Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

ते सर्वे कार्तवीर्यस्य चक्रसाहस्रदारिताः । दूरादेव क्षयं यांतु विनष्टबलसाहसाः ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

te sarve kārtavīryasya cakrasāhasradāritāḥ | dūrādeva kṣayaṃ yāṃtu vinaṣṭabalasāhasāḥ || 95 ||

Translation

Silang lahat—na pinilas at pinagpira-piraso ng sanlibong cakra ni Kārtavīrya—ay napuksa mula pa sa malayo, at ang kanilang lakas at tapang ay lubusang naubos.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying ‘te’

• kārtavīryasya: of Kārtavīrya
• kārtavīryasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtavīrya (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• cakra-sāhasra-dāritāḥ: torn apart by a thousand discus-wheels
• cakra-sāhasra-dāritāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; of ‘te sarve’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cakra + sāhasra + dārita (प्रातिपदिक; दृ-धातु से क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुषः—‘चक्र-साहस्रेण दारितः’ (torn by a thousand discs)

• dūrāt: from afar
• dūrāt: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभूत-प्रयोगः)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• kṣayam: destruction
• kṣayam: Karma (कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; goal/state with ‘yāntu’

• yāntu: let them go / may they reach
• yāntu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या-धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• vinaṣṭa-bala-sāhasāḥ: whose strength and audacity are ruined
• vinaṣṭa-bala-sāhasāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; of ‘te sarve’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaṣṭa + bala + sāhasa (प्रातिपदिक; नश्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; कर्मधारयः—‘विनष्टं बलं च साहसं च येषाम्’ (with strength and audacity destroyed)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Purana’s discourse tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya Arjuna

FAQs

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

It underscores the fragility of worldly power: even great armies collapse when confronted by overwhelming force, pointing the reader toward dharma and inner discipline rather than pride in might.

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

By highlighting the futility of mere strength and heroism, it implicitly supports the Purana’s broader message that lasting refuge lies in devotion and surrender to the divine, not in martial prowess.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this line; the takeaway is ethical instruction (dharma-nīti) often embedded alongside technical sections—warning against overreliance on bala (power) and sāhasa (reckless valor).