Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

आयुःकर्या युतः श्रीमान्महाभयविनाशनः । चापेषुधारी शैवीं मे विदिशं परिरक्षतु ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

āyuḥkaryā yutaḥ śrīmānmahābhayavināśanaḥ | cāpeṣudhārī śaivīṃ me vidiśaṃ parirakṣatu || 23 ||

Translation

吉祥にして寿命を授け、繁栄に満ち、大いなる恐れを滅ぼす主よ。弓と矢筒を携え、我がシャイヴァの方位、すなわち南東を守りたまえ。

Word by Word

• आयुःकर्या-युतः: endowed with the āyuḥ-karī (bestower of longevity)
• आयुःकर्या-युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुःकर्या (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त; √यु/युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त-क्त ‘युत’ = ‘युक्त’

• श्रीमान्: glorious; possessing prosperity
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• महाभय-विनाशनः: destroyer of great fear
• महाभय-विनाशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभय (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक; वि+√नश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• चाप-इषुधारी: bearer of bow and quiver/arrows
• चाप-इषुधारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + इषुधारी (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; इषु + √धृ धातु, ‘धारिन्’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः—‘चापधारी च इषुधारी च’

• शैवीं: Śaiva (belonging to Śiva)
• शैवीं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘शिवसम्बन्धिनी’

• मे: my / of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• विदिशम्: the direction/quarter (Vidishā)
• विदिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदिश्/विदिशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परिरक्षतु: may (he) protect all around
• परिरक्षतु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a protective invocation (dik-rakṣā), asking a Śaiva, fear-destroying deity to guard a specific quarter, linking spiritual safety with longevity and auspiciousness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): the devotee entrusts protection to the Lord’s power, praising his qualities—prosperity-giving and remover of great fear.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga used in ritual contexts—directional guarding (dik-bandha/dik-rakṣā) and protective recitation—an applied, technical use consistent with Vedanga-style procedural knowledge.