Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

सर्वतोस्रज्वलद्रूपा दरचर्मासिपाणयः । अव्याहतबलैश्वर्यशक्तिसामर्थ्यविग्रहाः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

sarvatosrajvaladrūpā daracarmāsipāṇayaḥ | avyāhatabalaiśvaryaśaktisāmarthyavigrahāḥ || 16 ||

Translation

四方より燃え輝く姿を現し、手に皮と剣を携え、妨げられぬ力と主宰の威、霊妙なる勢い、そして円満なる能力を具えた身を有していた。

Word by Word

• सर्वतः: on all sides, everywhere
• सर्वतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उज्ज्वलत्: shining, blazing
• उज्ज्वलत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचन (agreeing with implied subject)

• रूपाः: forms, appearances
• रूपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे बहुधा नपुं.); प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• दर: slightly, a little
• दर: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गार्थे/अल्पार्थे (particle meaning ‘slightly’)

• चर्म: leather, hide
• चर्म: Upapada (उपपद/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (in compound)

• असि: sword
• असि: Upapada (उपपद/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (in compound)

• पाणयः: hands
• पाणयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• अव्याहत: unhindered, unbroken
• अव्याहत: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्याहत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (as qualifier in compound)

• बल: strength
• बल: Upapada (उपपद/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (in compound)

• ऐश्वर्य: lordship, sovereignty
• ऐश्वर्य: Upapada (उपपद/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (in compound)

• शक्ति: power
• शक्ति: Upapada (उपपद/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (in compound)

• सामर्थ्य: capability, competence
• सामर्थ्य: Upapada (उपपद/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (in compound)

• विग्रहाः: embodiments, forms (having ...)
• विग्रहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural); बहुव्रीहिः—‘अव्याहत-बल-ऐश्वर्य-शक्ति-सामर्थ्य-विग्रह’ = ‘whose bodies/manifestations have unhindered strength etc.’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the idea of perfected embodiment—forms that radiate power and remain “unobstructed” (avyāhata) in strength and capacity—often used in Purāṇic teaching to contrast ordinary limitation with divinely-endowed capability.

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

Indirectly, it supports a Bhakti framework by portraying supreme, disciplined power as something that is granted or sustained by higher divine order—encouraging the devotee to seek refuge in the source of aiśvarya and śakti rather than in personal effort alone.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly uses technical Sanskrit compounds (samāsa) and precise epithets—useful for Vyākaraṇa (grammar) study in Book 1.3—showing how multiple qualities (bala, aiśvarya, śakti, sāmarthya) are compacted into a single descriptive construction.