Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 106
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
माहिष्मतीपतिर्योधा महाकीर्तिर्महाभुजः । सुकुमारो महावीरो मारीघ्नो मदिरेक्षणः ॥ १०६ ॥
māhiṣmatīpatiryodhā mahākīrtirmahābhujaḥ | sukumāro mahāvīro mārīghno madirekṣaṇaḥ || 106 ||
Il fut un guerrier, seigneur de Māhiṣmatī, d’immense renommée et aux bras puissants ; d’apparence tendre, pourtant grand héros, pourfendeur des ennemis, aux yeux sombres d’une beauté enivrante.
Narada (in dialogue with the Sanatkumara brothers, describing a renowned king/hero)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents the idealized Kṣatriya profile—strength, fame, and enemy-subduing power—while also emphasizing inner greatness beyond outward softness, a common Purāṇic way of teaching dharmic excellence through character portraits.
Though not explicitly devotional, the verse supports Bhakti indirectly by portraying virtues (valor, fame, self-mastery) that, when offered to dharma and the divine order, become supportive qualities for disciplined devotion and righteous rule.
The verse is primarily descriptive (stuti-lakṣaṇa) rather than technical; its practical takeaway aligns with Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style clarity of epithets—how compound titles (e.g., māhiṣmatīpatiḥ, madirekṣaṇaḥ) precisely convey identity and qualities.