Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

महोष्ट्रखरमार्जारसर्पगोवृषमस्तकाः । नानारूपा महासत्त्वा नानाक्लेशसहस्रदाः ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

mahoṣṭrakharamārjārasarpagovṛṣamastakāḥ | nānārūpā mahāsattvā nānākleśasahasradāḥ || 69 ||

Translation

Mit Köpfen wie von großen Kamelen, Eseln, Katzen, Schlangen, Kühen und Stieren erscheinen diese mächtigen Wesen in vielerlei Gestalt und fügen tausendfache, verschiedene Leiden zu.

Word by Word

• महा-उष्ट्र-खर-मार्जार-सर्प-गो-वृष-मस्तकाः: having heads like camels, donkeys, cats, serpents, cows, and bulls
• महा-उष्ट्र-खर-मार्जार-सर्प-गो-वृष-मस्तकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक) + खर (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—येषां मस्तकानि (उष्ट्र-खर-मार्जार-सर्प-गो-वृष-रूपाणि) तादृशाः (having heads like camel/donkey/cat/serpent/cow/bull etc.)

• नाना-रूपाः: of many forms
• नाना-रूपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—नानाविधानि रूपाणि येषां ते

• महा-सत्त्वाः: great beings/creatures
• महा-सत्त्वाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान्तः सत्त्वाः

• नाना-क्लेश-सहस्र-दाः: giving thousands of varied afflictions
• नाना-क्लेश-सहस्र-दाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक) + क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—नानाविधानान् क्लेशान् सहस्रशः ददति इति (बहुक्लेशप्रदाः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It warns that adharma leads to concrete, multi-faceted suffering—symbolized by terrifying, hybrid-headed beings that deliver numerous torments—urging the reader toward righteous conduct and purification.

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

By highlighting the fearsome results of wrongdoing, it indirectly supports bhakti as a protective, purifying orientation—turning the mind toward the Lord and away from acts that generate intense kleśa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse functions as dharma-upadeśa tied to karmic causality—used in technical instruction to classify actions and results (a practical ethical framework that supports ritual discipline and correct conduct).