the narayana kavacham

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.. नारायण कवचं .. Chapter Eight Summary This chapter describes how Indra, the King of heaven, was victorious over the soldiers of the demons, and it also describes the shield of the VishhNu mantra. To take protection from this shield, one must first touch kusha grass and wash one.as mouth with aacamana-mantras. One should observe silence and then place the eight-syllable VishhNu mantra on the parts of his body and place the twelve-syllable mantra on his hands. The eight-syllable mantra is oM namo naaraayaNaaya. This mantra should be distributed all over the front and back of the body. The twelve-syllable mantra, which begins with the praNava, oMkaara, is oM namo bhagavate vaasudevaaya. One syllable should be placed on each of the fingers and should be preceded by the praNava, oMkaara. Thereafter, one must chant oM vishhNave namaH, which is a six-syllable mantra. One must progressively place the syllables of the mantra on the heart, the head, between the two eyebrows, on the shikhaa and between the eyes, and then one should chant maH astraaya phaT and with this mantra protect himself from all directions. Naadevo devam arcayet: one who has not risen to the level of a deva cannot chant this mantra. According to this direction of the shaastra, one must think himself qualitatively nondifferent from the Supreme. After finishing this dedication, one must offer a prayer to the eight-armed Lord VishhNu, who sits on the shoulders of GaruDadeva. One also has to think of the fish incarnation, Vaamana, Kuurma, NRisiMha, Varaaha. Parashuraama, Raamacandra (the elder brother of LakshhmaNa). Nara-NaaraayaNa, Dattaatreya (an empowered incarnation), Kapila, Sanat-kumaara, Hayagriiva, Naaradadeva (the incarnation of a devotee). Dhanvantari,

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The Narayana Kavacham occurs in chapter eight of the sixth skanda of Bhagavada Purana. It is an Armour to protect ourselves from our enemies seen and unseen.

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Page 1: The Narayana Kavacham

.. नारायण कवच ं..

Chapter Eight

Summary

This chapter describes how Indra, the King of

heaven, was victorious over the soldiers of the

demons, and it also describes the shield of the

VishhNu mantra.

To take protection from this shield, one must first

touch kusha grass and wash one.as mouth with

aacamana-mantras. One should observe silence and

then place the eight-syllable VishhNu mantra on the

parts of his body and place the twelve-syllable

mantra on his hands. The eight-syllable mantra is

oM namo naaraayaNaaya. This mantra should be

distributed all over the front and back of the

body. The twelve-syllable mantra, which begins with

the praNava, oMkaara, is oM namo bhagavate

vaasudevaaya. One syllable should be placed on each

of the fingers and should be preceded by the

praNava, oMkaara. Thereafter, one must chant oM

vishhNave namaH, which is a six-syllable mantra.

One must progressively place the syllables of the

mantra on the heart, the head, between the two

eyebrows, on the shikhaa and between the eyes, and

then one should chant maH astraaya phaT and with

this mantra protect himself from all directions.

Naadevo devam arcayet: one who has not risen to the

level of a deva cannot chant this mantra. According

to this direction of the shaastra, one must think

himself qualitatively nondifferent from the

Supreme.

After finishing this dedication, one must offer a

prayer to the eight-armed Lord VishhNu, who sits on

the shoulders of GaruDadeva. One also has to think

of the fish incarnation, Vaamana, Kuurma, NRisiMha,

Varaaha. Parashuraama, Raamacandra (the elder

brother of LakshhmaNa). Nara-NaaraayaNa,

Dattaatreya (an empowered incarnation), Kapila,

Sanat-kumaara, Hayagriiva, Naaradadeva (the

incarnation of a devotee). Dhanvantari,

Page 2: The Narayana Kavacham

�shhabhadeva, Yaj�a, Balaraama, Vyaasadeva, Buddhadeva and Keshava. One should also think of

Govinda, the master of VRindaavana. and one should

think of NaaraayaNa, the master of the spiritual

sky. One should think of Madhusuudana, Tridhaamaa,

Maadhava, HRishhiikesha, Padmanaabha, Janaardana,

Daamodara and Vishveshvara, as well as the Supreme

Personality of Godhead KRishhNa Himself. After

offering prayers to the Lord.as personal expansions

known as the svaaMsha and shaktyaavesha-avataaras,

one should pray to the weapons of Lord NaaraayaNa,

such as the Sudarshana, gadaa, sha~Nkha, khaDga and

bow.

After explaining this process, shukadeva Gosvaamii

told Mahaaraaja Pariikshhit how Vishvaruupa, the

brother of VRitraasura, described the glories of

the NaaraayaNa-kavacha to Indra.

ी- राजोवाच

यया गु�तः सह�ा�हः सवाहान ्�रपु- सै�नकान ्

��ड�न ्इव !व�निज#$य %&- लो(या बभुुजे ,यम ्|| १ ||

भगवसं ्तन ्ममा/या0ह वम# नारायणा$मकम ्

यथातता�यनः श&ू�येन गु�तोऽजयन ्मधेृ || २ ||

ी- राजा उवाच King Pariikshhit said; यया by which

(the spiritual armor); गु�तः protected; सह�- अ�हः

the thousand-eyed King Indra; स- वाहान ्with their

carriers; �रपु- सै�नकान ्the soldiers and commanders of

the enemies; ��डन ्इव just like playing; !व�निज#$य

conquering; %&- लो(याः of the three worlds (the

higher, middle and lower planetary systems); बुभुजे

enjoyed; ,यम ्the opulence; भगवन ्O great sage; तत ्

that; मम unto me; आ/या0ह please explain; वम#

defensive armor made of a mantra; नारायण- आ$मकम ्

consisting of the mercy of NaaraayaNa; यथा in which

Page 3: The Narayana Kavacham

way; आतता�यनः who were endeavoring to kill him; श&नू ्

enemies; येन by which; गु�तः being protected; अजयत ्

conquered; मधेृ in the fight.

