Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
सहस्रधा प्रणश्यंतु भग्नसत्त्वबलोद्यमाः । ये सर्पा ये महानागा महागिरिबिलेशयाः ॥ ७८ ॥
sahasradhā praṇaśyaṃtu bhagnasattvabalodyamāḥ | ye sarpā ye mahānāgā mahāgiribileśayāḥ || 78 ||
Sind Mut, Kraft und Angriffstrieb zerschlagen, so mögen sie auf tausend Arten zugrunde gehen — jene Schlangen und großen Nāgas, die in den Höhlen mächtiger Berge wohnen.
Narada (in a protective/ritual-technical context within the Vedanga-oriented section)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It functions as a rakṣā-prayoga (protective utterance), invoking the defeat of harmful serpent-forces by breaking their “sattva-bala-udyama” (resolve, strength, and hostile exertion), emphasizing spiritual protection through disciplined sacred speech.
Though not a direct bhakti instruction, it reflects the bhakta’s reliance on sacred recitation and divine order for protection—using dharmic means rather than fear—consistent with Narada Purana’s devotional culture of mantra-supported living.
Applied mantra-usage within ritual life: a practical rakṣā (protective) formulation, showing how technical Vedic practice uses precise wording and intent for safeguarding—aligned with Vedanga-style procedural knowledge.