Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca

Māruti-kavaca

Devanagari script

नखायुधाय भीमाय दन्तायुधधराय च । विहंगमाय शवाय वज्रदेहाय ते नमः ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

nakhāyudhāya bhīmāya dantāyudhadharāya ca | vihaṃgamāya śavāya vajradehāya te namaḥ || 43 ||

Translation

نخوں کو ہتھیار بنانے والے ہیبت ناک رب کو، دانتوں کو اسلحہ کی طرح رکھنے والے کو، پرندہ صفت کو، یوگ کی سکونت میں لاش کی مانند ساکن رہنے والے کو، اور بجلی کے کڑکے جیسے وجر-دہ والے کو میرا نمسکار ہے۔

Word by Word

• नखायुधाय: to the one whose weapon is nails/claws
• नखायुधाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नखम् आयुधं यस्य/नखम् आयुधत्वेन)

• भीमाय: to the terrible one
• भीमाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• दन्तायुधधराय: to the bearer of tooth-weapons (fangs)
• दन्तायुधधराय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + आयुध + धर (धातु) → धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः: (दन्त-आयुध) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः + (…धर) उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; 'धर' = धृ (धातु) से कर्तरि कृदन्त

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विहंगमाय: to the bird-like one / to the bird
• विहंगमाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहंगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• शवाय: to the corpse-like one / to Śava
• शवाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• वज्रदेहाय: to the one with a thunderbolt-like body
• वज्रदेहाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वज्र इव देहः यस्य)

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic form

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् प्रयोगः; 'नमः' इति अव्ययीभाववत् नमस्कारार्थक अव्यय (salutation particle), सामान्यतः चतुर्थी-संबद्ध

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It functions as a namaskāra-mantra: by invoking multiple epithets of the Lord—fierce, protective, and invincible—it trains the mind to surrender and seek refuge in Vishnu’s all-powerful presence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent remembrance (nāma and guṇa-kīrtana): the devotee approaches Vishnu through repeated salutations, contemplating His attributes as a direct devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights chandas-style liturgical usage: a compact sequence of epithets suited for recitation (japa/stotra), showing how precise wording supports ritualized remembrance and devotional focus.