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

Sie sind klein, doch von großer Wirkkraft und Stärke, und bewirken vielerlei Krankheiten—einige aus vāta, andere aus pitta; manche sind schrecklich, manche aus kapha, und manche entstehen aus dem gemeinsamen Ungleichgewicht aller drei doṣas (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.