Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । कार्तवीर्यस्य कवचं कथितं ते मुनीश्वर । मोहविध्वंसनं जैत्रं मारुतेः कवचं श्रृणु ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | kārtavīryasya kavacaṃ kathitaṃ te munīśvara | mohavidhvaṃsanaṃ jaitraṃ māruteḥ kavacaṃ śrṛṇu || 1 ||

Translation

Sanatkumāra dit : Ô grand sage, je t’ai exposé le kavaca de Kārtavīrya. Écoute maintenant le kavaca de Māruti (Hanumān), victorieux et capable de dissiper l’illusion (moha).

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• कार्तवीर्यस्य: of Kārtavīrya
• कार्तवीर्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• कवचम्: armor; protective hymn
• कवचम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; ‘told’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथितम्: has been told
• कथितम्: क्रियाविशेष-भाव (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + त (क्त/कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मोहविध्वंसनम्: destroying delusion
• मोहविध्वंसनम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोह + विध्वंसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘delusion’ + ‘destroying’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) कवचम्

• जैत्रम्: victorious; granting victory
• जैत्रम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) कवचम्

• मारुतेः: of Māruti (Hanumān)
• मारुतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• कवचम्: armor; protective hymn
• कवचम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Kartavirya
• Maruti
• Hanuman

FAQs

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

It introduces Hanumān’s kavaca as a victory-bestowing spiritual protection that specifically removes moha (delusion), indicating that true protection is both outer safety and inner clarity.

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

By directing the listener to hear Māruti’s kavaca, the verse frames devotion as śravaṇa (listening) and reliance on a devoted divine servant (Hanumān), whose power supports steadfast faith and conquers confusion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the applied tradition of mantra-kavaca recitation—structured sacred utterance (connected to Śikṣā/phonetics and ritual practice) where correct hearing and transmission are emphasized.