Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

रथनागाश्वपादातवृंदमध्यगमीश्वरम् । वरदं चक्रवर्तीनं सर्वलोकैकपालकम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

rathanāgāśvapādātavṛṃdamadhyagamīśvaram | varadaṃ cakravartīnaṃ sarvalokaikapālakam || 12 ||

Translation

രഥങ്ങൾ, ഗജങ്ങൾ, അശ്വങ്ങൾ, പദാതിദളങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയുടെ കൂട്ടത്തിനിടയിൽ പ്രഭു സഞ്ചരിച്ചു—വരദാതാവ്, ചക്രവർത്തി, സർവ്വലോകങ്ങളുടെ ഏക രക്ഷകൻ।

Word by Word

• रथ-नाग-अश्व-पादात-वृन्द-मध्य-गम्-ईश्वरम्: the Lord who moves amid hosts of chariots, elephants, horses, and foot-soldiers
• रथ-नाग-अश्व-पादात-वृन्द-मध्य-गम्-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + नाग + अश्व + पादात + वृन्द + मध्य + गम् + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संज्ञा/विशेष्य (ईश्वरः)

• वरदम्: boon-giving
• वरदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• चक्रवर्तिनम्: universal monarch
• चक्रवर्तिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संज्ञा

• सर्व-लोक-एक-पालकम्: the sole protector of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-एक-पालकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + लोक + एक + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संज्ञा

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Narada Purana’s discourse tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It presents the Lord as the single, universal protector who remains sovereign even amid worldly power (armies and kingship), directing devotion away from mere force toward divine guardianship.

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

By praising the Lord as “varada” (boon-giver) and “sarvalokaikapālaka” (protector of all worlds), the verse encourages surrender and trust—core attitudes of Vishnu-bhakti—rather than dependence on external might.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly uses technical royal and military vocabulary (a structured enumeration of ratha–nāga–aśva–pādāta), reflecting disciplined Sanskrit usage aligned with Vyākaraṇa-style precision rather than prescribing a specific ritual.