Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
नानारोगज्वरावेशे पिशाचप्रेतयातने । मारीदुःस्वप्नपीडासु क्लिष्टे विश्वासघातके ॥ ४९ ॥
nānārogajvarāveśe piśācapretayātane | mārīduḥsvapnapīḍāsu kliṣṭe viśvāsaghātake || 49 ||
Sous l’emprise de maintes maladies et de fièvres; dans les tourments causés par les piśācas et les pretas; dans les afflictions des épidémies et des cauchemars oppressants; et dans les crises cruelles marquées par la trahison de la confiance—qu’on prenne refuge dans le Saint Nom de Hari pour protection et apaisement.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It lists extreme forms of suffering—physical illness, epidemic fear, nightmare-anguish, and spirit-related torment—to show that dharmic protective practice (mantra/rite taught in the surrounding passage) is meant to steady the mind and restore order when life becomes overwhelmed by distress.
By framing crises as moments for refuge, it supports the bhakti principle of śaraṇāgati (seeking shelter): remembrance and disciplined recourse to the taught practice becomes a devotional turning toward the divine for protection and inner composure.
The verse reflects applied, technical tradition—protective prayoga (ritual application) and mantra-based safeguarding—often aligned with Vedanga-informed procedure (correct recitation, timing, and method), used for alleviating disease, nightmares, and fear of unseen harms.