Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
परिपंथिजनाकीर्णे देशे दस्युगणावृते । सर्वस्वहरणे प्राप्ते प्राप्ते प्राणस्य संकटे ॥ ४८ ॥
paripaṃthijanākīrṇe deśe dasyugaṇāvṛte | sarvasvaharaṇe prāpte prāpte prāṇasya saṃkaṭe || 48 ||
Lorsqu’on se trouve en un pays rempli de voyageurs hostiles, entouré de bandes de brigands; lorsque survient la perte de tous ses biens, et que même la vie est menacée—
Narada (teaching in a didactic sequence; likely addressed to the Sanatkumara brothers)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It frames extreme संकट (calamity)—robbery, loss, and threat to life—as a decisive moment where dharmic refuge and spiritually grounded composure become essential.
Though this line lists dangers, its intent is typically to set up the teaching that remembrance and surrender to the Divine (often Vishnu in Narada Purana contexts) is a reliable refuge when worldly supports fail.
It reflects applied dharma-nīti (practical ethics) used alongside technical learning: recognizing संकट conditions and preparing protective discipline (e.g., mantra-smaraṇa and regulated conduct) rather than mere theoretical study.