Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 113

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

दिव्यास्त्रभृदमेयात्मा सर्वगोप्ता महोज्ज्वलः । सर्वायुधधरोऽभीष्टप्रदः परपुरंजयः ॥ ११३ ॥

Transliteration

divyāstrabhṛdameyātmā sarvagoptā mahojjvalaḥ | sarvāyudhadharo'bhīṣṭapradaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ || 113 ||

Translation

He bears the celestial missiles; His inner nature is immeasurable. He is the universal Protector, supremely radiant. Bearing every weapon, He grants the desired boons and conquers the cities of the enemy.

Word by Word

• दिव्यास्त्रभृत्: bearer of divine weapons
• दिव्यास्त्रभृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य + अस्त्र + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘दिव्यानि अस्त्राणि धारयति’

• अमेयात्मा: of immeasurable nature
• अमेयात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमेय + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘अमेयः आत्मा यस्य/अमेयात्मा’

• सर्वगोप्ता: protector of all
• सर्वगोप्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + गोप्तृ (गुप् धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गोप्तृ-शब्दः ‘रक्षकः’

• महोज्ज्वलः: greatly radiant
• महोज्ज्वलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् उज्ज्वलः’

• सर्वायुधधरः: bearer of all weapons
• सर्वायुधधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आयुध + धर (धृ धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सर्वाणि आयुधानि धारयति’

• अभीष्टप्रदः: giver of desired things
• अभीष्टप्रदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीष्ट + प्रद (दा/ददाति धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अभीष्टं ददाति’

• परपुरंजयः: conqueror of enemy cities
• परपुरंजयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + पुर + जि (जि/जयति धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘परस्य पुरं जयति’

Speaker

Narada (in a hymnic description within the teaching dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents Vishnu as the immeasurable, all-protecting Lord whose radiance and power remove threats and whose grace fulfills worthy desires—supporting surrender (śaraṇāgati) as a complete spiritual refuge.

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

Bhakti is expressed through praising Vishnu’s attributes—protector of all, giver of boons, and conqueror of evil—so the devotee cultivates trust that the Lord both guards and guides, making devotion a practical reliance rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions as stotra-style nāma/guṇa-kīrtana: it shows how precise epithets (a Vyākaraṇa-sensitive compound style like divyāstrabhṛt, sarvāyudhadhara) are used for ritual recitation and memorization in devotional practice.