Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31
The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor
Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma
पापान्मां सर्वतः शोकात्संक्षयात्सर्वतः सदा । असत्यात्क्रूरचिंतातोहिंसातश्चौरतस्तथा । स्तैमित्याच्च सदा पांतु प्रेरयंत्यः शुभं प्रति ॥ ३१ ॥
pāpānmāṃ sarvataḥ śokātsaṃkṣayātsarvataḥ sadā | asatyātkrūraciṃtātohiṃsātaścauratastathā | staimityācca sadā pāṃtu prerayaṃtyaḥ śubhaṃ prati || 31 ||
Qu’elles me protègent sans cesse de tous côtés—du péché, du chagrin et de toute forme de déclin; du mensonge, des pensées cruelles, de la violence, du vol et de la torpeur—et qu’elles me poussent continuellement vers ce qui est propice.
Narada (in a didactic/prayerful recitation within Sanatkumara-style instruction)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It functions as a protective ethical prayer: asking for safeguarding from inner and outer faults (sin, falsehood, cruel intent, violence, theft, sloth) and for steady propulsion toward śubha—auspicious, dharmic conduct that supports spiritual progress.
Bhakti is strengthened by purity of conduct; the verse highlights removing obstacles that weaken devotion—untruth, हिंसा, चोरी, and आलस्य—so the mind naturally turns toward śubha and sustained spiritual practice.
The practical takeaway is sādhana-supporting discipline (niyama/sadācāra): controlling speech (truthfulness), mind (cruel thoughts), and actions (non-violence, non-stealing), and overcoming staimitya (torpor), which are prerequisites for effective study and application of Vedanga learning.