Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31
The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor
Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma
पापान्मां सर्वतः शोकात्संक्षयात्सर्वतः सदा । असत्यात्क्रूरचिंतातोहिंसातश्चौरतस्तथा । स्तैमित्याच्च सदा पांतु प्रेरयंत्यः शुभं प्रति ॥ ३१ ॥
pāpānmāṃ sarvataḥ śokātsaṃkṣayātsarvataḥ sadā | asatyātkrūraciṃtātohiṃsātaścauratastathā | staimityācca sadā pāṃtu prerayaṃtyaḥ śubhaṃ prati || 31 ||
Mögen sie mich stets von allen Seiten schützen—vor Sünde, vor Kummer und vor jeder Art von Verfall; vor Unwahrheit, vor grausamen Gedanken, vor Gewalt, vor Diebstahl und vor Trägheit—und mögen sie mich fortwährend zum Heilsamen und Glückverheißenden antreiben.
Narada (in a didactic/prayerful recitation within Sanatkumara-style instruction)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It functions as a protective ethical prayer: asking for safeguarding from inner and outer faults (sin, falsehood, cruel intent, violence, theft, sloth) and for steady propulsion toward śubha—auspicious, dharmic conduct that supports spiritual progress.
Bhakti is strengthened by purity of conduct; the verse highlights removing obstacles that weaken devotion—untruth, हिंसा, चोरी, and आलस्य—so the mind naturally turns toward śubha and sustained spiritual practice.
The practical takeaway is sādhana-supporting discipline (niyama/sadācāra): controlling speech (truthfulness), mind (cruel thoughts), and actions (non-violence, non-stealing), and overcoming staimitya (torpor), which are prerequisites for effective study and application of Vedanga learning.