Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 137

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

श्रुतं तुभ्यं निगदितं धारयस्वाखिलेष्टदम् ॥ १३७ ॥

Transliteration

śrutaṃ tubhyaṃ nigaditaṃ dhārayasvākhileṣṭadam || 137 ||

Translation

Ce que tu as entendu t’a été exposé; garde-le fermement en ton cœur, car il accorde l’accomplissement de tous les buts désirés.

Word by Word

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; ‘heard/learned’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त (क्त/कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• निगदितम्: declared/told
• निगदितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; ‘told/declared’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + गद् (धातु) + त (क्त/कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• धारयस्व: hold; retain; wear
• धारयस्व: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अखिलेष्टदम्: granting all desired things
• अखिलेष्टदम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल + इष्टद (प्रातिपदिक); इष्टद = इष्ट (इष् धातु से क्त) + द (दा धातु से)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): अखिलानाम् इष्टानां दम्/दः ‘giver of all desired (things)’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) (कवचम्/एतत्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teacher) addressing Narada (disciple)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dhāraṇā—retaining and living the teaching one has heard—because internalized scriptural knowledge becomes the means to accomplish both worldly aims and higher spiritual good.

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

By instructing the disciple to hold the teaching in the heart, it aligns with bhakti’s core practice: constant remembrance and steady adherence to the received upadeśa, which ripens into sustained devotion and right conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the discipline of Vedic study: after śravaṇa (hearing) and upadeśa (instruction), one must dhārayati (retain/commit to memory and application)—a foundational method underlying Vedanga learning and ritual competence.