Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

स्वाप्निका ये महोत्पाता ये च दुःस्वाप्निका ग्रहाः । कूष्मांडा जृंभिका भौमा द्रोणाः सान्निध्यवंचकाः ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

svāpnikā ye mahotpātā ye ca duḥsvāpnikā grahāḥ | kūṣmāṃḍā jṛṃbhikā bhaumā droṇāḥ sānnidhyavaṃcakāḥ || 74 ||

Translation

Jene großen Unheilszeichen, die durch Träume entstehen, und jene Grahas, die böse Träume hervorrufen; zusammen mit den Einflüssen namens Kūṣmāṇḍa, Jṛmbhikā, Bhauma, Droṇa und den Sānnidhya-vañcakas—sie sind als unheilvolle Störungen zu verstehen.

Word by Word

• स्वाप्निकाः: dream-related
• स्वाप्निकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाप्निक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (grahāḥ understood)

• ये: which
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• महोत्पाताः: great portents/calamities
• महोत्पाताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोत्पात (प्रातिपदिक: महा + उत्पात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय

• ये: which
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• दुःस्वाप्निकाः: causing bad dreams
• दुःस्वाप्निकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःस्वाप्निक (प्रातिपदिक: दुः + स्वाप्निक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (bad-dream-causing)

• ग्रहाः: seizers/afflicting spirits
• ग्रहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कूष्माण्डाः: Kūṣmāṇḍa demons/spirits
• कूष्माण्डाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूष्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जृंभिकाः: Jṛmbhikā (yawning/convulsive affliction)
• जृंभिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जृंभिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (epic usage with -āḥ); नाम (disease/affliction-name)

• भौमाः: Bhūma/Bhauma spirits (earthly)
• भौमाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• द्रोणाः: Droṇa-type spirits/afflictions
• द्रोणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नाम (affliction-name)

• सान्निध्यवंचकाः: deceivers through (false) proximity/presence
• सान्निध्यवंचकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्निध्य + वंचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (सान्निध्यस्य वंचकाः = deceivers by/through proximity)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

FAQs

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

It classifies dream-based portents and graha-like afflictions (including named disturbing forces) as indicators of inauspicious influence, urging discernment and remedial, dharmic response rather than fear.

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

Indirectly: by identifying fear-producing omens as afflictions to be managed through proper discipline and sacred practice, it supports steadiness of mind—essential for sustained devotion and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga Jyotiṣa/utpāta-śāstra orientation: it lists categories of omens and “graha” disturbances (including duḥsvapna-causing influences) used for diagnosis and guiding appropriate ritual/behavioral remedies.