Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 92

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

विश्वास घातका दुष्टा ये च स्वामिद्रुहो नराः । ये चाततायिनो दुष्टा ये पापा गोप्यहारिणः ॥ ९२ ॥

Transliteration

viśvāsa ghātakā duṣṭā ye ca svāmidruho narāḥ | ye cātatāyino duṣṭā ye pāpā gopyahāriṇaḥ || 92 ||

Translation

คนชั่วผู้ทรยศต่อความไว้วางใจ ผู้เป็นกบฏต่อเจ้านาย; ผู้ร้ายอันธพาลผู้ก่อเหตุรุนแรง และคนบาปผู้ลักเอาสิ่งที่ควรเก็บเป็นความลับ.

Word by Word

• viśvāsa-ghātakāḥ: betrayers of trust
• viśvāsa-ghātakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāsa + ghātaka (प्रातिपदिक; हन्/घात-भाव)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः—‘विश्वासस्य घातकः’ (destroyer of trust)

• duṣṭāḥ: wicked
• duṣṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; दुष्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying persons

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• svāmi-druhaḥ: traitors to their master
• svāmi-druhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin + druh (प्रातिपदिक; द्रुह्-धातु से क्विप्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः—‘स्वामिनं द्रुह्यति’ (one who betrays his master)

• narāḥ: men
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• ātatāyinaḥ: violent aggressors
• ātatāyinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātatāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; denotes aggressors/assailants (आततायी)

• duṣṭāḥ: wicked
• duṣṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun

• pāpāḥ: sinful
• pāpāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective

• gopya-hāriṇaḥ: stealers of secrets
• gopya-hāriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopya + hārin (प्रातिपदिक; हृ-धातु से णिनि/इन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः—‘गोप्यं हरति’ (stealer of secrets/hidden things)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It marks betrayal, treachery, violent aggression, and theft of confidential matters as gravely adharmic, showing that spiritual progress requires integrity and restraint in speech and action.

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

Bhakti is grounded in sattvic conduct; one who harms others through deceit, disloyalty, or violence undermines the inner purity required for steady devotion to Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes dharmic application of speech and conduct—key to Śikṣā (disciplined expression) and Vyākaraṇa-informed right usage—by warning against misuse of words and trust (gopya/secret matters).