Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

महागजा महासिंहा महामहिषयोनयः । ऋक्षवाराहशुनकवानरोलूकमूर्तयः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

mahāgajā mahāsiṃhā mahāmahiṣayonayaḥ | ṛkṣavārāhaśunakavānarolūkamūrtayaḥ || 68 ||

Translation

ते महागज, महासिंह आणि महाभैसाच्या योनित जन्म घेतात; तसेच अस्वल, वराह, कुत्रा, वानर व घुबड इत्यादी रूपे धारण करतात।

Word by Word

• महा-गजाः: great elephants
• महा-गजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान्तः गजाः

• महा-सिंहाः: great lions
• महा-सिंहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान्तः सिंहाः

• महा-महिष-योनयः: origins/wombs of great buffaloes
• महा-महिष-योनयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + महिष (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—महामहिषस्य योनयः (origins/wombs of great buffaloes)

• ऋक्ष-वाराह-शुनक-वानर-उलूक-मूर्तयः: forms of bears, boars, dogs, monkeys, and owls
• ऋक्ष-वाराह-शुनक-वानर-उलूक-मूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वाराह (प्रातिपदिक) + शुनक (प्रातिपदिक) + वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + उलूक (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—(ऋक्षादीनां) मूर्तयः (forms of bears/boars/dogs/monkeys/owls)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue, traditionally to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It underscores saṃsāra and yoni-bheda—souls, driven by karma and dispositions, can manifest in many non-human embodiments, highlighting the urgency of dharma and liberation-oriented practice.

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

By emphasizing the instability of embodied existence across species, it implicitly supports bhakti (especially toward Viṣṇu) as a stabilizing, liberating path that transcends karmic wandering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects a śāstric, taxonomic way of describing embodiment (yoni and mūrti classifications), aligning with the Third Pada’s technical style of organizing knowledge rather than prescribing a specific ritual.