Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

निवारयतु दोर्दंडसहस्रेण महारथः । स्वकरोद्धृतसाहस्रपाशबद्धान्सुदुर्जयान् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

nivārayatu dordaṃḍasahasreṇa mahārathaḥ | svakaroddhṛtasāhasrapāśabaddhānsudurjayān || 52 ||

Translation

ขอให้มหารถีผู้องอาจยับยั้งพวกนั้นด้วยท่อนแขนดุจคทานับพัน โดยมัดผู้ยากจะพิชิตเหล่านั้นให้แน่นด้วยบ่วงนับพันที่ยกขึ้นด้วยมือของตนเอง

Word by Word

• nivārayatu: let (him) restrain/ward off
• nivārayatu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛ (नि-वृ धातु) / nivāraya (णिजन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) धातुरूप; लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• dor-daṇḍa-sahasreṇa: with a thousand arm-clubs
• dor-daṇḍa-sahasreṇa: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dor (दोर्/दोः) + daṇḍa (दण्ड) + sahasra (सहस्र)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): ‘दोर्-दण्ड’ = arm-club/rod of the arm; ‘सहस्रेण’ = with a thousand; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (sahasra), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• mahā-rathaḥ: the great charioteer/warrior
• mahā-rathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा) + ratha (रथ)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘महान् रथः यस्य/महान् रथी’ इत्यर्थे; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sva-kara-uddhṛta-sāhasra-pāśa-baddhān: those bound by a thousand nooses lifted in his own hand
• sva-kara-uddhṛta-sāhasra-pāśa-baddhān: Karma (कर्म/object of nivārayatu)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (स्व) + kara (कर) + ud-√hṛ (उद्-हृ) + ta (क्त) + sahasra (सहस्र) + pāśa (पाश) + √bandh (बन्ध्) + ta (क्त)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; मुख्यः ‘बद्ध’ (क्त-कृदन्त) विशेषणम्; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘स्वकरेण उद्धृतैः सहस्रपाशैः बद्धान्’

• su-durjayān: very difficult to defeat
• su-durjayān: Visheshana (विशेषण of baddhān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (सु उपसर्ग/उपपद) + durjaya (दुर्जय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/उपपद-समास: ‘सु-दुर्जय’ = very hard to conquer; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Purva Bhaga, Third Pada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It highlights the dharmic ideal of nigraha—bringing the difficult-to-control under restraint—portrayed through the imagery of binding and checking the “hard to conquer,” suggesting mastery over formidable forces (outer or inner).

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

Bhakti is not stated explicitly here; the verse contributes indirectly by portraying disciplined restraint and control, virtues that support steadiness of mind and conduct—foundational for sustained devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is directly taught in this line; it functions as narrative diction within the Third Pada’s broader technical/disciplinary framework, emphasizing control and methodical restraint.