Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

दत्तात्रेयप्रियः कंठं स्कंधौ राजकुलेश्वरः । भुजौ दशास्यदर्पघ्नो हृदयं मे महाबलः ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

dattātreyapriyaḥ kaṃṭhaṃ skaṃdhau rājakuleśvaraḥ | bhujau daśāsyadarpaghno hṛdayaṃ me mahābalaḥ || 36 ||

Translation

May the Beloved of Dattātreya protect my throat; may Rājakuleśvara guard my shoulders; may the Slayer of the pride of the Ten-faced (Rāvaṇa) protect my arms; and may the Greatly Powerful One safeguard my heart.

Word by Word

• dattātreya-priyaḥ: dear to Dattātreya
• dattātreya-priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dattātreya (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dattātreyasya priyaḥ)

• kaṇṭham: the throat
• kaṇṭham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• skandhau: the two shoulders
• skandhau: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• rāja-kula-īśvaraḥ: lord of the royal lineage
• rāja-kula-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rājakulasya īśvaraḥ)

• bhujau: the two arms
• bhujau: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• daśāsya-darpa-ghnaḥ: destroyer of the pride of Daśāsya (Rāvaṇa)
• daśāsya-darpa-ghnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśāsya (प्रातिपदिक) + darpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (daśāsyasya darpaṃ hanti iti)

• hṛdayam: the heart
• hṛdayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• mahā-balaḥ: mighty/very strong
• mahā-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahān balaḥ yasya / mahad-balaḥ)

Speaker

Narada (in a protective/nyāsa-style recitation taught within the dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dattatreya
• Ravana (Dashasya)

FAQs

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

It functions as an aṅga-rakṣā (limb-protection) prayer, assigning divine guardianship to specific body parts so the practitioner’s speech, strength, and inner resolve remain protected during sādhana.

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

By remembering the Lord through epithets tied to devotees and divine deeds (beloved of Dattātreya; humbler of Rāvaṇa’s pride), the devotee cultivates constant smaraṇa (remembrance), a core practice of bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied mantra-usage—nyāsa and kavacha recitation—where precise wording and placement (body-part mapping) are central, aligning with the technical discipline of correct mantra employment emphasized alongside Vedāṅga-oriented practice.