Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

डाकिनीशाकिनीमारीकालरात्रिमरीचिकाः । शयानं मां विभुः पातु पिशाचोरगराक्षसीः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

ḍākinīśākinīmārīkālarātrimarīcikāḥ | śayānaṃ māṃ vibhuḥ pātu piśācoragarākṣasīḥ || 22 ||

Translation

เมื่อข้าพเจ้านอนหลับ ขอพระผู้แผ่ซ่านทั่วสรรพสิ่งทรงคุ้มครองข้าพเจ้า—จากฑากินีและศากินี จากมาริ (โรคระบาด) จากกาลราตรีอันน่าสะพรึง จากภาพลวงตาดุจมิราจ และจากปีศาจ พญานาค/งู และนางรากษสี.

Word by Word

• डाकिनी-शाकिनी-मारी-कालरात्रि-मरीचिकाः: ḍākinīs, śākinīs, plagues, Kālarātri, mirages/phantoms
• डाकिनी-शाकिनी-मारी-कालरात्रि-मरीचिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + शाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + मारी (प्रातिपदिक) + कालरात्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + मरीचिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (समाहार/इतरेतर); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; nominative plural

• शयानम्: (me) lying down
• शयानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; accusative singular

• विभुः: the all-powerful Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• पिशाच-उरग-राक्षसीः: piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasīs
• पिशाच-उरग-राक्षसीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक) + उरग (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; accusative plural (objects to be warded off)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a protective recitation within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kalaratri
• Dakini
• Shakini
• Marī
• Piśāca
• Uraga
• Rākṣasī

FAQs

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

It frames sleep as a vulnerable liminal state and teaches surrender to Vibhu (Vishnu) as the ultimate protection from both outer harms (pestilence, hostile beings) and inner disturbances (delusion-like marīcikā).

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

Bhakti appears as trusting remembrance: by invoking the all-pervading Lord at the moment of lying down, the devotee replaces fear with refuge in Vishnu’s guardianship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-style application—using a specific, time-bound recitation (at bedtime) as a rakṣā practice, aligning mantra-usage with daily routine for mental steadiness and ritual protection.