Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

दिवारात्रौ त्रिलोकेषु सदागतिलुतोऽवतु । स्थितं व्रजंतमासीनं पिबंतं जक्षतं कपिः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

divārātrau trilokeṣu sadāgatiluto'vatu | sthitaṃ vrajaṃtamāsīnaṃ pibaṃtaṃ jakṣataṃ kapiḥ || 19 ||

Translation

പകലും രാത്രിയും ത്രിലോകങ്ങളിലും നിരന്തരം സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന കപി-സ്വരൂപനായ പ്രഭു എന്നെ കാക്കട്ടെ—ഞാൻ നിൽക്കുകയോ നടക്കുകയോ ഇരിക്കുകയോ കുടിക്കുകയോ ഭക്ഷിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്താലും.

Word by Word

• दिवा-रात्रौ: by day and night
• दिवा-रात्रौ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; अव्ययीभाववत् कालवाचक प्रयोग (adverbial use): 'by day and by night'

• त्रिलोकेषु: in the three worlds
• त्रिलोकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोक (प्रातिपदिक); त्रि-लोक (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; locative plural

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• गतिलुतः: the swift-moving one
• गतिलुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति + लुत (प्रातिपदिक); गति-लुत (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; nominative singular; epithet (one who is swift-moving)

• अवतु: may (he) protect
• अवतु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• स्थितम्: (me) standing
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; accusative singular (object-qualifier)

• व्रजन्तम्: (me) going
• व्रजन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• आसीनम्: (me) seated
• आसीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular (contextually 'me')

• पिबन्तम्: (me) drinking
• पिबन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• जक्षतम्: (me) eating
• जक्षतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जक्ष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• कपिः: the monkey (Hanuman)
• कपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching a protective/ritual formula within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kapi (Hanuman)

FAQs

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

It frames uninterrupted divine protection across all states of life—day/night, all worlds, and every ordinary action—turning routine conduct into a guarded, sacred continuum.

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

By invoking Kapi’s guardianship in every posture and activity, the verse models constant remembrance (smaraṇa) and surrender, a practical form of bhakti integrated into daily living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied mantra-prayoga (ritual deployment of a protective formula) tied to correct recitation and usage—an approach aligned with Vedanga concerns such as phonetics (śikṣā) and disciplined application in rites.