Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

इत्येतत्कवचं प्रोक्तं ललितायाः शुभावहम् । यस्य शंधारणान्मर्त्यो निर्भयो विजयी सुखी ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

ityetatkavacaṃ proktaṃ lalitāyāḥ śubhāvaham | yasya śaṃdhāraṇānmartyo nirbhayo vijayī sukhī || 38 ||

Translation

Así ha sido proclamado el kavaca, el himno protector de Lalitā, portador de auspicio. Quien lo lleva o lo guarda, siendo mortal, se vuelve sin temor, victorioso y dichoso.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• कवचम्: protective hymn/armor
• कवचम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रोक्तम्: has been spoken/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with कवचम्

• ललितायाः: of Lalitā
• ललितायाः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• शुभावहम्: bringing auspiciousness
• शुभावहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: शुभम् + आवहः/आवहम्; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with कवचम्

• यस्य: of which/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• शं-धारणात्: from the auspicious wearing/holding (of it)
• शं-धारणात्: Hetu (हेतु/ablative of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम् (प्रातिपदिक) + धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): शम् (auspiciousness/peace) + धारण (wearing/holding); Ablative (पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• निर्भयः: fearless
• निर्भयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with मर्त्यः

• विजयी: victorious
• विजयी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); stem विजयिन् > विजयी

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); stem सुखिन् > सुखी

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher in the Lalita-kavaca context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lalita

FAQs

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

It is the phala-śruti (benefit statement) concluding the Lalitā-kavaca, affirming that sustained kavaca-dhāraṇa generates auspiciousness and inner fearlessness, resulting in steadiness, success, and well-being.

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

It presents devotion as steady remembrance and protective surrender: keeping Lalitā’s kavaca is a form of continuous bhakti (smaraṇa and śaraṇāgati), which ripens into confidence (nirbhayatā) and a victorious disposition aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and kavaca-dhāraṇa as applied ritual practice—how a recited/retained protective text is used for rakṣā (protection) and śubha (auspicious outcomes), reflecting technical liturgical usage rather than abstract philosophy.