Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

यद्रूपं भीषणं दृष्ट्वा पलायंते भयानकाः । स सर्वरूपः सर्वज्ञः सृष्टिस्थितिकरोऽवतु ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

yadrūpaṃ bhīṣaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā palāyaṃte bhayānakāḥ | sa sarvarūpaḥ sarvajñaḥ sṛṣṭisthitikaro'vatu || 24 ||

Translation

À la vue de cette forme redoutable, même les terribles s’enfuient de peur. Que Lui—aux formes innombrables, omniscient, auteur de la création et du maintien—nous protège.

Word by Word

• यत्-रूपम्: whose/which form
• यत्-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—यस्य रूपम्/यद् रूपम् (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः)

• भीषणम्: terrifying
• भीषणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रूपम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having seen)

• पलायन्ते: they flee
• पलायन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलाय् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• भयानकाः: the fearful ones
• भयानकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भयानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद (those who are fearful/terrible)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्व-रूपः: having all forms
• सर्व-रूपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्यानि सर्वाणि रूपाणि सः

• सर्व-ज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्व-ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सर्वं जानाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः)

• सृष्टि-स्थिति-करः: maker of creation and preservation
• सृष्टि-स्थिति-करः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सृष्टिः च स्थितिः च (द्वन्द्व) + करः (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: करोति)

• अवतु: may (he) protect
• अवतु: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents Vishnu as both awe-inspiring (capable of dispelling even fearsome forces) and supremely benevolent, concluding in a direct prayer for protection grounded in His omniscience and cosmic governance.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): the devotee remembers Vishnu’s universal sovereignty—‘all-formed’ and ‘all-knowing’—and turns that remembrance into a protective invocation (avatu).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions as a concise stuti/mantra-style prayer used for protection (rakṣā-prayoga); while not teaching a specific Vedanga rule directly, it reflects the applied devotional recitation culture often integrated with ritual practice.