Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

डाकिनीशाकिनीमारीकालरात्रिमरीचिकाः । शयानं मां विभुः पातु पिशाचोरगराक्षसीः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

ḍākinīśākinīmārīkālarātrimarīcikāḥ | śayānaṃ māṃ vibhuḥ pātu piśācoragarākṣasīḥ || 22 ||

Translation

Ketika aku berbaring untuk tidur, semoga Tuhan Yang Maha Meliputi (Vibhu) melindungiku—daripada ḍākinī dan śākinī, daripada wabak, daripada Kālarātri yang menggerunkan, daripada bayangan tipu daya, serta daripada piśāca, ular, dan rākṣasī.

Word by Word

• डाकिनी-शाकिनी-मारी-कालरात्रि-मरीचिकाः: ḍākinīs, śākinīs, plagues, Kālarātri, mirages/phantoms
• डाकिनी-शाकिनी-मारी-कालरात्रि-मरीचिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + शाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + मारी (प्रातिपदिक) + कालरात्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + मरीचिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (समाहार/इतरेतर); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; nominative plural

• शयानम्: (me) lying down
• शयानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; accusative singular

• विभुः: the all-powerful Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

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

• पिशाच-उरग-राक्षसीः: piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasīs
• पिशाच-उरग-राक्षसीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक) + उरग (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; accusative plural (objects to be warded off)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a protective recitation within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kalaratri
• Dakini
• Shakini
• Marī
• Piśāca
• Uraga
• Rākṣasī

FAQs

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

It frames sleep as a vulnerable liminal state and teaches surrender to Vibhu (Vishnu) as the ultimate protection from both outer harms (pestilence, hostile beings) and inner disturbances (delusion-like marīcikā).

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

Bhakti appears as trusting remembrance: by invoking the all-pervading Lord at the moment of lying down, the devotee replaces fear with refuge in Vishnu’s guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-style application—using a specific, time-bound recitation (at bedtime) as a rakṣā practice, aligning mantra-usage with daily routine for mental steadiness and ritual protection.