Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
श्रीमच्चक्रं हरेरंशादवतीर्णं महीतले । सम्यगात्मादिभेदेन ध्यात्वा रक्षामुदीरयेत् ॥ १४ ॥
śrīmaccakraṃ hareraṃśādavatīrṇaṃ mahītale | samyagātmādibhedena dhyātvā rakṣāmudīrayet || 14 ||
Having properly meditated on the glorious discus (Cakra) that has descended upon the earth as a portion of Hari, distinguishing it in its aspects beginning with the Self, one should then utter the protective formula (rakṣā).
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual teaching context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that true protection (rakṣā) is grounded in dhyāna—one first contemplates Hari’s divine power as Sudarśana, then recites the protective formula, making inner alignment the basis of outer protection.
Bhakti here is expressed as reverent visualization of Hari’s emanation (the Cakra) and reliance on His śakti for protection; the devotee approaches ritual not mechanically but through mindful remembrance of Viṣṇu.
It highlights applied ritual method: dhyāna preceding mantra-ucchāraṇa (recitation), and the disciplined sequencing typical of technical instruction aligned with Vedāṅga-style procedural clarity.