Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Account of Kārtavīrya’s Protective Kavaca

Kārtavīrya-kavaca-vṛttānta

Devanagari script

महागजा महासिंहा महामहिषयोनयः । ऋक्षवाराहशुनकवानरोलूकमूर्तयः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

mahāgajā mahāsiṃhā mahāmahiṣayonayaḥ | ṛkṣavārāhaśunakavānarolūkamūrtayaḥ || 68 ||

Translation

وہ بڑے ہاتھیوں، بڑے شیروں اور عظیم بھینسوں کی یونیوں میں جنم لیتے ہیں؛ اور ریچھ، وراہ، کتا، بندر اور اُلوک (الو) جیسی صورتیں اختیار کرتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• महा-गजाः: great elephants
• महा-गजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान्तः गजाः

• महा-सिंहाः: great lions
• महा-सिंहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान्तः सिंहाः

• महा-महिष-योनयः: origins/wombs of great buffaloes
• महा-महिष-योनयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + महिष (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—महामहिषस्य योनयः (origins/wombs of great buffaloes)

• ऋक्ष-वाराह-शुनक-वानर-उलूक-मूर्तयः: forms of bears, boars, dogs, monkeys, and owls
• ऋक्ष-वाराह-शुनक-वानर-उलूक-मूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वाराह (प्रातिपदिक) + शुनक (प्रातिपदिक) + वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + उलूक (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—(ऋक्षादीनां) मूर्तयः (forms of bears/boars/dogs/monkeys/owls)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue, traditionally to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It underscores saṃsāra and yoni-bheda—souls, driven by karma and dispositions, can manifest in many non-human embodiments, highlighting the urgency of dharma and liberation-oriented practice.

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

By emphasizing the instability of embodied existence across species, it implicitly supports bhakti (especially toward Viṣṇu) as a stabilizing, liberating path that transcends karmic wandering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects a śāstric, taxonomic way of describing embodiment (yoni and mūrti classifications), aligning with the Third Pada’s technical style of organizing knowledge rather than prescribing a specific ritual.