King Pariikshhit inquired from shukadeva Gosvaamii:

My lord, kindly explain the VishhNu mantra armor

that protected King Indra and enabled him to

conquer his enemies, along with their carriers, and

enjoy the opulence of the three worlds. Please

explain to me that NaaraayaNa armor, by which King

Indra achieved success in battle, conquering the

enemies who were endeavoring to kill him.

ी- बादराय<णर ्उवाच

वतृः पुरो0हतस ्$वा=>ो महे�?ायानपु@ृचत े

नारायणा/य ंवमा#ह तA इहैक- मनाः शणृ ु|| ३ ||

ी- बादराय<णः उवाच shrii shukadeva Gosvaamii said; वतृः

the chosen; पुरो0हतः priest; $वा=>ः the son of

TvashhTaa; महे�?ाय unto King Indra; अनपु@ृचत ेafter he

(Indra) inquired; नारायण- आ/यम ्named NaaraayaNa-

kavacha; वम# defensive armor made of a mantra; आह

he said; तत ्that; इह this; एक- मनाः with great

attention; शणृ ुhear from me.

shrii shukadeva Gosvaamii said: King Indra, the

leader of the demigods, inquired about the armor

known as NaaraayaNa-kavacha from Vishvaruupa, who

was engaged by the demigods as their priest. Please

hear Vishvaruupa.as reply with great attention.

ी- !वDवEप उवाच

धौताG�H- पा<णर ्आचIय सप!व&

उदG- मुखः कृत- KवाGग- कर- �यासो || ४ ||

म�&ाMयां वाग-् यतः श,ुचः नारायण- परं वम#

Page 4: The Narayana Kavacham

स�नNयेA भय आगत ेपादयोर ्जानुनोर ्ऊवPर ्|| ५ ||

उदरे RAय ्अथोरSस मुखे SशरKय ्आनुपTूया#A

ओंकारादV�न !व�यसेत ्ओ ंनमो नारायणाये�त !वपय#यम ्अथा!प वा || ६ ||

ी- !वDवEपः उवाच shrii Vishvaruupa said; धौत having

completely washed; अG�H feet; पा<णः hands; आचIय performing aacamana (sipping a little water three

times after chanting the prescribed mantra); स-

प!व&ः wearing rings made of kusha grass (on the ring

finger of each hand); उदक्- मुखः sitting facing the

north; कृत making; Kव- अGग- कर- �यासः mental assignment of the eight parts of the body and

twelve parts of the hands; म�&ाMयाम ्with the two mantras (oM namo bhagavate vaasudevaaya and oM namo

naaraayaNaaya); वाक्- यतः keeping oneself silent;

श,ुचः being purified; नारायण- परम ्fully intent on

Lord NaaraayaNa; वम# armor; स�नNयेत ्put on oneself;

भये when fear; आगत ेhas come; पादयोः on the two legs;

जानुनोः on the two knees; ऊवPः on the two thighs; उदरे

on the abdomen; R0द on the heart; अथ thus; उरSस on

the chest; मुखे on the mouth; SशरSस on the head;

आनुपूTया#त ्one after another; ओकंार- आदV�न beginning

with oMkaara; !व�यसेत ्one should place; ओ ंthe

praNava; नमः obeisances; नारायणाय unto NaaraayaNa,

the Supreme Personality of Godhead; इ�त thus;

!वपय#यम ्the reverse; अथ अ!प moreover; वा or.

Vishvaruupa said: If some form of fear arrives, one

should first wash his hands and legs clean and then

perform aacamana by chanting this mantra:

ॐ अप!व&ः प!व&ो वा सवा#वKथां गतोऽ!प वा |

यः Kमरेत ्पुYडरVका�हं स बNयाMय�तरः श,ुचः ||

Page 5: The Narayana Kavacham

ी !व=ण ुी- !व=ण ुी- !व=ण.ु

Then one should touch kusha grass and sit gravely

and silently, facing north. When completely

purified, one should touch the mantra composed of

eight syllables to the eight parts of his body and

touch the mantra composed of twelve syllables to

his hands. Thus, in the following manner, he should

bind himself with the NaaraayaNa coat of armor.

First, while chanting the mantra composed of eight

syllables [OM namo naaraayaNaaya], beginning with

the praNava, the syllable OM, one should touch his

hands to eight parts of his body, starting with the

two feet and progressing systematically to the

knees, thighs, abdomen, heart, chest, mouth and

head. Then one should chant the mantra in reverse,

beginning from the last syllable [ya], while

touching the parts of his body in the reverse

order. These two processes are known as utpatti-

nyaasa and saMhaara-nyaasa respectively.

कर- �यास ंततः कुया#Zवादशा�हर- !वAयया

[णवा0द- य- कारा�तमGगु\य-् अGगु=ठ- पव#स ु|| ७ ||

कर- �यासम ्the ritual known as kara-nyaasa, which assigns the syllables of the mantra to the fingers;

ततः thereafter; कुया#त ्should execute; Aवादश- अ_्हर

composed of twelve syllables; !वAयया with the

mantra; [णव- आ0द beginning with the oMkaara; य-

कार- अ�तम ्ending with the syllable ya; अGगुSल on the

fingers, beginning with the index finger; अGगु=ठ-

पव#स ुto the joints of the thumbs. Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve

syllables [oM namo bhagavate vaasudevaaya].

