Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

सर्वशांतिकरं गुह्यं समस्तभयनाशनम् । विजयार्थप्रदं नॄणां सर्वसंपत्प्रदं शुभम् ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

sarvaśāṃtikaraṃ guhyaṃ samastabhayanāśanam | vijayārthapradaṃ nṝṇāṃ sarvasaṃpatpradaṃ śubham || 123 ||

Translation

ഇത് ഗുഹ്യവും പരമശുഭവും; സർവ്വശാന്തികരം, സമസ്തഭയനാശനം; മനുഷ്യർക്കു ശ്രമസിദ്ധിയും വിജയവും നൽകുകയും സർവ്വസമ്പത്തും പ്രദാനം ചെയ്യുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सर्वशान्तिकरम्: bringing all peace
• सर्वशान्तिकरम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + शान्ति + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वेषां शान्तिं करोति इति/सर्वशान्तेः करम्); ‘कवचम्’ (पूर्वश्लोकात्) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गुह्यम्: secret
• गुह्यम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘कवचम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• समस्तभयनाशनम्: destroying all fears
• समस्तभयनाशनम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त + भय + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (समस्तानां भयानां नाशनम्)

• विजयार्थप्रदम्: granting the aim of victory
• विजयार्थप्रदम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजय + अर्थ + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विजयस्य अर्थः = प्रयोजनम्; तस्मै प्रदम्)

• नॄणाम्: of men/people
• नॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• सर्वसंपत्प्रदम्: granting all prosperity
• सर्वसंपत्प्रदम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + संपत् + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वाः संपदः प्रददाति)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘कवचम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/ritual-application context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames the taught practice/recitation as a guhyam (esoteric) śānti-means: it pacifies disturbances, removes fear, and aligns one’s efforts with auspicious success and prosperity.

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

By emphasizing śubha (auspiciousness), protection, and grace-like results (peace, victory, prosperity), it supports the Bhakti view that sincere sacred recitation and remembrance confer inner steadiness and favorable outcomes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a Vedanga-style, ritual-practical orientation: śānti (appeasement) and protective efficacy are linked to disciplined recitation/rite—an applied use aligned with Kalpa (ritual procedure) and related technical traditions.