Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

क्षेमंकरीशक्तियुतश्चौरवर्गविभञ्जनः । प्राचीं दिशं रक्षतु मे बाणबाणासनायुधः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

kṣemaṃkarīśaktiyutaścauravargavibhañjanaḥ | prācīṃ diśaṃ rakṣatu me bāṇabāṇāsanāyudhaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

ക്ഷേമങ്കരീ-ശക്തിയാൽ യുക്തനായും കള്ളസംഘങ്ങളെ തകർക്കുന്നവനുമായ, ബാണവും ധനുസ്സും ആയുധങ്ങളായുള്ള പ്രഭു എന്റെ കിഴക്കുദിശയെ കാത്തരുളട്ടെ।

Word by Word

• क्षेमंकरि-शक्ति-युतः: endowed with the ‘kṣemaṃkarī’ power
• क्षेमंकरि-शक्ति-युतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेमंकरि (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular); तत्पुरुषः—‘क्षेमंकरि-शक्त्या युतः’ (endowed with the kṣemaṃkarī power)

• चौर-वर्ग-विभञ्जनः: destroyer of the band of thieves
• चौर-वर्ग-विभञ्जनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + विभञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘चौरवर्गस्य विभञ्जनः’ (destroyer/scatterer of the band of thieves)

• प्राचीम्: eastern
• प्राचीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• रक्षतु: may (he) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd sg)

• मे: me, for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन (Genitive/Dative singular)

• बाण-बाणासन-आयुधः: he whose weapons are arrows and bow
• बाण-बाणासन-आयुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + बाणासन (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘बाणं बाणासनं च आयुधं यस्य सः’ (he whose weapons are arrows and bow)

Speaker

Narada (within a technical/protective recitation context taught in the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kṣemaṅkarī-Śakti

FAQs

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

It is a directional protection (dik-rakṣā) prayer: the devotee invokes a powerful, welfare-bestowing protector to guard the east, emphasizing safety, auspiciousness, and removal of hostile forces.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): the speaker entrusts personal protection to a divine power, affirming dependence on sacred guardianship rather than mere human strength.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual practice—using structured, direction-wise recitation for protection (a prayoga aligned with mantra-vidhi and ritual procedure), typical of Vedanga-oriented, technical sections.