Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

लोकोत्तरगुणः श्रीमान् पातु त्र्यंबकसंभवः । प्रमत्तमप्रमत्तं वा शयानं गहनेंऽबुनि ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

lokottaraguṇaḥ śrīmān pātu tryaṃbakasaṃbhavaḥ | pramattamapramattaṃ vā śayānaṃ gahaneṃ'buni || 20 ||

Translation

May the illustrious One, endowed with qualities beyond the world—born of Tryambaka—protect us, whether heedless or heedful, even if lying in the deep waters.

Word by Word

• लोक-उत्तर-गुणः: one whose qualities are beyond the world
• लोक-उत्तर-गुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular; 'having qualities beyond the world' (epithet)

• श्रीमान्: the illustrious one
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective used as substantive

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• त्र्यम्बक-सम्भवः: the one born of Tryambaka
• त्र्यम्बक-सम्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यम्बक (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular; 'born of Tryambaka'

• प्रमत्तम्: (me) careless
• प्रमत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular (qualifying the protected person)

• अप्रमत्तम्: (me) vigilant
• अप्रमत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• शयानम्: (me) lying down
• शयानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present middle participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• गहने: in a deep/remote place
• गहने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; locative singular

• अबुनि: in water
• अबुनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular (Vedic/poetic form: ambuni)

Speaker

Narada (hymnic invocation within the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Tryambaka (Shiva)
• Tryambakasaṃbhava (a Shiva-born divine protector)

FAQs

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

It functions as a rakṣā (protective) invocation: the deity with lokottara (transcendent) qualities is asked to guard a person in all states—careless or vigilant—and even in extreme peril like deep waters.

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

Bhakti appears here as śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): instead of relying on one’s own steadiness, the devotee petitions divine protection in every condition, including weakness (pramatta).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects mantra-prayoga style usage—short, purpose-specific protective phrasing—aligned with traditional ritual recitation practices (prayoga) often discussed alongside Vedāṅga-oriented material.