Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

दिशं चान्ये महावर्णा मन्त्ररूपा महोज्ज्वलाः । व्यापकत्वेन पांत्वस्मानापादतलमस्तकम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

diśaṃ cānye mahāvarṇā mantrarūpā mahojjvalāḥ | vyāpakatvena pāṃtvasmānāpādatalamastakam || 32 ||

Translation

மேலும் அந்த மற்ற மகாவர்ண, மந்திரஸ்வரூப, மிக ஒளிமிகு சக்திகள் எல்லாத் திசைகளிலிருந்தும் பரவி, பாதத்தளத்திலிருந்து தலைச்சிகை வரை எங்களை காக்கட்டும்.

Word by Word

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• महा-वर्णाः: of great color/splendor
• महा-वर्णाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: 'महान्तः वर्णाः'

• मन्त्र-रूपाः: having the form of mantras
• मन्त्र-रूपाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'मन्त्रस्य रूपाः'

• महत्-उज्ज्वलाः: very brilliant
• महत्-उज्ज्वलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: 'महान्तः उज्ज्वलाः'

• व्यापकत्वेन: by pervasiveness
• व्यापकत्वेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यापकत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पान्तु: may (they) protect
• पान्तु: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपदम्

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आ-पाद-तल-मस्तकम्: from foot-soles to head
• आ-पाद-तल-मस्तकम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial): 'आ पादतलात् मस्तकं यावत्' (from the soles of the feet up to the head)

Speaker

Narada (within a protective-mantra context taught in the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It invokes mantra-formed, radiant protective powers to surround the practitioner in all directions, expressing the Vedic idea that sacred sound (mantra) can function as an all-pervading spiritual armor.

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

Even without naming a deity, the verse models devotional dependence (śaraṇāgati) through prayerful surrender—seeking protection not by ego-effort but by reverent invocation of divine mantra-śakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-viniyoga (practical application of mantras) used in rakṣā-prayoga—directional protection and full-body guarding—an applied, technical use of sacred recitation aligned with Vedanga-oriented practice.