Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

वामैरुद्दंडकोदंडान्दधानमपरैः शरान् । किरीटहारमुकुटकेयूरवलयांगदैः ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

vāmairuddaṃḍakodaṃḍāndadhānamaparaiḥ śarān | kirīṭahāramukuṭakeyūravalayāṃgadaiḥ || 7 ||

Translation

With some of his left hands he held the staff and the bow; with his other hands he held arrows—adorned with crown and garland, diadem, armlets, bracelets, and ornaments upon the upper arms.

Word by Word

• vāmaiḥ: with the left (hands)
• vāmaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषण—‘with the left (hands/arms)’ (elliptic)

• uddaṇḍa-kodaṇḍān: stiff bows
• uddaṇḍa-kodaṇḍān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uddaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + kodaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; ‘stiff/raised bows (kodaṇḍas)’

• dadhānam: holding
• dadhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धा)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/शानच्), Accusative Neuter Singular agreeing with implied object/person described; ‘bearing/holding’

• aparaiḥ: with the other (hands)
• aparaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; विशेषण—‘with the other (hands/arms)’ (elliptic)

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; object of dadhānam—‘arrows’

• kirīṭa-hāra-mukuṭa-keyūra-valaya-aṃgadaiḥ: with crowns, garlands, diadems, armlets, bracelets, and aṅgadas
• kirīṭa-hāra-mukuṭa-keyūra-valaya-aṃgadaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kirīṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (प्रातिपदिक) + mukuṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + keyūra (प्रातिपदिक) + valaya (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (collective dvandva), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; ‘with crowns, garlands, diadems, armlets, bracelets, and finger-rings/arm-ornaments’

Speaker

Narada (describing a deity/iconographic form within the Vedanga-aligned technical section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It presents a meditative, iconographic vision of the divine as both protector (weapons) and sovereign (royal ornaments), guiding devotees to contemplate power restrained by dharma.

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

Bhakti is supported through vivid devotional visualization (dhyāna) of the Lord’s form—holding bow and arrows for protection while shining with auspicious ornaments—making worship focused and heartfelt.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This aligns with technical, rule-based description used in ritual and image-specification (murti-lakṣaṇa) traditions—useful for correct worship setup, mantra-dhyāna, and temple/altar icon standards.