Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 134

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

रक्तगंधोरक्तमाल्यो राजा स्मर्तुरभीष्टदः । द्वादशैतानि नामानि कार्तवीर्यस्य यः पठेत् ॥ १३४ ॥

Transliteration

raktagaṃdhoraktamālyo rājā smarturabhīṣṭadaḥ | dvādaśaitāni nāmāni kārtavīryasya yaḥ paṭhet || 134 ||

Translation

รักตคันธะ และ รักตมาลยะ พระราชาผู้ประทานพรที่ปรารถนาแก่ผู้ที่ระลึกถึงพระองค์ ผู้ใดสวดพระนามทั้งสิบสองของกรรตวีรยะนี้...

Word by Word

• रक्त-गन्धः: of red fragrance / red-scented
• रक्त-गन्धः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (रक्तः गन्धः यस्य/रक्तगन्धः)

• रक्त-माल्यः: wearing a red garland
• रक्त-माल्यः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (रक्तं माल्यं यस्य)

• राजा: king
• राजा: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• स्मर्तुः: of the rememberer
• स्मर्तुः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• अभीष्ट-दः: giver of desired boons
• अभीष्ट-दः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अभीष्टं ददाति)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; नपुंसक-बहुवचन-विशेषणवत् (twelve)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• कार्तवीर्यस्य: of Kārtavīrya
• कार्तवीर्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पठेत्: should recite
• पठेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकारः (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; phalaśruti-style narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya (Kārtavīryārjuna)
• Raktagandha
• Raktamālya

FAQs

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

It presents a phalaśruti: remembrance (smaraṇa) and recitation (pāṭha) of Kārtavīrya’s twelve names is said to become a focused sādhana that yields the devotee’s intended spiritual or worldly aim.

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

It emphasizes bhakti through nāma-smaraṇa—calling the sacred names with attention—where the act of remembering itself is treated as efficacious and grace-bestowing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights disciplined pāṭha (proper recitation), aligning with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (correct word-forms) as practical supports for effective mantra/nāma practice.