Preceding each syllable by the oMkaara, one should

place the syllables of the mantra on the tips of

his fingers, beginning with the index finger of the

right hand and concluding with the index finger of

Page 6: The Narayana Kavacham

the left. The four remaining syllables should be

placed on the joints of the thumbs.

�यसेA धदृय ओंकारं !व- कारम ्अनु मूध#�न

ष- कारं तु aुवोर ्मbये ण- कारं Sशखया �यसेत ्|| ८ ||

व-े कारं ने&योर ्युGdया�न- कारं सव#- सि�धष ु

म- कारम ्अK&म ्उ0eDय म�&- मू�त #र ्भवेA बधुः || ९ ||

स!वसगg फi- अ�तं त$सव#- 0द�हु !व�न0द#शते ्

ओ ं!व=णव ेनम इ�त || १० ||

�यसेत ्should place; Rदये on the heart; ओंकारम ्the

praNava, oMkaara; !व- कारम ्the syllable vi of

vishhNave; अन ुthereafter; मूध#�न on the top of the

head; ष- कारम ्the syllable sa; तु and; aुवोः मbये

between the two eyebrows; ण- कारम ्the syllable Na;

Sशखया on the shikhaa on the head; �यसेत ्should

place; वेकारम ्the syllable ve; ने&योः between the two

eyes; युGdयात ्should be placed; न- कारम ्the syllable

na of the word namaH; सव#- सि�धष ुon all the joints;

म- कारम ्the syllable ma of the word namaH; अK&म ्a

weapon; उ0eDय thinking; म�&- मू�त #ः the form of the

mantra; भवेत ्should become; बधुः an intelligent

person; स- !वसग#म ्with the visarga (H); फk- अ�तम ्

ending with the sound phaT; तत ्that; सव#- 0द�हु in

all directions; !व�न0द#शते ्should fix; ओ ंpraNava;

!व=णव ेunto Lord VishhNu; नमः obeisances; इ�त thus.

One must then chant the mantra of six syllables [oM

vishhNave namaH]. One should place the syllable

"oM" on his heart, the syllable "vi" on the top of

his head, the syllable "shha" between his eyebrows,

the syllable "Na" on his tuft of hair [shikhaa],

and the syllable "ve" between his eyes. The chanter

of the mantra should then place the syllable "na"

Page 7: The Narayana Kavacham

on all the joints of his body and meditate on the

syllable "ma" as being a weapon. He should thus

become the perfect personification of the mantra.

Thereafter, adding visarga to the final syllable

"ma," he should chant the mantra "maH astraaya

phaT" in all directions, beginning from the east.

In this way, all directions will be bound by the

protective armor of the mantra.

आ$मान ंपरम ंbयायेA bयेय ंषk- शि(तSभर ्युतम ्

!वAया- तजेस-् तपो- मू�त #Sमम ंम�&म ्उदाहरेत ्|| ११ ||

आ$मानम ्the self; परमम ्the supreme; bयायेत ्one

should meditate on; bयेयम ्worthy to be meditated

on; षk- शि(तSभः the six opulences; युतम ्possessed

of; !वAया learning; तजेः influence; तपः austerity;

मू�त #म ्personified; इमम ्this; म�&म ्mantra; उदाहरेत ्should chant.

After finishing this chanting, one should think

himself qualitatively one with the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, who is full in six

opulences and is worthy to be meditated upon. Then

one should chant the following protective prayer to

Lord NaaraayaNa, the NaaraayaNa-kavacha.

ओ ंह�रर ्!वदbयान ्मम सव#- र�हां �यKताG�H- पlः पतगे�?- प=ृठे

दरा�र- चमा#Sस- गदेष-ु चाप- पाशान ्दधानोऽ=ट- गुणोऽ=ट- बाहुः ||

१२ ||

ओ ंO Lord; ह�रः the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

!वदbयात ्may He bestow; मम my; सव#- र�हाम ्protection

from all sides; �यKत placed; अG�H- पlः whose lotus

feet; पतगे�?- प=ृठे on the back of GaruDa, the king of

all birds; दर conchshell; अ�र disc; चम# shield; अSस

Page 8: The Narayana Kavacham

sword; गदा club; इष ुarrows; चाप bow; पाशान ्ropes;

दधानः holding; अ=ट possessing eight; गुणः

perfections; अ=ट eight; बाहुः arms.

The Supreme Lord, who sits on the back of the bird

GaruDa, touching him with His lotus feet, holds

eight weapons�the conchshell, disc, shield, sword, club, arrows, bow and ropes. May that Supreme

Personality of Godhead protect me at all times with

His eight arms. He is all-powerful because He fully

possesses the eight mystic powers [aNimaa,

laghimaa, etc.].

\ PURPORT

Thinking oneself one with the Supreme is called

aha~Ngrahopaasanaa. Through aha~Ngrahopaasanaa one

does not become God, but he thinks of himself as

qualitatively one with the Supreme. Understanding

that as a spirit soul he is equal in quality to the

supreme soul the way the water of a river is of the

same nature as the water of the sea, one should

meditate upon the Supreme Lord, as described in

this verse, and seek His protection. The living

entities are always subordinate to the Supreme.

Consequently their duty is to always seek the mercy

of the Lord in order to be protected by Him in all

circumstances.

