The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca
Māruti-kavaca
यस्य शब्दमुपाकर्ण्य दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः । देवा मनुष्यास्तिर्यंचः स्थावरा जङ्गमास्तथा ॥ २६ ॥
yasya śabdamupākarṇya daityadānavarākṣasāḥ | devā manuṣyāstiryaṃcaḥ sthāvarā jaṅgamāstathā || 26 ||
À l’écoute de Son son (de Sa parole), les Daityas, Dānavas et Rākṣasas—ainsi que les dieux, les humains, les animaux, et même les êtres immobiles et mobiles—se trouvent tous saisis par Son pouvoir.
Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)
It emphasizes the universal reach of sacred sound (śabda)—a spiritually potent utterance whose influence extends across all classes of beings, from gods and humans to animals and even immobile life.
By highlighting the transformative power of “hearing” (upākarṇya), it aligns with bhakti practices like śravaṇa (listening) to divine names and praises, suggesting that hearing sacred utterance itself can move and purify all beings.
It points to the Vedāṅga emphasis on śabda and correct utterance—especially the mantra-centric disciplines supported by Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar), where precise sound is treated as functionally efficacious.