Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

कार्तवीर्यः शिरः पातु ललाटं हैहयेश्वरः । सुमुखो मे मुखं पातु कर्णौ व्याप्तजगत्त्रयः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

kārtavīryaḥ śiraḥ pātu lalāṭaṃ haihayeśvaraḥ | sumukho me mukhaṃ pātu karṇau vyāptajagattrayaḥ || 33 ||

Translation

Que Kārtavīrya protège ma tête ; que Haihayeśvara protège mon front. Que Sumukha protège mon visage, et que Celui qui pénètre les trois mondes protège mes oreilles.

Word by Word

• कार्तवीर्यः: Kārtavīrya
• कार्तवीर्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिरः: the head
• शिरः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• ललाटम्: the forehead
• ललाटम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हैहय-ईश्वरः: lord of the Haihayas
• हैहय-ईश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हैहय (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'हैहयानाम् ईश्वरः'

• सु-मुखः: the fair-faced one
• सु-मुखः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: 'सुन्दरं मुखं यस्य' (as epithet)

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), षष्ठी (Gen./6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुखम्: face/mouth
• मुखम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• कर्णौ: (my) two ears
• कर्णौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• व्याप्त-जगत्-त्रयः: he who pervades the three worlds
• व्याप्त-जगत्-त्रयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याप्त (कृदन्त; √व्याप् धातु) + जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि: 'येन जगत्त्रयं व्याप्तम् सः'

Speaker

Narada (as a transmitted protective formula within the Narada Purana’s technical/ritual material)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya (Kartavirya Arjuna)
• Haihayeśvara
• Sumukha
• Vyāptajagattraya (the all-pervading Lord)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an aṅga-rakṣā (limb-protection) line of a kavacha, invoking specific divine/heroic epithets to consecrate and safeguard the practitioner’s body, symbolizing inner protection of awareness and the senses.

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

Bhakti is expressed through śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): the devotee entrusts the head, face, and hearing to higher divine guardianship, cultivating humility and continuous remembrance while engaging with sacred sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual application akin to mantra-nyāsa and kavacha recitation—structured placement of protective intent over body parts—used in practical rites tied to correct mantra usage and recitation discipline.