Shloka 51

Devanagari script

कृत्वैवं कवचं पश्चादात्मानं चिंतयेत्ततः । अहं नारायणो देवः शंखचक्रगदाधरः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtvaivaṃ kavacaṃ paścādātmānaṃ ciṃtayettataḥ | ahaṃ nārāyaṇo devaḥ śaṃkhacakragadādharaḥ || 51 ||

Translation

ครั้นประกอบคาวจะ (เกราะคุ้มครอง) ดังนี้แล้ว พึงภาวนาตนว่า “ข้าพเจ้าเป็นพระนารายณ์ผู้เป็นเทพ ผู้ทรงสังข์ จักร และคทา”॥๕๑॥

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• एवं: thus
• एवं: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• कवचम्: armor (protective hymn)
• कवचम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: afterwards)

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; स्व-शरीर/स्व-स्वरूप

• चिन्तयेत्: should meditate/think
• चिन्तयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/हेतुवाचक (then/thereafter)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-सम्बन्धे विधेय (predicate nominative)

• देवः: god
• देवः: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• शंखचक्रगदाधरः: bearer of conch, discus, and mace
• शंखचक्रगदाधरः: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Predicate epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (उपपद-समासः): शंखं चक्रं गदां च धरतीति

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dialogic instruction style, traditionally to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that after completing the kavaca (protective rite), the practitioner should internalize divine identity through dhyāna—contemplating Nārāyaṇa’s presence as the indwelling Self, symbolized by the conch, discus, and mace.

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

Bhakti here is not only external ritual protection but intimate remembrance: the devotee meditates on Nārāyaṇa’s form and nearness, cultivating single-pointed devotion and surrender through continuous contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to prayoga (ritual procedure) followed by dhyāna (meditative application): a practical sequencing used in mantra-śāstra and ritual manuals—performing the kavaca first, then stabilizing the mind through contemplation.