Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

गुह्यं पातु महाप्रज्ञः सक्थिनी अतिथिप्रियः । ऊरू च जानुनी पातु लंकाप्रासादभंजनः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

guhyaṃ pātu mahāprajñaḥ sakthinī atithipriyaḥ | ūrū ca jānunī pātu laṃkāprāsādabhaṃjanaḥ || 16 ||

Translation

Que le Très-Sage protège mes parties secrètes ; que l’Ami des hôtes protège mes cuisses. Que le Briseur des palais de Laṅkā protège mes hanches et mes genoux.

Word by Word

• गुह्यम्: the groin/secret part
• गुह्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महाप्रज्ञः: the greatly wise one
• महाप्रज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + प्रज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (महती प्रज्ञा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सक्थिनी: the two thighs
• सक्थिनी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया रूप; here द्वितीया (Karma) ‘the two thighs’

• अतिथिप्रियः: lover of guests; hospitable
• अतिथिप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (अतिथीनां प्रियः/अतिथये प्रियः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऊरू: the two thighs
• ऊरू: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया रूप; here द्वितीया (Karma) ‘the two thighs’ (upper legs)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• जानुनी: the two knees
• जानुनी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया रूप; here द्वितीया (Karma) ‘the two knees’

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• लङ्काप्रासादभञ्जनः: destroyer of the palaces of Lanka
• लङ्काप्रासादभञ्जनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का + प्रासाद + भञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (लङ्कायाः प्रासादानां भञ्जनः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rama
• Lanka

FAQs

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

It functions as a protective kavacha, invoking the Lord’s divine qualities (wisdom, hospitality, heroic victory over Laṅkā) to guard specific body-parts, symbolizing surrender and seeking refuge (śaraṇāgati).

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

Bhakti is expressed by remembering the Lord through meaningful names and deeds—here, epithets associated with dharma and Rāma’s victory—so the devotee’s body and life are placed under divine guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects applied mantra-prayoga (ritual usage) akin to nyāsa/kavacha traditions—assigning divine epithets to protect limbs—showing practical liturgical structuring rather than a theoretical Vedāṅga lesson.