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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

यस्मै कस्मै न दातव्यं रक्षणीयं प्रयत्नतः । अष्टगंधैर्विलिख्याथ कवचं धारयेत्तु यः ॥ ५० ॥

yasmai kasmai na dātavyaṃ rakṣaṇīyaṃ prayatnataḥ | aṣṭagaṃdhairvilikhyātha kavacaṃ dhārayettu yaḥ || 50 ||

Il ne doit pas être donné à n’importe qui ; il faut le préserver avec grand soin. Celui qui l’inscrit avec les huit substances parfumées puis porte ce kavaca, en reçoit la protection.

यस्मैto whom
यस्मै:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन
कस्मैto anyone (whomsoever)
कस्मै:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन
not
:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)
दातव्यम्should be given
दातव्यम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√दा (धातु) + तव्यत्
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligative) ‘should be given’
रक्षणीयम्must be protected
रक्षणीयम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√रक्ष् (धातु) + अनीयर्
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनीयर्-प्रत्यय (gerundive) ‘to be protected’
प्रयत्नतःcarefully/with effort
प्रयत्नतः:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रयत्नतः (अव्यय; from प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + तस्)
Formअव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘with effort’
अष्टeight
अष्ट:
Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
TypeAdjective
Rootअष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
Formअव्ययवत् समासपूर्वपद (numeral used in compound)
गंधैःwith fragrances/scented substances
गंधैः:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootगंध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन
विलिख्यhaving inscribed/written
विलिख्य:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवि+√लिख् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)
अथthen
अथ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)
कवचम्the armor (hymn)
कवचम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकवच (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन
धारयेत्should wear/hold
धारयेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√धृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
तुindeed/but
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक (emphatic/contrastive particle)
यःwho
यः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Narada (in instruction mode within a technical/ritual section)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

The verse teaches that protective mantra-rites (kavaca) are potent and therefore must be preserved with secrecy and discipline; their efficacy is linked to careful handling, correct preparation, and reverent use.

By emphasizing careful guarding and faithful wearing of the kavaca, it frames devotion as disciplined practice—honoring sacred formulae and ritual supports as aids that sustain the devotee’s spiritual protection and steadiness.

It highlights ritual procedure and correct material usage—inscribing with aṣṭagandha and properly bearing the kavaca—reflecting technical application aligned with Vedanga-style precision in sacred practice.