Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

इत्येतत्कवचं प्रोक्तं ललितायाः शुभावहम् । यस्य शंधारणान्मर्त्यो निर्भयो विजयी सुखी ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

ityetatkavacaṃ proktaṃ lalitāyāḥ śubhāvaham | yasya śaṃdhāraṇānmartyo nirbhayo vijayī sukhī || 38 ||

Translation

So ist das Kavaca, der Schutzgesang der Lalitā, verkündet worden, der Heil und Glück verheißt. Wer es trägt oder bewahrt, wird als Sterblicher furchtlos, siegreich und froh.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• कवचम्: protective hymn/armor
• कवचम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रोक्तम्: has been spoken/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with कवचम्

• ललितायाः: of Lalitā
• ललितायाः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• शुभावहम्: bringing auspiciousness
• शुभावहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: शुभम् + आवहः/आवहम्; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with कवचम्

• यस्य: of which/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• शं-धारणात्: from the auspicious wearing/holding (of it)
• शं-धारणात्: Hetu (हेतु/ablative of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम् (प्रातिपदिक) + धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): शम् (auspiciousness/peace) + धारण (wearing/holding); Ablative (पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• निर्भयः: fearless
• निर्भयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with मर्त्यः

• विजयी: victorious
• विजयी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); stem विजयिन् > विजयी

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); stem सुखिन् > सुखी

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher in the Lalita-kavaca context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lalita

FAQs

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

It is the phala-śruti (benefit statement) concluding the Lalitā-kavaca, affirming that sustained kavaca-dhāraṇa generates auspiciousness and inner fearlessness, resulting in steadiness, success, and well-being.

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

It presents devotion as steady remembrance and protective surrender: keeping Lalitā’s kavaca is a form of continuous bhakti (smaraṇa and śaraṇāgati), which ripens into confidence (nirbhayatā) and a victorious disposition aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and kavaca-dhāraṇa as applied ritual practice—how a recited/retained protective text is used for rakṣā (protection) and śubha (auspicious outcomes), reflecting technical liturgical usage rather than abstract philosophy.