Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62
The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca
Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta
ये पापा दुष्टकर्माणो दुःखदा दुष्टबुद्धयः । व्याजकाः कुपथासक्ता ये च नानाभयप्रदाः ॥ ६२ ॥
ye pāpā duṣṭakarmāṇo duḥkhadā duṣṭabuddhayaḥ | vyājakāḥ kupathāsaktā ye ca nānābhayapradāḥ || 62 ||
جو گناہگار، بدکردار، دکھ دینے والے اور بدعقل ہیں؛ جو بہانے اور فریب سے جیتے ہیں، کج راہوں کے دلدادہ ہیں اور طرح طرح کا خوف پھیلاتے ہیں۔
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It identifies traits that obstruct dharma and inner purity—sinful action, deceit, and fear-based conduct—implying that spiritual progress requires clean intention and right conduct, not merely technical knowledge.
Bhakti presupposes sincerity and non-harm; the verse contrasts devotion’s straightforwardness with vyāja (deceit) and kupatha (wrong paths), warning that fear-causing, crooked behavior is incompatible with genuine devotion.
A practical takeaway for Vedanga study is ethical restraint: technical skills (e.g., mantra use, ritual competence, or interpretive learning) must not be used for deceit or harm, otherwise they become a ‘wrong path’ (kupatha).