Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

डाकिन्यो द्रुणसाः प्रेताः क्षेत्रपाला विनायकाः । महाव्याघ्रमहामेघा महातुरागरूपकाः ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

ḍākinyo druṇasāḥ pretāḥ kṣetrapālā vināyakāḥ | mahāvyāghramahāmeghā mahāturāgarūpakāḥ || 67 ||

Translation

డాకినీలు, మాంసభక్షక ద్రుణసులు, ప్రేతులు; క్షేత్రపాలులు మరియు వినాయకులు; కొన్నిసార్లు మహా పులులుగా, కొన్నిసార్లు మహా మేఘాలుగా, మరికొన్నిసార్లు భయంకర మహా గుర్రాల రూపాలలో (ప్రకటిస్తారు)।

Word by Word

• डाकिन्यः: ḍākinīs (witch-like spirits)
• डाकिन्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• द्रुणसाः: druṇasas (a class of beings)
• द्रुणसाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुणस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; (दुर्लभ-शब्दः)

• प्रेताः: pretas (departed spirits)
• प्रेताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• क्षेत्र-पालाः: guardians of places/fields
• क्षेत्र-पालाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—क्षेत्रस्य पालाः

• विनायकाः: vināyakas (leaders/attendant spirits)
• विनायकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• महा-व्याघ्र-महा-मेघाः: (those) like great tigers and great clouds
• महा-व्याघ्र-महा-मेघाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः—(महाव्याघ्राः च महामेघाः च)

• महा-तुरग-रूपकाः: having the form of great horses
• महा-तुरग-रूपकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तुरग (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावः—महातुरगस्य रूपकाः/महातुरगरूपाः (having the form of great horses)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Dakinis
• Pretas
• Kshetrapalas
• Vinayakas

FAQs

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

The verse catalogs classes of subtle beings and fearsome manifestations to stress that unseen forces can affect ritual space (kṣetra) and the practitioner, hence the need for purity, correct procedure, and protective rites.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by implying that reliance on dharmic discipline and devotion-centered worship (especially of the Lord who removes obstacles) steadies the mind against fear and disturbances attributed to such entities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to applied ritual science—protecting the worship-space through proper mantra/nyāsa and procedural correctness (a Vedāṅga-aligned, technical approach to ritual performance rather than a purely mythic description).