Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 111

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

खङ्गभृत्कामदः कांतः कालघ्नः कमलेक्षणः । भद्रवादप्रियो वैद्यो विबुधो वरदो वशी ॥ १११ ॥

Transliteration

khaṅgabhṛtkāmadaḥ kāṃtaḥ kālaghnaḥ kamalekṣaṇaḥ | bhadravādapriyo vaidyo vibudho varado vaśī || 111 ||

Translation

ਉਹ ਖੜਗਧਾਰੀ, ਮਨਚਾਹੇ ਵਰ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ, ਕਾਂਤਿਮਾਨ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ, ਕਾਲ (ਮੌਤ) ਦਾ ਨਾਸ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ, ਕਮਲ-ਨੇਤ੍ਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਹੈ। ਉਹ ਮੰਗਲ ਬਾਣੀ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਆਰ ਕਰਦਾ, ਦਿਵ੍ਯ ਵੈਦ, ਸਰਬਜ੍ਞ ਗਿਆਨੀ, ਵਰਦਾਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਯਮੀ ਮਾਲਕ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• खङ्गभृत्: sword-bearer
• खङ्गभृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खङ्ग + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृदन्त), ‘धारणकर्ता’

• कामदः: giver of desires/boons
• कामदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + द (दा/ददाति धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कामान् ददाति’ इति (द-प्रत्ययान्त)

• कान्तः: beloved; handsome
• कान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कालघ्नः: slayer of Time/death
• कालघ्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + घ्न (हन् धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; घ्न-प्रत्ययान्त (‘हन्ता’)

• कमलेक्षणः: lotus-eyed
• कमलेक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘कमलम् इव ईक्षणं यस्य’

• भद्रवादप्रियः: fond of auspicious speech
• भद्रवादप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र + वाद + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘भद्रवादस्य प्रियः’

• वैद्यः: physician; healer
• वैद्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विबुधः: wise; enlightened
• विबुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वरदः: boon-giver
• वरदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर + द (दा/ददाति धातु) (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘वरं ददाति’

• वशी: self-controlled; masterful
• वशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Narada (as reciter/teacher within the Narada Purana’s instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse presents power-names of Vishnu that frame Him as protector (sword-bearer), benefactor (boon-giver), and liberator (destroyer of death), guiding the devotee toward fearlessness, auspicious conduct, and God-centered remembrance.

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

By meditating on Vishnu’s qualities—beauty, compassion, healing, and mastery—Bhakti becomes concrete through nāma-smaraṇa (name-remembrance) and inner transformation: cultivating auspicious speech, self-control, and trust in divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse supports disciplined sacred recitation (linked with Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa in practice): clear pronunciation, meaning-based contemplation, and ethical speech (bhadravāda) as a practical rule for effective mantra/nāma-japa.