Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
अनेकशत शीर्षाश्च खंडपुच्छाश्च दारुणाः । महाविषजलौकाश्च वृश्चिका रुक्तपुच्छकाः ॥ ८० ॥
anekaśata śīrṣāśca khaṃḍapucchāśca dāruṇāḥ | mahāviṣajalaukāśca vṛścikā ruktapucchakāḥ || 80 ||
Il y avait des êtres terrifiants aux centaines de têtes et aux queues tranchées ; il y avait aussi des sangsues gorgées d’un venin mortel, et des scorpions à la queue douloureusement dardée.
Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It uses stark, fear-inducing imagery of venomous beings to warn that pāpa (sinful conduct) leads to intense suffering, urging the listener to choose dharma and self-restraint.
By contrasting the horrors born of pāpa with the safety gained through righteous living, it indirectly supports bhakti-based discipline: devotion expressed through purified conduct, avoidance of harm, and adherence to dharma.
This verse is primarily descriptive rather than technical; its practical takeaway is ethical instruction (dharma-nīti) rather than a direct teaching of śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, or jyotiṣa.