Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

अधुना तु महाभाग कीर्तवीर्यहनूमतोः । कवचे श्रोतुमिच्छामि तद्वदस्वकृपानिधे ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

adhunā tu mahābhāga kīrtavīryahanūmatoḥ | kavace śrotumicchāmi tadvadasvakṛpānidhe || 2 ||

Translation

いまこそ、幸いに満ちた方よ、キールタヴィールヤ・ハヌマーンの護身の कवच（カヴァチャ）をお聞きしたい。慈悲の宝庫よ、どうか私に説き授けてください。

Word by Word

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कीर्तवीर्यहनूमतोः: of Kartavirya and Hanumat
• कीर्तवीर्यहनूमतोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्तवीर्यहनूमत् (प्रातिपदिक: कीर्तवीर्य + हनूमत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन-रूप (Dual form used for two; -तोः)

• कवचे: about the armor (kavaca)
• कवचे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• इच्छामि: I desire
• इच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तत्: that (kavaca)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वद: tell (it)
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• स्व: own
• स्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: अव्यय, उपपद/पूर्वपद (prefixal indeclinable meaning 'own')

• कृपानिधे: O treasure of compassion
• कृपानिधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपानिधि (प्रातिपदिक: कृपा + निधि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (requesting instruction from Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Kirtavirya Hanuman

FAQs

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

This verse marks a formal request for transmission of a kavaca—sacred protective speech—showing that divine protection is approached through humility, devotion, and proper guru-disciple dialogue.

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

Bhakti is expressed as earnest longing to hear (śrotum icchāmi) and reverent address to the teacher as compassionate (kṛpānidhe), indicating devotion grounded in surrender and receptivity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to mantra-application tradition: kavaca usage relies on correct recitation and transmission (linked to Śikṣā—phonetics—and Vyākaraṇa—proper verbal form), emphasizing disciplined listening and learning.