Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

आबद्धकवचं वीरं सुप्रसन्नाननांबुजम् । धनुर्ज्या सिंहनादेन कंपयंतं जगत्र्रयम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

ābaddhakavacaṃ vīraṃ suprasannānanāṃbujam | dhanurjyā siṃhanādena kaṃpayaṃtaṃ jagatrrayam || 9 ||

Translation

ഞാൻ ആ വീരനെ ദർശിച്ചു—ആബദ്ധ കവചധാരിയായ, അത്യന്തം പ്രസന്നമായി ദീപ്തമായ മുഖകമലമുള്ളവൻ; ധനുര്ജ്യയുടെ സിംഹനാദത്താൽ ത്രിലോകത്തെയും കമ്പിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ।

Word by Word

• ā-baddha-kavacam: clad in armor
• ā-baddha-kavacam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग) + baddha (कृदन्त; √bandh बन्ध्) + kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past participle (क्त)—‘having armor fastened on / clad in armor’

• vīram: the hero
• vīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘hero’ (object described)

• su-prasanna-ānana-aṃbujam: with a very serene lotus-face
• su-prasanna-ānana-aṃbujam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃbuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘whose lotus-like face is very serene’ (ānana-aṃbuja = ‘face-lotus’)

• dhanuḥ-jyā: the bowstring
• dhanuḥ-jyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanuḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + jyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘bowstring’ (lit. ‘bow’s string’)

• siṃha-nādena: with a lion-roar
• siṃha-nādena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with a lion-roar (sound)’

• kaṃpayantam: shaking
• kaṃpayantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kamp (कम्प्)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Accusative Masculine Singular agreeing with vīram; ‘shaking/causing to tremble’

• jagat-trayam: the three worlds
• jagat-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu—‘the three worlds’

Speaker

Narada (narrating/depicting a divine heroic form within the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

The verse uses powerful Puranic imagery—armor, serenity, and the thunderous bowstring—to convey the Lord’s protective sovereignty: calm in essence, yet capable of shaking the cosmos to restore dharma.

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

Bhakti is supported here through contemplative remembrance (smaraṇa) of the Lord’s auspicious form: the devotee meditates on divine serenity and might, cultivating trust (śaraṇāgati) in the protector of the worlds.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly highlights Śikṣā (phonetics) and Chandas-style sonic effect: the “lion-roar” twang (siṃhanāda) shows how sacred sound and vivid verbal meter are used to evoke reverence and protective power in recitation.