Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
सर्वत्र सर्वदा दुष्टचौरान्नाशाय नाशय । किं त्वं स्वपिषि दुष्टघ्न किं तिष्टसि चिरायासि ॥ ५७ ॥
sarvatra sarvadā duṣṭacaurānnāśāya nāśaya | kiṃ tvaṃ svapiṣi duṣṭaghna kiṃ tiṣṭasi cirāyāsi || 57 ||
सर्वत्र, सर्वदा दुष्ट चोरांचा नाश कर, नाश कर. हे दुष्टघ्ना, तू का झोपतोस? का थांबून इतका विलंब करतोस?
Unspecified (contextual exhortation within the Adhyaya; likely a supplicatory address within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It frames protection of society as a dharmic imperative, urging immediate removal of harmful forces (“wicked thieves”) and condemning delay in upholding righteous order.
Though not a direct bhakti instruction, it reads like a forceful supplication—calling upon a “slayer of the wicked” to act—reflecting devotional reliance on divine or righteous power to restore dharma.
The verse is primarily ethical and administrative (dharma/daṇḍa) rather than technical Vedanga; its practical takeaway is prompt enforcement of order and protection of the community.