Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
ये पापा दुष्टकर्माणो दुःखदा दुष्टबुद्धयः । व्याजकाः कुपथासक्ता ये च नानाभयप्रदाः ॥ ६२ ॥
ye pāpā duṣṭakarmāṇo duḥkhadā duṣṭabuddhayaḥ | vyājakāḥ kupathāsaktā ye ca nānābhayapradāḥ || 62 ||
যারা পাপী, দুষ্কর্মে রত, দুঃখদায়ক ও কুবুদ্ধিসম্পন্ন; যারা ছল-ব্যাজে জীবিকা করে, কুপথে আসক্ত এবং নানা ভয় সৃষ্টি করে।
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It identifies traits that obstruct dharma and inner purity—sinful action, deceit, and fear-based conduct—implying that spiritual progress requires clean intention and right conduct, not merely technical knowledge.
Bhakti presupposes sincerity and non-harm; the verse contrasts devotion’s straightforwardness with vyāja (deceit) and kupatha (wrong paths), warning that fear-causing, crooked behavior is incompatible with genuine devotion.
A practical takeaway for Vedanga study is ethical restraint: technical skills (e.g., mantra use, ritual competence, or interpretive learning) must not be used for deceit or harm, otherwise they become a ‘wrong path’ (kupatha).