Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

महाशत्रुहा रौद्रा महामारीमसूरिकाः । ऐकाहिका व्द्याहिकाश्च त्र्याहिकाश्च महाज्वराः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

mahāśatruhā raudrā mahāmārīmasūrikāḥ | aikāhikā vdyāhikāśca tryāhikāśca mahājvarāḥ || 72 ||

Translation

«Великий сокрушитель врага» — лихорадка, «раудра» — свирепая лихорадка, великая эпидемия и асурика (оспа); а также однодневная, двухдневная и трёхдневная лихорадки — всё это великие лихорадки.

Word by Word

• महाशत्रुहाः: great enemy-slayers / great destroyers of foes
• महाशत्रुहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाशत्रुहन् (प्रातिपदिक: महा + शत्रुहन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (महान् शत्रुः यस्य/यः हन्ति)

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

• महामारीमसूरिकाः: great plague(s) and smallpox-like eruptions
• महामारीमसूरिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामारी + मसूरिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग-बहुवचनार्थे प्रथमा बहुवचन (epic usage with -āḥ); समासः द्वन्द्व (महामार्यः + मसूरिकाः)

• ऐकाहिकाः: one-day (fevers)
• ऐकाहिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐकाहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (jvarāḥ understood)

• द्व्याहिकाः: two-day (fevers)
• द्व्याहिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्व्याहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

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

• त्र्याहिकाः: three-day (fevers)
• त्र्याहिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्र्याहिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

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

• महाज्वराः: great fevers
• महाज्वराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाज्वर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + ज्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

FAQs

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

It catalogues severe afflictions (jvara and mārī) as part of technical knowledge, reminding that embodied life is vulnerable and that disciplined, dharmic living and proper knowledge are required for protection and wellbeing.

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

This particular verse is primarily diagnostic/classificatory rather than devotional; indirectly, it supports bhakti by preserving health and order in life, which enables steady worship and observance of vows and rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical taxonomy of illnesses—especially time-bound fevers (one-, two-, three-day) and epidemic conditions—reflecting applied śāstra-style classification used alongside ritual and practical disciplines.