जलेष ुमां र�हतु म$Kय- मू�त #या#दो- गणेMयो वnणKय पाशात ्

Kथलेष ुमायावटु- वामनोऽTयाि$&!व�मः खेऽवतु !वDवEपः || १३ ||

जलेष ुin the water; माम ्me; र�हतु protect; म$Kय- मू�त #ः

the Supreme Lord in the form of a great fish; यादः-

गणेMयः from fierce aquatic animals; वnणKय of the

demigod known as VaruNa; पाशात ्from the arresting

rope; Kथलेष ुon the land; माया- वटु the merciful form

of the Lord as a dwarf; वामनः named Vaamanadeva;

Page 9: The Narayana Kavacham

अTयात ्may He protect; %&!व�मः Trivikrama, whose three gigantic steps took the three worlds from

Bali; खे in the sky; अवतु may the Lord protect;

!वDवEपः the gigantic universal form.

May the Lord, who assumes the body of a great fish,

protect me in the water from the fierce animals

that are associates of the demigod VaruNa. By

expanding His illusory energy, the Lord assumed the

form of the dwarf Vaamana. May Vaamana protect me

on the land. Since the gigantic form of the Lord,

Vishvaruupa, conquers the three worlds, may He

protect me in the sky.

\ PURPORT

This mantra seeks the protection of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead in the water, land and sky

in His incarnations as the fish, Vaamanadeva and

the Vishvaruupa.

दगुo=व ्अटTय-् आिज- मुखा0दष ु[भुः पायान ्नSृसहंोऽसुर- यथूपा�रः

!वमGुचतो यKय महाp- हास ं0दशो !वनेदरु ्�यपतंश ्च गभा#ः || १४ ||

दगुoष ुin places where travel is very difficult; अट!व

in the dense forest; आिज- मुख- आ0दष ुon the war

front and so on; [भुः the Supreme Lord; पायात ्may He

protect; नSृसहंः Lord NRisiMhadeva; असुर- यथूप of

HiraNyakashipu, the leader of the demons; अ�रः the

enemy; !वमुGचतः releasing; यKय of whom; महा- अp-

हासम ्great and fearful laughing; 0दशः all the

directions; !वनदेःु resounded through; �यपतन ्fell

down; च and; गभा#ः the embryos of the wives of the demons.

May Lord NRisiMhadeva, who appeared as the enemy of

HiraNyakashipu, protect me in all directions. His

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loud laughing vibrated in all directions and caused

the pregnant wives of the asuras to have

miscarriages. May that Lord be kind enough to

protect me in difficult places like the forest and

battlefront.

र�ह$व ्असौ माbव�न यdङ- क\पः Kव- दं=>यो�नीत- धरो वराहः

रामोऽ0?- कूटे=व ्अथ !व[वासे सल�NमणोऽTयाA भरताrजोऽKमान ्|| १५ ||

र�हतु may the Lord protect; असौ that; मा me; अbव�न

on the street; यdङ- क\पः who is ascertained by

performance of ritualistic ceremonies; Kव- दं=>या by

His own tusk; उ�नीत raising; धरः the planet earth;

वराहः Lord Boar; रामः Lord Raama; अ0?- कूटेष ुon the

summits of the mountains; अथ then; !व[वासे in

foreign countries; स- ल�Nमणः with His brother

LakshhmaNa; अTयात ्may He protect; भरत- अrजः the

elder brother of Mahaaraaja Bharata; अKमान ्us.

The Supreme indestructible Lord is ascertained

through the performance of ritualistic sacrifices

and is therefore known as Yaj�eshvara. In His incarnation as Lord Boar, He raised the planet

earth from the water at the bottom of the universe

and kept it on His pointed tusks. May that Lord

protect me from rogues on the street. May

Parashuraama protect me on the tops of mountains,

and may the elder brother of Bharata, Lord

Raamacandra, along with His brother LakshhmaNa,

protect me in foreign countries.

\ PURPORT

There are three Raamas. One Raama is Parashuraama

(Jaamadaagnya). another Raama is Lord Raamacandra,

and a third Raama is Lord Balaraama. In this verse

the words raamo.adri-kuuTeshhv atha indicate Lord

Parashuraama. The brother of Bharata Mahaaraaja and

LakshhmaNa is Lord Raamacandra.

Page 11: The Narayana Kavacham

माम ्उr- धमा#A अ<खलात ्[मादा�नारायणः पातु नरश ्च हासात ्

द$तस ्$व ्अयोगाA अथ योग- नाथः पायाA गुणेशः क!पलः कम#-

ब�धात ्|| १६ ||

माम ्me; उr- धमा#त ्from unnecessary religious

principles; अ<खलात ्from all kinds of activities;

[मादात ्which are enacted in madness; नारायणः Lord

NaaraayaNa; पातु may He protect; नरः च and Nara; हासात ्

from unnecessary pride; द$तः Dattaatreya; तु of

course; अयोगात ्from the path of false yoga; अथ

indeed; योग- नाथः the master of all mystic powers;

पायात ्may He protect; गुण- ईशः the master of all

spiritual qualities; क!पलः Lord Kapila; कम#- ब�धात ्from the bondage of fruitive activities.

May Lord NaaraayaNa protect me from unnecessarily

following false religious systems and falling from

my duties due to madness. May the Lord in His

appearance as Nara protect me from unnecessary

pride. May Lord Dattaatreya, the master of all

mystic power, protect me from falling while

performing bhakti-yoga, and may Lord Kapila, the

master of all good qualities, protect me from the

material bondage of fruitive activities.

