Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39
The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca
Māruti-kavaca
रक्षोघ्नाय रिपुघ्नाय भूतघ्नाय नमोनमः । ऋक्षवानरवीरौघप्रासादाय नमोनमः ॥ ३९ ॥
rakṣoghnāya ripughnāya bhūtaghnāya namonamaḥ | ṛkṣavānaravīraughaprāsādāya namonamaḥ || 39 ||
Berulang-ulang sembah sujud kepada-Nya yang membinasakan rākṣasa, yang memusnahkan musuh, yang menumpas makhluk jahat. Berulang-ulang sembah sujud kepada-Nya, tempat berlindung yang luhur dan penopang bagi barisan wira beruang dan vānaras.
Narada (within a devotional recitation/stotra context addressed to Sri Rama/Vishnu)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It praises the Divine (Rama/Vishnu) as the remover of inner and outer obstacles—demonic tendencies (rākṣasas), adversities (enemies), and unsettling forces (bhūtas)—and as the protector-refuge of devotees and righteous allies.
Bhakti here is expressed as repeated surrender (namo namaḥ), trusting the Lord as both protector and support; the devotee remembers His saving power and takes refuge in His grace (prāsāda).
The verse functions as a stotra-mantra style recitation: it uses devotional epithets (nāma/guṇa-kīrtana) for protective intent (rakṣā). Practically, it reflects careful usage of compounds (samāsa) and case endings (vyākaraṇa) typical of mantra-like praise.