Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
माहेश्वरा वैष्णवाश्च वैरिंच्याश्च महाग्रहाः । स्कांदा वैनायकाः क्रूरा ये च प्रमथगुह्यकाः ॥ ७१ ॥
māheśvarā vaiṣṇavāśca vairiṃcyāśca mahāgrahāḥ | skāṃdā vaināyakāḥ krūrā ye ca pramathaguhyakāḥ || 71 ||
Les grandes puissances affligeantes (mahā-grahas) sont de diverses sortes : celles liées à Maheśvara, à Viṣṇu et à Vairiñca (Brahmā) ; de même celles du type Skanda et du type Vināyaka, ainsi que les farouches, tels les Pramathas et les Guhyakas.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, instructional enumeration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)
Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)
FAQs
It classifies major afflictive influences (mahāgrahas) and spirit-classes by their associated divine spheres (Śiva, Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Skanda, Vināyaka), implying that disturbances are understood and treated within a dharmic-cosmic order rather than as random fear.
By naming deities whose ‘spheres’ these afflictions are linked to, the verse indirectly supports bhakti-based protection—turning to the appropriate devatā with reverence, mantra, and right conduct as part of Narada Purana’s remedial and devotional framework.
Jyotiṣa-oriented diagnostic knowledge: it shows a technical taxonomy of graha/mahāgraha and related subtle beings (pramatha, guhyaka), useful for determining the nature of doṣa before prescribing Narada Purana rituals, mantras, or expiations.