Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

भ्रमिकाः प्राणहर्तारो ये च बालग्रहादयः । मनोबुद्वीन्द्रियहराः स्फोटकाश्च महाग्रहाः ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

bhramikāḥ prāṇahartāro ye ca bālagrahādayaḥ | manobudvīndriyaharāḥ sphoṭakāśca mahāgrahāḥ || 75 ||

Translation

Les Bhramikās, les ravisseurs de vie, et les grahas — à commencer par ceux qui saisissent les enfants — qui dérobent le mental, l’intelligence et les sens ; ainsi que les Sphoṭakas : tous sont aussi de grands mahā-grahas affligeants.

Word by Word

• भ्रमिकाः: Bhramikā-type spirits (causing dizziness/whirling)
• भ्रमिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रमिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नाम (affliction-name)

• प्राणहर्तारः: life-stealers
• प्राणहर्तारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (प्राणान् हरन्ति)

• ये: which
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• बालग्रहादयः: those beginning with child-seizers (bāla-grahas)
• बालग्रहादयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालग्रह + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (बालग्रहाः आदयः = beginning with child-seizers)

• मनोबुद्धीन्द्रियहराः: stealers of mind, intellect, and senses
• मनोबुद्धीन्द्रियहराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + बुद्धि + इन्द्रिय + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (मनः-बुद्धि-इन्द्रियाणि हरन्ति)

• स्फोटकाः: Sphoṭaka-type (blistering) afflictions
• स्फोटकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फोटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नाम (blister/eruption-causing affliction)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• महाग्रहाः: great seizers/major afflicting spirits
• महाग्रहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाग्रह (प्रातिपदिक: महा + ग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय

Speaker

Sage Narada (describing classes of grahas/afflictions in a technical enumerative passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Graha
• Balagraha
• Sphotaka

FAQs

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

It classifies harmful graha-forces that disturb life, mind, and senses, implying the need for dharmic living and prescribed protective rites to restore sattva and wellbeing.

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

Though technical in tone, the verse supports bhakti indirectly: disturbances of mind and senses obstruct remembrance of the Divine, so pacification and purity practices help steady devotion and japa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical taxonomy of graha-afflictions aligned with applied Vedic sciences (especially jyotiṣa/ritual pragmatics), used to diagnose disturbances and guide remedial observances.