सनत-् कुमारोऽवतु कामदेवाtयशीषा# मां प,थ देव- हेलनात ्

देव!ष#- वय#ः पुnषाच#ना�तरा$कूमP ह�रर ्मां �नरयाA अशषेात ्|| १७ ||

सनत-् कुमारः the great brahmacaarii named Sanat-

kumaara; अवतु may he protect; काम- देवात ्from the

hands of Cupid or lusty desire; हय- शीषा# Lord Hayagriiva, the incarnation of the Lord whose head

is like that of a horse; माम ्me; प,थ on the path;

देव- हेलनात ्from neglecting to offer respectful

Page 12: The Narayana Kavacham

obeisances to braahmaNas, VaishhNavas and the

Supreme Lord; देव!ष#- वय#ः the best of the saintly

sages, Naarada; पुnष- अच#न- अ�तरात ्from the offenses

in worshiping the Deity; कूम#ः Lord Kuurma, the

tortoise; ह�रः the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

माम ्me; �नरयात ्from hell; अशषेात ्unlimited.

May Sanat-kumaara protect me from lusty desires. As

I begin some auspicious activity, may Lord

Hayagriiva protect me from being an offender by

neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to the

Supreme Lord. May Devarshhi Naarada protect me from

committing offenses in worshiping the Deity, and

may Lord Kuurma, the tortoise, protect me from

falling to the unlimited hellish planets.

\ PURPORT

Lusty desires are very strong in everyone, and they

are the greatest impediment to the discharge of

devotional service. Therefore those who are very

much influenced by lusty desires are advised to

take shelter of Sanat-kumaara, the great

brahmacaarii devotee. Naarada Muni, who is the

guide for arcana, is the author of the Naarada-

pa~ncharaatra, which prescribes the regulative

principles for worshiping the Deity. Everyone

engaged in Deity worship, whether at home or in the

temple, should always seek the mercy of Devarshhi

Naarada in order to avoid the thirty-two offenses

while worshiping the Deity. These offenses in Deity

worship are mentioned in The Nectar of Devotion.

ध�व�त�रर ्भगवान ्पा$व ्अपuयाZव�AवाA भयाA ऋषभो �निज#ता$मा

यdङश ्च लोकाA अवताज ्जना�ताAबलो गणात ्�ोध- वशाA अहV�?ः

|| १८ ||

ध�व�त�रः the incarnation Dhanvantari, the physician;

भगवान ्the Supreme Personality of Godhead; पातु may

He protect me; अपuयात ्from things injurious to the

Page 13: The Narayana Kavacham

health, such as meat and intoxicants; Aव�Aवात ्from

duality; भयात ्from fear; ऋषभः Lord Rishhabhadeva;

�निज#त- आ$मा who fully controlled his mind and self;

यdङः Yaj�a; च and; लोकात ्from the defamation of the

populace; अवतात ्may He protect; जन- अ�तात ्from

dangerous positions created by other people; बलः

Lord Balaraama; गणात ्from the hordes of; �ोध- वशात ्

the angry serpents; अहV�?ः Lord Balaraama in the form of the serpent sheshha Naaga.

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His

incarnation as Dhanvantari relieve me from

undesirable eatables and protect me from physical

illness. May Lord �shhabhadeva, who conquered His inner and outer senses, protect me from fear

produced by the duality of heat and cold. May

Yaj�a protect me from defamation and harm from the populace, and may Lord Balaraama as sheshha protect

me from envious serpents.

\ PURPORT

To live within this material world, one must face

many dangers, as described herein. For example,

undesirable food poses a danger to health, and

therefore one must give up such food. The

Dhanvantari incarnation can protect us in this

regard. Since Lord VishhNu is the Supersoul of all

living entities, if He likes He can save us from

adhibhautika disturbances, disturbances from other

living entities. Lord Balaraama is the sheshha

incarnation, and therefore He can save us from

angry serpents or envious persons, who are always

ready to attack.

Aवैपायनो भगवान ्अ[बोधाAबtुस ्तु पाषYड- गण- [मादात ्

कि\कः कलेः काल- मलात ्[पातुधमा#वनायोn- कृतावतारः || १९ ||

Aवैपायनः shriila Vyaasadeva, the giver of all Vedic

knowledge; भगवान ्the most powerful incarnation of

Page 14: The Narayana Kavacham

the Supreme Personality of Godhead; अ[बोधात ्from

ignorance of the shaastra; बुtः तु also Lord Buddha;

पाषYड- गण of atheists creating disillusionment for

innocent persons; [मादात ्from the madness; कि\कः

Lord Kalki, the incarnation of Keshava; कलेः of this

Kali-yuga; काल- मलात ्from the darkness of the age;

[पातु may He protect; धम#- अवनाय for the protection

of religious principles; उn very great; कृत- अवतारः who took an incarnation.

May the Personality of Godhead in His incarnation

as Vyaasadeva protect me from all kinds of

ignorance resulting from the absence of Vedic

knowledge. May Lord Buddhadeva protect me from

activities opposed to Vedic principles and from

laziness that causes one to madly forget the Vedic

principles of knowledge and ritualistic action. May

Kalkideva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who

appeared as an incarnation to protect religious

principles, protect me from the dirt of the age of

Kali.

\ PURPORT

This verse mentions various incarnations of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead who appear for

various purposes. shriila Vyaasadeva, Mahaamuni,

compiled the Vedic literature for the benefit of

all human society. If one wants to be protected

from the reactions of ignorance even in this age of

Kali, one may consult the books left by shriila

Vyaasadeva, Upanishhads, Vedaanta-suutra (Brahma-

suutra), Mahaabhaarata, shriimad-Bhaagavatam Mahaa-

PuraaNa (Vyaasadeva.as commentary on the Brahma-

suutra) and the other seventeen PuraaNas. Only by

the mercy of shriila Vyaasadeva do we have so many

volumes of transcendental knowledge to save us from

the clutches of ignorance.

