Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

अस्यांगमूर्तयः पंच पांतु मां स्फटिकोज्ज्वलाः । अग्नीशासुरवायव्यकोणेषु हृदयादिकाः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

asyāṃgamūrtayaḥ paṃca pāṃtu māṃ sphaṭikojjvalāḥ | agnīśāsuravāyavyakoṇeṣu hṛdayādikāḥ || 15 ||

Translation

Que les cinq manifestations-membres de ce (dieu/mantra), éclatantes comme le cristal, me protègent—établies dans les directions et les angles : le Cœur (hṛdaya) et les autres, au sud-est, à l’est, au sud-ouest et au nord-ouest.

Word by Word

• अस्य: of this (one)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अङ्ग-मूर्तयः: the limb-manifestations
• अङ्ग-मूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषणम्; प्रथमा-बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with मूर्तयः)

• पान्तु: may (they) protect
• पान्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• स्फटिक-उज्ज्वलाः: shining like crystal
• स्फटिक-उज्ज्वलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फटिक + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मूर्तयः)

• अग्नि-ईश-असुर-वायव्य-कोणेषु: in the corners of Agni, Īśa, Asura (Nairṛta), and Vāyu (Vāyavya)
• अग्नि-ईश-असुर-वायव्य-कोणेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + ईश + असुर + वायव्य + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (अग्निकोण-ईशकोण-असुरकोण-वायव्यकोण)

• हृदय-आदिकाः: (those) beginning with the Heart (hṛdaya)
• हृदय-आदिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संज्ञा (मूर्तयः)

Speaker

Narada (in a technical/ritual instruction context, as transmitted in the Narada Purana’s Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It presents a protective kavaca-idea: the mantra’s five auxiliary limb-forms (hṛdaya-ādi) are invoked as radiant guardians, indicating that inner purification and directional sanctification together create spiritual protection.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent reliance on the deity/mantra’s living presence: the devotee asks the divine aṅgas to “protect me,” turning technical ritual into an act of surrender and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science—mantra-nyāsa and directional placement (dik/koṇa-vinyāsa) used in protective rites, a technical feature commonly taught alongside mantra-prayoga traditions.