Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

महाशना बलिभुजो महाकुणपभोजनाः । दिवाचरा रात्रिचरा ये च संध्यासु दारुणाः ॥ ७६ ॥

Transliteration

mahāśanā balibhujo mahākuṇapabhojanāḥ | divācarā rātricarā ye ca saṃdhyāsu dāruṇāḥ || 76 ||

Translation

Sie sind maßlos gierig: Sie fressen die Opfergaben (bali) und verzehren große Haufen von Aas; einige streifen am Tage umher, andere in der Nacht, und wieder andere sind besonders schrecklich in den Dämmerungsfugen, bei Morgen- und Abenddämmerung.

Word by Word

• महाशनाः: great-eaters, voracious
• महाशनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाशन (प्रातिपदिक; महा + अशना)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjectival use)

• बलिभुजः: eaters of offerings
• बलिभुजः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिभुज् (प्रातिपदिक; बलि + भुज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• महाकुणपभोजनाः: feeders on great carrion
• महाकुणपभोजनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाकुणपभोजन (प्रातिपदिक; महा + कुणप + भोजन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दिवाचराः: day-roaming
• दिवाचराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिवाचर (प्रातिपदिक; दिवा + चर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• रात्रिचराः: night-roaming
• रात्रिचराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रात्रिचर (प्रातिपदिक; रात्रि + चर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ये: who, those who
• ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• संध्यासु: at the twilights
• संध्यासु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• दारुणाः: terrible, fierce
• दारुणाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching 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 certain harmful, impure forces are believed to be most active at specific times (day, night, and especially sandhyā), reinforcing the need for purity, vigilance, and disciplined conduct.

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

By highlighting danger at sandhyā, it indirectly supports steady devotional routine—especially sandhyā-prayer and remembrance—so the mind remains anchored in sattva and protected by sacred practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes correct timing and observance around sandhyā (a key ritual junction), aligning practice with traditional time-discipline used in Vedic rites and daily nitya-karmas.