As described by shriila Jayadeva Gosvaamii in his

Dashaavataara-stotra, Lord Buddha apparently

decried the Vedic knowledge:

Page 15: The Narayana Kavacham

�न�दSस यdङ- !वधेर ्अहह ु�त- जातं

सदय- Rदय- दSश#त- पश-ु घातम ्

केशव धतृ- बुt- शरVर जय जगA- ईश हरे

The mission of Lord Buddha was to save people from

the abominable activity of animal killing and to

save the poor animals from being unnecessarily

killed. When paashhaNDiis were cheating by killing

animals on the plea of sacrificing them in Vedic

yaj�as, the Lord said, "If the Vedic injunctions allow animal killing, I do not accept the Vedic

principles." Thus he actually saved people who

acted according to Vedic principles. One should

therefore surrender to Lord Buddha so that he can

help one avoid misusing the injunctions of the

Vedas.

The Kalki avataara is the fierce incarnation who

vanquishes the class of the atheists born in this

age of Kali. Now, in the beginning of Kali-yuga,

many irreligious principles are in effect, and as

Kali-yuga advances, many pseudo religious

principles will certainly be introduced, and people

will forget the real religious principles

enunciated by Lord KRishhNa before the beginning of

Kali-yuga, namely principles of surrender unto the

lotus feet of the Lord. Unfortunately, because of

Kali-yuga, foolish people do not surrender to the

lotus feet of KRishhNa. Even most people who claim

to belong to the Vedic system of religion are

actually opposed to the Vedic principles. Every day

they manufacture a new type of dharma on the plea

that whatever one manufactures is also a path of

liberation. Atheistic men generally say, yata mata

tata patha. According to this view, there are

hundreds and thousands of different opinions in

human society, and each opinion is a valid

religious principle. This philosophy of rascals has

killed the religious principles mentioned in the

Vedas, and such philosophies will become

increasingly influential as Kali-yuga progresses.

In the last stage of Kali-yuga, Kalkideva, the

fierce incarnation of Keshava, will descend to kill

Page 16: The Narayana Kavacham

all the atheists and will save only the devotees of

the Lord.

मां केशवो गदया [ातर ्अTयाAगो!व�द आसGगवम ्आ$त- वेणःु

नारायणः [ाNण उदा$त- शि(तम#bयन-् 0दन े!व=णरु ्अरV�?- पा<णः ||

२० ||

माम ्me; केशवः Lord Keshava; गदया by His club; [ातः in

the morning hours; अTयात ्may He protect; गो!व�दः Lord

Govinda; आसGगवम ्during the second part of the

day; आ$त- वेणःु holding His flute; नारायणः Lord

NaaraayaNa with four hands; [ाNणः during the third

part of the day; उदा$त- शि(तः controlling different

types of potencies; मbयम-् 0दन ेduring the fourth

part of the day; !व=णःु Lord VishhNu; अरV�?- पा<णः bearing the disc in His hand to kill the enemies.

May Lord Keshava protect me with His club in the

first portion of the day, and may Govinda, who is

always engaged in playing His flute, protect me in

the second portion of the day. May Lord NaaraayaNa,

who is equipped with all potencies, protect me in

the third part of the day, and may Lord VishhNu,

who carries a disc to kill His enemies, protect me

in the fourth part of the day.

\ PURPORT

According to Vedic astronomical calculations, day

and night are each divided into thirty ghaTikaas

(twenty-four minutes), instead of twelve hours.

Generally, each day and each night is divided into

six parts consisting of five ghaTikaas. In each of

these six portions of the day and night, the Lord

may be addressed for protection according to

different names. Lord Keshava, the proprietor of

the holy place of Mathuraa, is the Lord of the

first portion of the day, and Govinda, the Lord of

VRindaavana. is the master of the second portion.

Page 17: The Narayana Kavacham

देवोऽपराNणे मध-ु होrध�वा साय ं%&- धामावतु माधवो माम ्

दोष ेRषीकेश उताध#- रा& े�नशीथ एकोऽवतु पlनाभः || २१ ||

देवः the Lord; अपराNणे in the fifth part of the day;

मध-ु हा named Madhusuudana; उr- ध�वा bearing the

very fearful bow known as shaar~Nga; सायम ्the sixth

part of the day; %&- धामा manifesting as the three

deities Brahmaa, VishhNu and Maheshvara; अवतु may

He protect; माधवः named Maadhava; माम ्me; दोषे during

the first portion of the night; Rषीकेशः Lord

HRishhiikesha; उत also; अध#- रा& ेduring the second

part of the night; �नशीथ ेduring the third part of

the night; एकः alone; अवतु may He protect; पlनाभः Lord Padmanaabha.

May Lord Madhusuudana, who carries a bow very

fearful for the demons, protect me during the fifth

part of the day. In the evening, may Lord Maadhava,

appearing as Brahmaa, VishhNu and Maheshvara,

protect me, and in the beginning of night may Lord

HRishhiikesha protect me. At the dead of night [in

the second and third parts of night] may Lord

Padmanaabha alone protect me.

ीव$स- धामापर- रा& ईशः [$यषू ईशोऽSस- धरो जनाद#नः

दामोदरोऽTयादनुस�bय ं[भात े!वDवDेवरो भगवान ्काल- मू�त #ः || २२ ||

ीव$स- धामा the Lord, on whose chest the mark of

shriivatsa is resting; अपर- रा& ेin the fourth part

of the night; ईशः the Supreme Lord; [$यूष ेin the end

of the night; ईशः the Supreme Lord; अSस- धरः

carrying a sword in the hand; जनाद#नः Lord

Janaardana; दामोदरः Lord Daamodara; अTयात ्may He

Page 18: The Narayana Kavacham

protect; अनसु�bयम ्during each junction or twilight;

[भात ेin the early morning (the sixth part of the

night); !वDव- ईDवरः the Lord of the whole universe;

भगवान ्the Supreme Personality of Godhead; काल- मू�त #ः the personification of time.

