Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

माहेश्वरा वैष्णवाश्च वैरिंच्याश्च महाग्रहाः । स्कांदा वैनायकाः क्रूरा ये च प्रमथगुह्यकाः ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

māheśvarā vaiṣṇavāśca vairiṃcyāśca mahāgrahāḥ | skāṃdā vaināyakāḥ krūrā ye ca pramathaguhyakāḥ || 71 ||

Translation

มหาครหะผู้ก่อทุกข์มีหลายจำพวก คือที่เกี่ยวกับมเหศวร ที่เป็นฝ่ายไวษณพ และที่เกี่ยวกับไวรินจยะ; อีกทั้งพวกสกันทะ วินายกะ และพวกดุร้ายอย่างประมถะกับคุหยะกะด้วย

Word by Word

• माहेश्वराः: Maheshvara-type (Śaiva) beings/spirits
• माहेश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वैष्णवाः: Vaiṣṇava beings/spirits
• वैष्णवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

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

• वैरिंच्याः: Vairiṃcya (Brahmā-related) beings/spirits
• वैरिंच्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरिंच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Vedic/epic variant form for -āḥ)

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

• महाग्रहाः: great afflicting spirits/seizers
• महाग्रहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाग्रह (प्रातिपदिक: महा + ग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (great + seizer)

• स्कांदाः: Skanda-related beings
• स्कांदाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कांद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वैनायकाः: Vināyaka-related beings
• वैनायकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्रूराः: cruel, fierce
• क्रूराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the listed beings)

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

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

• प्रमथगुह्यकाः: Pramathas and Guhyakas
• प्रमथगुह्यकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ + गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्व (प्रमथाः + गुह्यकाः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, instructional enumeration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Viṣṇu
• Vairiñca (Brahmā)
• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)
• Pramatha
• Guhyaka

FAQs

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

It classifies major afflictive influences (mahāgrahas) and spirit-classes by their associated divine spheres (Śiva, Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Skanda, Vināyaka), implying that disturbances are understood and treated within a dharmic-cosmic order rather than as random fear.

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

By naming deities whose ‘spheres’ these afflictions are linked to, the verse indirectly supports bhakti-based protection—turning to the appropriate devatā with reverence, mantra, and right conduct as part of Narada Purana’s remedial and devotional framework.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa-oriented diagnostic knowledge: it shows a technical taxonomy of graha/mahāgraha and related subtle beings (pramatha, guhyaka), useful for determining the nature of doṣa before prescribing Narada Purana rituals, mantras, or expiations.