Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

राजचूडामणिः क्षिप्रं करोत्वस्मद्विरोधकान् । खङ्ग साहस्रदलितान्सहस्रमुशलार्दितान् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

rājacūḍāmaṇiḥ kṣipraṃ karotvasmadvirodhakān | khaṅga sāhasradalitānsahasramuśalārditān || 54 ||

Translation

രാജചൂഡാമണി വേഗത്തിൽ നമ്മുടെ വിരോധികളെ ആക്കട്ടെ—ഖഡ്ഗംകൊണ്ട് സഹസ്രധാ വിഭജിതരായി, സഹസ്ര മുശലങ്ങളാൽ ചതഞ്ഞവരായി.

Word by Word

• rāja-cūḍā-maṇiḥ: the crest-jewel of kings
• rāja-cūḍā-maṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (राज) + cūḍā (चूडा) + maṇi (मणि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘राज्ञां चूडायाः मणिः’ (crest-jewel among kings); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipra (क्षिप्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• karotu: let (him) make/do
• karotu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• asmad-virodhakān: our opponents
• asmad-virodhakān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्) + virodhaka (विरोधक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अस्माकं विरोधकाः’ (our opponents); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• khaṅga-sāhasra-dalitān: crushed by a thousand swords
• khaṅga-sāhasra-dalitān: Karma (कर्म/object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khaṅga (खङ्ग) + sahasra (सहस्र) + dalita (दलित प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘दलित’ (क्त-कृदन्त) विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘खङ्गसाहस्रेण दलितान्’ (smashed by a thousand swords)

• sahasra-muśala-arditān: struck/afflicted by a thousand clubs
• sahasra-muśala-arditān: Karma (कर्म/object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (सहस्र) + muśala (मुशल) + ardita (अर्दित प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘अर्दित’ (क्त-कृदन्त) विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘सहस्रमुशलैः अर्दितान्’

Speaker

Contextual narrator within the Adhyāya (benedictive/hostile utterance in a martial episode; not a doctrinal Vedāṅga sūtra)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rājacūḍāmaṇi

FAQs

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

The verse reflects a narrative moment of intense conflict, portraying the destructive intent directed toward opponents; spiritually, it cautions that hostility and violence bind one to harsh karmic consequences, contrasting with the Purāṇic ideal of dharma-guided restraint.

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

This specific verse does not directly teach bhakti; instead, it functions as a dramatic narrative utterance, and bhakti is typically highlighted elsewhere in the text through surrender to Viṣṇu, compassion, and self-control rather than retaliatory aggression.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga instruction (śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, chandas, nirukta, jyotiṣa, kalpa) appears in this verse; it is primarily narrative and rhetorical, using hyperbolic martial imagery rather than technical teaching.