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who bears

the shriivatsa on His chest, protect me after

midnight until the sky becomes pinkish. May Lord

Janaardana, who carries a sword in His hand,

protect me at the end of night [during the last

four ghaTikaas of night]. May Lord Daamodara

protect me in the early morning, and may Lord

Vishveshvara protect me during the junctions of day

and night.

च�ं यगुा�तानल- �तxम- नेSम aमत ्सम�ताA भगवत-् [य(ुतम ्

द�दिxध द�दxbय ्अ�र- सै�यम ्आश ुक�हं यथा वात- सखो हुताशः ||

२३ ||

च�म ्the disc of the Lord; युग- अ�त at the end of

the millennium; अनल like the fire of devastation;

�तxम- नेSम with a sharp rim; aमत ्wandering; सम�तात ्

on all sides; भगवत-् [य(ुतम ्being engaged by the

Lord; द�दिxध द�दिxध please burn completely, please

burn completely; अ�र- सै�यम ्the army of our enemies;

आश ुimmediately; क�हम ्dry grass; यथा like; वात- सखः

the friend of the wind; हुताशः blazing fire.

Set into motion by the Supreme Personality of

Godhead and wandering in all the four directions,

the disc of the Supreme Lord has sharp edges as

destructive as the fire of devastation at the end

of the millennium. As a blazing fire burns dry

grass to ashes with the assistance of the breeze,

may that Sudarshana cakra burn our enemies to

ashes.

Page 19: The Narayana Kavacham

गदेऽश�न- Kपश#न- !वKफुSलGगे �नि=पिYढ �नि=पYzय ्अिजत- ![याSस

कु=माYड- वनैायक- य�ह- र�हो- भूत- rहांश ्चूण#य चूण#यारVन ्|| २४ ||

गदे O club in the hands of the Supreme Personality

of Godhead; अश�न like thunderbolts; Kपश#न whose

touch; !वKफुSलGगे giving off sparks of fire; �नि=पिYढ

�नि=पिYढ pound to pieces, pound to pieces; अिजत- ![या very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

अSस you are; कु=माYड imps named KushhmaaNDas; वैनायक

ghosts named Vainaayakas; य�ह ghosts named

Yakshhas; र�हः ghosts named Raakshhasas; भूत ghosts

named Bhuutas; rहान ्and evil demons named Grahas;

चूण#य pulverize; चूण#य pulverize; अरVन ्my enemies.

O club in the hand of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, you produce sparks of fire as powerful as

thunderbolts, and you are extremely dear to the

Lord. I am also His servant. Therefore kindly help

me pound to pieces the evil living beings known as

KushhmaaNDas, Vainaayakas, Yakshhas, Raakshhasas,

Bhuutas and Grahas. Please pulverize them.

$व ंयातुधान- [मथ- [ेत- मात-ृ !पशाच- !व[rह- घोर- {=टVन ्

दरे�? !व?ावय कृ=ण- पू�रतो भीम- Kवनोऽरेर ्Rदया�न कIपयन ्|| २५ ||

$वम ्you; यातुधान Raakshhasas; [मथ Pramathas; [ेत

Pretas; मात ृMaataas; !पशाच Pishaacas; !व[- rह

braahmaNa ghosts; घोर- {=टVन ्who have very fearful

eyes; दरे�? O Paa�cajanya, the conchshell in the

hands of the Lord; !व?ावय drive away; कृ=ण- पू�रतः being filled with air from the mouth of KRishhNa;

Page 20: The Narayana Kavacham

भीम- Kवनः sounding extremely fearful; अरेः of the

enemy; Rदया�न the cores of the hearts; कIपयन ्causing to tremble.

O best of conchshells, O Paa�cajanya in the hands of the Lord, you are always filled with the breath

of Lord KRishhNa. Therefore you create a fearful

sound vibration that causes trembling in the hearts

of enemies like the Raakshhasas, pramatha ghosts,

Pretas, Maataas, Pishaacas and braahmaNa ghosts

with fearful eyes.

$व ं�तxम- धाराSस- वरा�र- सै�यम ्ईश- [य(ुतो मम ,चि�ध ,चि�ध

च�हंू!ष चम#G चत- च�? चादय A!वषाम ्अघोनां हर पाप- च�हुषाम ्||

२६ ||

$वम ्you; �तxम- धार- अSस- वर O best of swords

possessing very sharp blades; अ�र- सै�यम ्the

soldiers of the enemy; ईश- [य(ुतः being engaged by

the Supreme Personality of Godhead; मम my; ,चि�ध

,चि�ध chop to pieces, chop to pieces; च�हंू!ष the

eyes; चम#न ्O shield; शत- च�? possessing brilliant

circles like a hundred moons; चादय please cover;

A!वषाम ्of those who are envious of me; अघोनाम ्who

are completely sinful; हर please take away; पाप-

च�हुषाम ्of those whose eyes are very sinful. O king of sharp-edged swords, you are engaged by

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Please cut the

soldiers of my enemies to pieces. Please cut them

to pieces! O shield marked with a hundred brilliant

moonlike circles, please cover the eyes of the

sinful enemies. Pluck out their sinful eyes.

