Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

छिद्रान्वेषरता नित्यं येऽस्मान्बाधितुमुद्यताः । ते सर्वे कार्तवीर्यस्य महाशंखरवाहताः ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

chidrānveṣaratā nityaṃ ye'smānbādhitumudyatāḥ | te sarve kārtavīryasya mahāśaṃkharavāhatāḥ || 63 ||

Translation

Ceux qui, sans cesse, traquent les failles et s’empressent de nous tourmenter—tous sont terrassés par le souffle puissant de la grande conque de Kārtavīrya.

Word by Word

• छिद्रान्वेषरताः: intent on seeking faults
• छिद्रान्वेषरताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद्र-अन्वेष-रत (प्रातिपदिक; छिद्र+अन्वेष+रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• बाधितुम्: to harass
• बाधितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to afflict/harass’

• उद्यताः: ready/intent
• उद्यताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-यत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; यत् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle in sense ‘ready/raised’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कार्तवीर्यस्य: of Kartavīrya
• कार्तवीर्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• महाशंखरवाहताः: overwhelmed by the roar of the great conch
• महाशंखरवाहताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाशंख-रव-आहत (प्रातिपदिक; महा+शंख+रव+आहत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (lit. ‘struck/overwhelmed by the sound of the great conch’)

Speaker

Narada (contextual attribution within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kartavirya (Kartavirya Arjuna)

FAQs

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

It condemns habitual fault-finding and malicious harassment, portraying such negativity as ultimately powerless before righteous strength and divine-ordained protection.

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

By warning against nindā (slander) and chidra-anveṣa (fault-hunting), it supports bhakti as a discipline of pure speech and intent—qualities that protect devotion from being undermined by hostility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a direct Vedanga rule, it reinforces the ethical foundation needed for sacred learning—especially disciplined speech and conduct that uphold study traditions associated with Vyākaraṇa and broader śāstra practice.