Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

दशास्यदर्पहा रेवालीलादृप्तकः सुदुर्जयः । दुःखहा चौरदमनो राजराजेश्वरः प्रभुः ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

daśāsyadarpahā revālīlādṛptakaḥ sudurjayaḥ | duḥkhahā cauradamano rājarājeśvaraḥ prabhuḥ || 103 ||

Translation

அவன் தசமுகனின் அகந்தையை அழிப்பவன்; ரேவா-லீலையில் விளையாடி ஒளிர்வவன்; வெல்ல முடியாதவன். துயர் நீக்கி, திருடரை அடக்கி, அரசர்களின் அரசனுக்கும் ஈசன்—பரமப் பிரபு.

Word by Word

• daśāsyadarpahā: slayer of the pride of Daśāsya (Rāvaṇa)
• daśāsyadarpahā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśāsya+darpa+han (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: daśāsya (ten-faced, Rāvaṇa) + darpa (pride) + -hā (slayer)

• revālīlādṛptakaḥ: exultant in sport on the Reva (Narmadā)
• revālīlādṛptakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: revā+līlā+dṛptaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; revā-līlā (sport in the Reva/Narmadā) + dṛptaka (proud/exultant)

• sudurjayaḥ: very hard to conquer
• sudurjayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su+durjaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; su (intensifier) + durjaya (hard to conquer)

• duḥkhahā: destroyer of suffering
• duḥkhahā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha+han (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'destroyer of sorrow'

• cauradamanaḥ: subduer of thieves
• cauradamanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caura+damana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; caura (thief) + damana (subduing)

• rājarājeśvaraḥ: supreme lord of kings
• rājarājeśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja+rāja+īśvara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'lord of kings of kings' (supreme sovereign)

• prabhuḥ: the lord/master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue contextually)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ravana
• Reva (Narmada)
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse functions as a nāma-style praise: it presents the Lord as invincible and as the remover of both inner suffering (duḥkha) and outer harms (thieves), teaching refuge (śaraṇāgati) through remembrance of His epithets.

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

By listing divine qualities—victory over ego (Rāvaṇa’s pride), compassion that removes sorrow, and sovereign protection—it encourages bhakti through nāma-smaraṇa (recollection/chanting of names) and trust in the Lord’s guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly supports stotra/nāma practice rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson; practically, it models Vyākaraṇa-aware compound usage (e.g., rāja-rāja-īśvara, caura-damana) for correct recitation and meaning in mantra-like praises.