Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

सहस्रधा प्रणश्यंतु भग्नसत्त्वबलोद्यमाः । ये सर्पा ये महानागा महागिरिबिलेशयाः ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

sahasradhā praṇaśyaṃtu bhagnasattvabalodyamāḥ | ye sarpā ye mahānāgā mahāgiribileśayāḥ || 78 ||

Translation

เมื่อความกล้า กำลัง และแรงฮึกเหิมถูกทำลายแล้ว ขอให้งูและมหานาคที่อาศัยในถ้ำแห่งภูเขาใหญ่พินาศไปนับพันประการ

Word by Word

• सहस्रधा: into a thousand (pieces), a thousandfold
• सहस्रधा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रधा (अव्यय; सहस्र + धा)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• प्रणश्यन्तु: let them perish
• प्रणश्यन्तु: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भग्नसत्त्वबलोद्यमाः: whose courage, strength, and effort are broken
• भग्नसत्त्वबलोद्यमाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न + सत्त्व + बल + उद्यम (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण; (भग्न = क्त-कृदन्त from भञ्ज्)

• ये: who, those who
• ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• सर्पाः: snakes
• सर्पाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ये: who, those who
• ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• महानागाः: great nāgas (serpents)
• महानागाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानाग (प्रातिपदिक; महा + नाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• महागिरिबिलेशयाः: dwelling in caves of great mountains
• महागिरिबिलेशयाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महागिरिबिलेशय (प्रातिपदिक; महा + गिरि + बिल + शय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (those dwelling in caves of great mountains)

Speaker

Narada (in a protective/ritual-technical context within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Nagas
• Sarpas

FAQs

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

It functions as a rakṣā-prayoga (protective utterance), invoking the defeat of harmful serpent-forces by breaking their “sattva-bala-udyama” (resolve, strength, and hostile exertion), emphasizing spiritual protection through disciplined sacred speech.

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

Though not a direct bhakti instruction, it reflects the bhakta’s reliance on sacred recitation and divine order for protection—using dharmic means rather than fear—consistent with Narada Purana’s devotional culture of mantra-supported living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Applied mantra-usage within ritual life: a practical rakṣā (protective) formulation, showing how technical Vedic practice uses precise wording and intent for safeguarding—aligned with Vedanga-style procedural knowledge.