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 ||
Que el Señor Omnisciente proteja mi vientre; que el Vencedor de las ciudades enemigas guarde mi pecho. Que el Dador de todos los fines proteja mis manos, y que el Amado del mundo cuide las puntas de mis dedos.
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.