Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 136

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

तस्य रक्षां सदा कुर्याच्चक्रं विष्णोर्महात्मनः । मयैतत्कवचं विप्र दत्तात्रेयान्मुनीश्वरात् ॥ १३६ ॥

Transliteration

tasya rakṣāṃ sadā kuryāccakraṃ viṣṇormahātmanaḥ | mayaitatkavacaṃ vipra dattātreyānmunīśvarāt || 136 ||

Translation

മഹാത്മാവായ ശ്രീവിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ ചക്രംകൊണ്ട് എപ്പോഴും സ്വന്തം രക്ഷ നടത്തണം. ഹേ വിപ്രാ, ഈ കവചം എനിക്ക് മുനീശ്വരൻ ദത്താത്രേയനിൽ നിന്നു ലഭിച്ചതാണ്.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कुर्यात्: should do/should perform
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• चक्रम्: the discus (chakra)
• चक्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) विष्णोः

• मया: by me
• मया: करण (Instrument/Agentive instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) कवचम्

• कवचम्: armor; protective hymn
• कवचम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विप्र: O brahmin
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दत्तात्रेयात्: from Dattatreya
• दत्तात्रेयात्: अपादान (Source/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दत्तात्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुनीश्वरात्: from the lord of sages
• मुनीश्वरात्: अपादान (Source/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a raksha/kavacha transmission line)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sudarshana Chakra
• Dattatreya
• Vipra (Brahmana)

FAQs

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

It establishes Viṣṇu’s Cakra as a divine protective principle (rakṣā) and emphasizes that kavaca-practices are most authoritative when received through a recognized guru-paramparā (here, Dattātreya → Nārada).

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

Protection is sought not through mere technique but through reliance on Lord Viṣṇu’s power (the Cakra as His śakti), expressing bhakti as surrender and continual remembrance—“always perform protection” (sadā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to disciplined mantra/kavaca application—proper transmission, correct recitation, and consistent practice—skills aligned with śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (precise wording) that ensure the kavaca is applied accurately.