Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

सर्वसौभाग्यदं भद्रं भक्ताभयविधायिनम् । दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपाढ्यं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

sarvasaubhāgyadaṃ bhadraṃ bhaktābhayavidhāyinam | divyamālyānulepāḍhyaṃ sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutam || 11 ||

Translation

Auspiceux, dispensateur de toute bonne fortune et de l’intrépidité aux dévots; paré de guirlandes divines et d’onguents parfumés, et pourvu de tous les signes d’excellence.

Word by Word

• सर्वसौभाग्यदम्: bestowing all good fortune
• सर्वसौभाग्यदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सौभाग्य + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भद्रम्: auspicious
• भद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भक्त-अभय-विधायिनम्: granting fearlessness to devotees
• भक्त-अभय-विधायिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + अभय + विधायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• दिव्य-माल्य-अनुलेप-आढ्यम्: rich with divine garlands and unguents
• दिव्य-माल्य-अनुलेप-आढ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य + माल्य + अनुलेप + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्व-लक्षण-संयुतम्: endowed with all auspicious marks
• सर्व-लक्षण-संयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लक्षण + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (describing the deity/object of worship in the instructional context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhakta (devotees)

FAQs

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

It presents the worshipful form as inherently auspicious—one that grants devotees both worldly well-being (saubhāgya) and inner security (abhaya), linking devotion with protection and blessing.

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

Bhakti is shown as a direct refuge: the devotee approaches the auspicious divine presence, and the fruit is fearlessness—an immediate, relational grace rather than merely a ritual outcome.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects ritual praxis and iconographic discipline—use of mālya (garlands) and anulepa (anointing) consistent with kalpa-oriented worship procedures, and lakṣaṇa language used for identifying auspicious divine characteristics.