Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
शारीरे च महादुःखे मानसे च महाज्वरे । आधिव्याधिभये विघ्नज्वालोपद्रवकेऽपि च ॥ ५० ॥
śārīre ca mahāduḥkhe mānase ca mahājvare | ādhivyādhibhaye vighnajvālopadravake'pi ca || 50 ||
身に大いなる苦があり、心に激しい熱悩が起こる時、憂いと病を恐れる時、また障りと燃え立つ危難と災厄のただ中にあっても——その時こそハリに帰依し、示された霊薬の行を実践すべきである。
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames extreme physical and mental distress—disease, anxiety, obstacles, and calamities—as moments when one should intensify refuge in dharma and the prescribed sacred practice (typically japa, stotra, vrata, or protective prayoga) rather than fall into fear.
By listing crises (duḥkha, jvara, ādhi-vyādhi, vighna), it implies that devotion is not conditional on comfort; bhakti is a steady refuge that is especially activated when life becomes unstable.
The verse points to applied prayoga—structured use of sacred recitation and ritual procedure for protection—aligned with Vedanga-style discipline (correct application, timing, and method), even though it does not name a specific Vedanga explicitly.