Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

मेघनादमखध्वंसकारणाय नमोनमः । अशोकवनविध्वंसकारिणे जयदायिने ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

meghanādamakhadhvaṃsakāraṇāya namonamaḥ | aśokavanavidhvaṃsakāriṇe jayadāyine || 35 ||

Translation

Hommage, encore et encore, à Celui qui fut la cause de la ruine du sacrifice de Meghanāda; qui ravagea le bois d’Aśoka et accorde la victoire.

Word by Word

• मेघनाद-मख-ध्वंस-कारणाय: to the cause of the destruction of Meghanāda’s sacrifice
• मेघनाद-मख-ध्वंस-कारणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघनाद (प्रातिपदिक) + मख (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वंस (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मेघनादस्य मखस्य ध्वंसस्य कारणम्)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नमः-प्रयोगः

• नमः: salutation (again)
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (namonamaḥ)

• अशोक-वन-विध्वंस-कारिणे: to the destroyer of the Aśoka grove
• अशोक-वन-विध्वंस-कारिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक) + विध्वंस (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अशोकवनस्य विध्वंसं करोति)

• जय-दायिने: to the giver of victory
• जय-दायिने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + दायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (जयम् ददाति)

Speaker

Narada (stotra/praise-verse narration within the dialogue framework of Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Meghanāda (Indrajit)
• Aśoka-vana

FAQs

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

It praises the divinely empowered force that overcomes adharma: stopping a hostile sacrifice, breaking oppressive strongholds (Aśoka grove), and granting jaya—victory aligned with righteousness.

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

Bhakti is expressed through namo namaḥ—repeated surrender and praise—seeing the Lord’s grace as the true source of success and protection when confronting obstacles.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly references yajña/makha (ritual action) and its moral evaluation—ritual power is not supreme by itself; it is judged by dharma and can be nullified when used for harmful aims.