Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

महासंवर्तकांभोधिभीमरावविराविणि । समुद्धृतमहाछत्र्रवितानितवियत्पथे ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

mahāsaṃvartakāṃbhodhibhīmarāvavirāviṇi | samuddhṛtamahāchatrravitānitaviyatpathe || 5 ||

Translation

On the sky-path where vast, uplifted canopies like great umbrellas are spread out, there resounded the terrifying roar of the mighty saṃvartaka clouds of cosmic dissolution.

Word by Word

• महासंवर्तकांभोधिभीमरावविराविणि: in/with (something) resounding with the dreadful roar of the great world-dissolving ocean
• महासंवर्तकांभोधिभीमरावविराविणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महासंवर्तकांभोधिभीमरावविराविन् (प्रातिपदिक: महा + संवर्त + अम्भोधि + भीम + राव + विराविन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (describing a locus/object)

• समुद्धृत: raised up; lifted
• समुद्धृत: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), विशेषण-पूर्वपद (as first member of compound)

• महाछत्र: great umbrella
• महाछत्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाछत्र (प्रातिपदिक: महा + छत्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• वितानित: spread out as a canopy
• वितानित: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वितानित (प्रातिपदिक; denom./caus. from वितान)
• Form: कृदन्त/निष्ठा-रूप (past participial adjective), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• वियत्पथे: in the sky-path; in the heavens
• वियत्पथे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वियत्पथ (प्रातिपदिक: वियत् + पथ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue within the Purva Bhaga technical/vedanga section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It evokes pralaya (cosmic dissolution) imagery to remind the reader that all manifested forms are impermanent, urging steadiness in dharma and higher knowledge beyond changing cosmic cycles.

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

By highlighting the overwhelming power of dissolution, it indirectly points to taking refuge in the eternal—Bhagavan—since worldly supports are as transient as storm-clouds and sky-phenomena.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse supports a kalā/saṃvatsara-style understanding of cosmic time and cycles (often discussed alongside Jyotiṣa concepts), using technical cosmological vocabulary like saṃvartaka and pralaya as doctrinal framing.