Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

नखायुधाय भीमाय दन्तायुधधराय च । विहंगमाय शवाय वज्रदेहाय ते नमः ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

nakhāyudhāya bhīmāya dantāyudhadharāya ca | vihaṃgamāya śavāya vajradehāya te namaḥ || 43 ||

Translation

Hommage à Toi—armé de griffes, le Terrible; portant les dents pour armes; Toi qui as forme d’oiseau; Toi qui demeures immobile comme un cadavre dans la quiétude du yoga; et Toi dont le corps est adamantin, tel le vajra de la foudre.

Word by Word

• नखायुधाय: to the one whose weapon is nails/claws
• नखायुधाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नखम् आयुधं यस्य/नखम् आयुधत्वेन)

• भीमाय: to the terrible one
• भीमाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• दन्तायुधधराय: to the bearer of tooth-weapons (fangs)
• दन्तायुधधराय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + आयुध + धर (धातु) → धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः: (दन्त-आयुध) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः + (…धर) उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; 'धर' = धृ (धातु) से कर्तरि कृदन्त

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विहंगमाय: to the bird-like one / to the bird
• विहंगमाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहंगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• शवाय: to the corpse-like one / to Śava
• शवाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• वज्रदेहाय: to the one with a thunderbolt-like body
• वज्रदेहाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वज्र इव देहः यस्य)

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic form

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् प्रयोगः; 'नमः' इति अव्ययीभाववत् नमस्कारार्थक अव्यय (salutation particle), सामान्यतः चतुर्थी-संबद्ध

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It functions as a namaskāra-mantra: by invoking multiple epithets of the Lord—fierce, protective, and invincible—it trains the mind to surrender and seek refuge in Vishnu’s all-powerful presence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent remembrance (nāma and guṇa-kīrtana): the devotee approaches Vishnu through repeated salutations, contemplating His attributes as a direct devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights chandas-style liturgical usage: a compact sequence of epithets suited for recitation (japa/stotra), showing how precise wording supports ritualized remembrance and devotional focus.