Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

उल्कापाताश्च ये घोरा ये महेंद्रायुधादयः । सूर्येंदुकुजसौम्याश्च गुरुकाव्यशनैश्चराः ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

ulkāpātāśca ye ghorā ye maheṃdrāyudhādayaḥ | sūryeṃdukujasaumyāśca gurukāvyaśanaiścarāḥ || 97 ||

Translation

Juga jatuhnya meteor yang mengerikan, serta tanda-tanda langit seperti senjata Indra dan lainnya; juga Surya, Candra, Kuja (Mars), Saumya (Merkurius), Guru (Jupiter), Kavya (Venus), dan Sanaiscara (Saturnus)—semuanya (di sini) tercakup.

Word by Word

• उल्कापाताः: meteor-falls / shooting stars
• उल्कापाताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्कापात = उल्का + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (meteor + fall)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• घोराः: terrible
• घोराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

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

• महेंद्रायुधादयः: Indra’s weapon and the like (e.g., rainbow)
• महेंद्रायुधादयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेंद्रायुधादयः = महेन्द्र + आयुध + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (महेन्द्रस्य आयुधम्) + 'आदि' (etc.)

• सूर्येंदुकुजसौम्याः: Sun, Moon, Mars, and Mercury
• सूर्येंदुकुजसौम्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्येंदुकुजसौम्याः = सूर्य + इन्दु + कुज + सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गुरुकाव्यशनैश्चराः: Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn
• गुरुकाव्यशनैश्चराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुकाव्यशनैश्चराः = गुरु + काव्य + शनैश्चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (Jupiter, Venus, Saturn)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/technical-science sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Surya
• Chandra
• Kuja (Mangala)
• Saumya (Budha)
• Guru (Brihaspati)
• Kavya (Shukra)
• Shanaiścara (Shani)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial events—meteors, lightning, and the classical planets—as meaningful signs (nimitta) within dharmic life, encouraging disciplined observation and interpretation rather than fear or superstition.

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

Though technical, it supports Bhakti indirectly: by reading omens correctly and acting dharmically (e.g., restraint, prayer, remedial rites), a devotee maintains steadiness of mind and devotion instead of being shaken by alarming portents.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedanga astrology/astronomy) and nimitta-śāstra are highlighted through the explicit listing of grahas and extraordinary sky-omens like ulkāpāta (meteors) and mahendrāyudha (lightning).