Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
कुक्षिं रक्षतु मे विद्वान् वक्षः परपुरंजयः । करौ सर्वार्थदः पातुकराग्राणि जगत्प्रियः ॥ ३७ ॥
kukṣiṃ rakṣatu me vidvān vakṣaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ | karau sarvārthadaḥ pātukarāgrāṇi jagatpriyaḥ || 37 ||
May the All-knowing Lord protect my abdomen; may the Conqueror of hostile cities protect my chest. May the Bestower of all aims protect my hands, and may the Beloved of the world protect my fingertips.
Narada (in a protective stotra/nyāsa sequence as taught in the Narada Purana’s instructional sections)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It applies Vishnu’s epithets to specific body-parts as a devotional protection (kavacha/nyāsa) practice, internalizing divine guardianship and cultivating steady bhakti and fearlessness.
Bhakti here is expressed as intimate reliance on Vishnu—addressing Him by meaningful names and entrusting even one’s limbs and actions (hands, fingertips) to His care.
It reflects mantra-viniyoga/nyāsa-style application—linking sacred names to bodily loci for disciplined recitation, a practical technique aligned with śikṣā (correct chanting) and chandas/mantra usage.