Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

अप्रधृष्यतमत्वं च महासामर्थ्यमेव च । संतु मे कार्तवीर्य्यस्य हैहयेंद्रस्य कीर्तनात् ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

apradhṛṣyatamatvaṃ ca mahāsāmarthyameva ca | saṃtu me kārtavīryyasya haihayeṃdrasya kīrtanāt || 121 ||

Translation

Sa pamamagitan ng kīrtana—banal na pagpupuri kay Kārtavīrya, panginoon ng mga Haihaya—nawa’y sumibol sa akin ang di-matatalo at dakilang lakas.

Word by Word

• अप्रधृष्यतमत्वम्: the state of being most invincible
• अप्रधृष्यतमत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/प्रार्थ्य-फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-प्र-धृष्य-तम-त्व (प्रातिपदिक; धातु √धृष् (धातु) + प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (त्व) ‘अप्रधृष्यतम’ इत्यस्य भावः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महासामर्थ्यम्: great power/capacity
• महासामर्थ्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/प्रार्थ्य-फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + सामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (महत् सामर्थ्यम्)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सन्तु: may (they) be / let there be
• सन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘भवन्तु’ इत्यर्थः

• मे: of me / for me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘मम’ इत्यर्थः

• कार्तवीर्य्यस्य: of Kartavīrya
• कार्तवीर्य्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक-नाम

• हैहयेन्द्रस्य: of the lord of the Haihayas
• हैहयेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हैहय + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (हैहयानाम् इन्द्रः)

• कीर्तनात्: from/by (his) praise/recitation
• कीर्तनात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक; √कीर्त् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ-अपादान (from/by reason of)

Speaker

Narada (in a recited stuti/prayoga within the Vedanga-focused section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya Arjuna
• Haihaya (dynasty)

FAQs

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

It states a phala (result) of kīrtana: sincere recitation/praise is presented as a spiritual means to gain protective strength—invincibility (apradhṛṣyatā) and great capability (mahāsāmarthya).

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

It highlights bhakti through kīrtana—calling to mind and praising an exalted figure—showing that focused remembrance and praise are treated as efficacious practices that transform the devotee’s inner power and fearlessness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects prayoga-style usage of sacred speech: the disciplined act of recitation (linked to śikṣā/pronunciation and chandas/metre awareness) is shown as producing a stated result (phala), a common technical framing in ritual and mantra traditions.