Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

यशःकर्या समायुक्तो दैत्यसंघविनाशनः । परिरक्षतु मे सम्यग्विदिशं चैत्रभानवीम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

yaśaḥkaryā samāyukto daityasaṃghavināśanaḥ | parirakṣatu me samyagvidiśaṃ caitrabhānavīm || 20 ||

Translation

Puisse Caitrabhānavī—unie à la puissance qui apporte la renommée et destructrice des hordes de Dāityas—me protéger pleinement et justement dans la direction intermédiaire (vidiś).

Word by Word

• यशः-कर्या: with the fame-producing (power)
• यशः-कर्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular); तत्पुरुषः—‘यशःकर्या (शक्त्या)’ = by/with the fame-producing (power)

• सम्-आयुक्तः: well-joined, endowed
• सम्-आयुक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• दैत्य-संघ-विनाशनः: destroyer of the demon-host
• दैत्य-संघ-विनाशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संघ (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘दैत्यसंघस्य विनाशनः’ (destroyer of the host of demons)

• परि-रक्षतु: may (he) fully protect
• परि-रक्षतु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि (उपसर्ग) + रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

• मे: me, for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly, completely
• सम्यक्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विदिशम्: Vidishā-direction (a named quarter)
• विदिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन

• चैत्र-भानवीम्: Caitrabhānavī (named/bright)
• चैत्र-भानवीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चैत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भानवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with विदिशम्); कर्मधारयः—‘चैत्रा च सा भानवी च’ (the bright/lustrous one named Caitrabhānavī)

Speaker

Narada (as part of an instructional recitation/prayer taught in dialogue with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Caitrabhānavī
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It invokes a protective devatā/śakti for the intermediate directions, framing spiritual safety as mastery over inner ‘daitya’ tendencies (obstacles, negativity) and the establishment of auspicious renown (yaśas) through dharmic conduct and mantra.

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

Bhakti appears here as śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): the devotee prays for guardianship and removal of hostile forces, aligning one’s life with divine protection rather than personal egoic control.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-style application of mantra in ritual context—directional invocation (dik/vidik rakṣā) used in recitation sequences for safeguarding space, a technical practice often paired with correct phonetics (Śikṣā) and regulated chanting.