Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

जंघे पातु कपिश्रेष्ठो गुल्फौ पातु महाबलः । अचलोद्धारकः पातु पादौ भास्करसन्निभः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

jaṃghe pātu kapiśreṣṭho gulphau pātu mahābalaḥ | acaloddhārakaḥ pātu pādau bhāskarasannibhaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

എന്റെ ജംഘകളെ കപിശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ കാക്കട്ടെ; എന്റെ ഗുൽഫങ്ങളെ മഹാബലൻ കാക്കട്ടെ. എന്റെ പാദങ്ങളെ അചലോദ്ധാരകൻ കാക്കട്ടെ—ഭാസ്കരസന്നിഭമായ തേജസ്സോടെ॥१७॥

Word by Word

• जङ्घे: the two shanks/legs
• जङ्घे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सप्तमी रूप; here द्वितीया (Karma) ‘the two shanks/legs’

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कपिश्रेष्ठः: best of monkeys
• कपिश्रेष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (कपीनां श्रेष्ठः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुल्फौ: the two ankles
• गुल्फौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्फ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया रूप; here द्वितीया (Karma) ‘the two ankles’

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महाबलः: the mighty one
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (महद् बलं यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अचलोद्धारकः: lifter of the mountain
• अचलोद्धारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल + उद्धारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (अचलस्य उद्धारकः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पादौ: the two feet
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया रूप; here द्वितीया (Karma) ‘the two feet’

• भास्करसन्निभः: sun-like; resembling the sun
• भास्करसन्निभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (भास्करस्य सन्निभः = like the sun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching a protective kavacha-style recitation within the Book 1.3 discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman

FAQs

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

It applies kavacha logic—assigning divine protection to specific body parts—here invoking Hanumān’s epithets to guard mobility and stability, symbolically protecting one’s spiritual journey and disciplined practice.

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

Bhakti is expressed through remembrance of Hanumān’s virtues (supreme devotion, strength, and service). Repeating these names with faith turns physical protection into devotional surrender and constant smaraṇa (recollection).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects a ritual-technical method akin to nyāsa/kavacha usage—mapping mantric epithets onto limbs for rakṣā—showing structured application of mantra in practice rather than abstract theology.