Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

नानारोगकराः क्षुद्रा महावीर्या महाबलाः । वातिकाः पैत्तिका घोरा श्लैष्मिकाः सान्निपातिकाः ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

nānārogakarāḥ kṣudrā mahāvīryā mahābalāḥ | vātikāḥ paittikā ghorā ślaiṣmikāḥ sānnipātikāḥ || 70 ||

Translation

هم صغارٌ في الهيئة، لكنهم ذوو بأسٍ وقوّة، يُحدِثون أنواعًا كثيرة من الأسقام: فمنها ما ينشأ عن ڤاتا (vāta)، ومنها ما ينشأ عن پِتّا (pitta)؛ ومنها ما هو مُفزع، ومنها ما ينشأ عن كَفّا (kapha)، ومنها ما سببه اختلال الدوشات الثلاث معًا (sannipāta).

Word by Word

• नाना-रोग-कराः: causing various diseases
• नाना-रोग-कराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक) + रोग (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—नानाविधान् रोगान् करोति इति

• क्षुद्राः: petty/mean/small
• क्षुद्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• महा-वीर्याः: of great potency
• महा-वीर्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—महद् वीर्यं येषां ते

• महा-बलाः: of great strength
• महा-बलाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—महद् बलं येषां ते

• वातिकाः: vāta-type (wind-humor related)
• वातिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वातिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; आयुर्वेदे वात-सम्बन्धिनः (vāta-type)

• पैत्तिकाः: pitta-type (bile-humor related)
• पैत्तिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैत्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; पित्त-सम्बन्धिनः (pitta-type)

• घोराः: terrible
• घोराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• श्लैष्मिकाः: kapha-type (phlegm-humor related)
• श्लैष्मिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लैष्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; श्लेष्म/कफ-सम्बन्धिनः (kapha-type)

• सान्निपातिकाः: sannipāta-type (combined humors)
• सान्निपातिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्निपातिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सन्निपात-सम्बन्धिनः (tridoṣa/combined-humor type)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, teaching technical classifications)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It frames bodily suffering as a knowable, classifiable condition—encouraging discernment and disciplined living (dharma) rather than fear, aligning technical knowledge with spiritual steadiness.

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

Indirectly: by acknowledging the reality of disease and imbalance, it supports a devotional life grounded in regulated conduct and endurance, so the mind remains fit for remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, śāstra-style taxonomy of disorders using tridoṣa language (vāta, pitta, kapha) and sannipāta—showing how Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 preserves applied scientific vocabulary alongside religious teaching.