Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

आयुःकर्या युतः श्रीमान्महाभयविनाशनः । चापेषुधारी शैवीं मे विदिशं परिरक्षतु ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

āyuḥkaryā yutaḥ śrīmānmahābhayavināśanaḥ | cāpeṣudhārī śaivīṃ me vidiśaṃ parirakṣatu || 23 ||

Translation

Nguyện Đức Chúa cát tường, ban thọ mạng và phú quý—Đấng diệt trừ đại kinh hãi—tay cầm cung, mang ống tên, hộ trì phương Śaiva của con, tức phương đông‑nam.

Word by Word

• आयुःकर्या-युतः: endowed with the āyuḥ-karī (bestower of longevity)
• आयुःकर्या-युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुःकर्या (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त; √यु/युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त-क्त ‘युत’ = ‘युक्त’

• श्रीमान्: glorious; possessing prosperity
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• महाभय-विनाशनः: destroyer of great fear
• महाभय-विनाशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभय (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक; वि+√नश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• चाप-इषुधारी: bearer of bow and quiver/arrows
• चाप-इषुधारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + इषुधारी (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; इषु + √धृ धातु, ‘धारिन्’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः—‘चापधारी च इषुधारी च’

• शैवीं: Śaiva (belonging to Śiva)
• शैवीं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘शिवसम्बन्धिनी’

• मे: my / of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• विदिशम्: the direction/quarter (Vidishā)
• विदिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदिश्/विदिशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परिरक्षतु: may (he) protect all around
• परिरक्षतु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a protective invocation (dik-rakṣā), asking a Śaiva, fear-destroying deity to guard a specific quarter, linking spiritual safety with longevity and auspiciousness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): the devotee entrusts protection to the Lord’s power, praising his qualities—prosperity-giving and remover of great fear.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga used in ritual contexts—directional guarding (dik-bandha/dik-rakṣā) and protective recitation—an applied, technical use consistent with Vedanga-style procedural knowledge.