die Haare meines Leibes schützen.

Word by Word

• अङ्गानि: limbs
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; nominative/accusative plural (neuter)

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• सत्त्वाढ्यः: the one rich in sattva/strength
• सत्त्वाढ्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक); सत्त्व-आढ्य (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; adjective used as substantive (one who is rich in sattva/strength)

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• पाद-अङ्गुलीः: toes (foot-fingers)
• पाद-अङ्गुलीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; accusative plural

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

• मुख-अङ्गानि: facial parts / parts of the mouth/face
• मुख-अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• महाशूरः: the great hero
• महाशूरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + शूर (प्रातिपदिक); महा-शूर (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; nominative singular

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• रोमाणि: hairs
• रोमाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; accusative plural

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

• आत्मवान्: the self-possessed one
• आत्मवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; adjective used as substantive

Speaker

Narada (in a protective-stotra context, taught within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames divine protection as all-encompassing—down to toes and body-hairs—teaching total surrender and constant remembrance through a systematic, limb-by-limb prayer.

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

Bhakti is expressed as continuous dependence on the Lord’s guardianship: the devotee invokes divine qualities (sattvāḍhya, mahāśūra, ātmavān) and entrusts every part of the body to Him in daily recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied mantra-prayoga akin to nyāsa and rakṣā-kavaca usage—practical recitation/ritual technique (prayoga) rather than theory—supporting disciplined daily practice.