यन ्नो भय ंrहेMयोऽभू$केतुMयो नMृय एव च

सरVसपेृMयो दंि=>Mयो भूतMेयोऽ◌ंहोMय एव च || २७ ||

Page 21: The Narayana Kavacham

सवा#Yय ्एता�न भगवन-् नाम- Eपानुक�त#नात ्

[या�तु सG�हय ंसAयो ये नः ेयः- [तीपकाः || २८ ||

यत ्which; नः our; भयम ्fear; rहेMयः from the Graha

demons; अभूत ्was; केतुMयः from meteors, or falling

stars; नMृयः from envious human beings; एव च also;

सरVसपेृMयः from snakes or scorpions; दंि=>Mयः from animals with fierce teeth like tigers, wolves and

boars; भूतMेयः from ghosts or the material elements

(earth, water, fire, etc.); अहंोMयः from sinful

activities; एव च as well as; सवा#<ण एता�न all these;

भगवत-् नाम- Eप- अनुक�त#नात ्by glorifying the transcendental form, name, attributes and

paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead; [या�तु let them go; सG�हयम ्to complete

destruction; सAयः immediately; ये which; नः our;

ेयः- [तीपकाः hindrances to well-being.

May the glorification of the transcendental name,

form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead protect us from the

influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human

beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals like

tigers and wolves. May it protect us from ghosts

and the material elements like earth, water, fire

and air, and may it also protect us from lightning

and our past sins. We are always afraid of these

hindrances to our auspicious life. Therefore, may

they all be completely destroyed by the chanting of

the Hare KRishhNa mahaa-mantra.

गnडो भगवान ्Kतो&- Kतोभश ्च�दोमयः [भुः

र�ह$व ्अशषे- कृ@}Mेयो !व=व(सेनः Kव- नामSभः || २९ ||

गnडः His Holiness GaruDa, the carrier of Lord

VishhNu; भगवान ्as powerful as the Supreme

Page 22: The Narayana Kavacham

Personality of Godhead; Kतो&- Kतोभः who is glorified

by selected verses and songs; च�दः- मयः the

personified Vedas; [भुः the lord; र�हतु may He

protect; अशषे- कृ@}Mेयः from unlimited miseries;

!व=व(सेनः Lord Vishhvaksena; Kव- नामSभः by His holy names.

Lord GaruDa, the carrier of Lord VishhNu, is the

most worshipable lord, for he is as powerful as the

Supreme Lord Himself. He is the personified Vedas

and is worshiped by selected verses. May he protect

us from all dangerous conditions, and may Lord

Vishhvaksena, the Personality of Godhead, also

protect us from all dangers by His holy names.

सवा#पAMयो हरेर ्नाम- Eप- यानायुधा�न नः

बुtीि�?य- मनः- [ाणा�पा�तु पाष#द- भषूणाः || ३० ||

सव#- आपAMयः from all kinds of danger; हरेः of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead; नाम the holy name;

Eप the transcendental form; यान the carriers;

आयधुा�न and all the weapons; नः our; बु!t

intelligence; इि�?य senses; मनः mind; [ाणान ्life

air; पा�तु may they protect and maintain; पाष#द- भूषणाः the decorations who are personal associates.

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead.as holy

names, His transcendental forms, His carriers and

all the weapons decorating Him as personal

associates protect our intelligence, senses, mind

and life air from all dangers.

\ PURPORT

There are various associates of the transcendental

Personality of Godhead, and His weapons and carrier

are among them. In the spiritual world, nothing is

material. The sword, bow, club, disc and everything

decorating the personal body of the Lord are

spiritual living force. Therefore the Lord is

Page 23: The Narayana Kavacham

called advaya j�aana, indicating that there is no difference between Him and His names, forms,

qualities, weapons and so on. Anything pertaining

to Him is in the same category of spiritual

existence. They are all engaged in the service of

the Lord in varieties of spiritual forms.

यथा 0ह भगवान ्एव वKतुतः सA असच ्च यत ्

स$येनानने नः सवo या�तु नाशम ्उप?वाः || ३१ ||

यथा just as; 0ह indeed; भगवान ्the Supreme

Personality of Godhead; एव undoubtedly; वKतुतः at

the ultimate issue; सत ्manifested; असत ्

unmanifested; च and; यत ्whatever; स$येन by the

truth; अनने this; नः our; सवo all; या�तु let them go;

नाशम ्to annihilation; उप?वाः disturbances.

The subtle and gross cosmic manifestation is

material, but nevertheless it is nondifferent from

the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is

ultimately the cause of all causes. Cause and

effect are factually one because the cause is

present in the effect. Therefore the Absolute

Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can

destroy all our dangers by any of His potent parts.

यथैका$Iयानभुावानां !वक\प- र0हतः Kवयम ्

भूषणायुध- SलGगा/या ध$त ेश(तीः Kव- मायया || ३२ ||

तनेैव स$य- मानने सव#- dङो भगवान ्ह�रः

पातु सव~ः KवEपैर ्नः सदा सव#& सव#- गः || ३३ ||

यथा just as; ऐका$Iय in terms of oneness manifested

in varieties; अनभुावानाम ्of those thinking; !वक\प-

र0हतः the absence of difference; Kवयम ्Himself; भूषण

decorations; आयधु weapons; SलGग- आ/याः

Page 24: The Narayana Kavacham

characteristics and different names; ध$त ेpossesses;

श(तीः potencies like wealth, influence, power,

knowledge, beauty and renunciation; Kव- मायया by

expanding His spiritual energy; तने एव by that;

स$य- मानने true understanding; सव#- dङः omniscient;

भगवान ्the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ह�रः who can take away all the illusion of the living

entities; पातु may He protect; सव~ः with all; Kव- Eपैः

His forms; नः us; सदा always; सव#& everywhere; सव#-

गः who is all-pervasive.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living

entities, the material energy, the spiritual energy

and the entire creation are all individual

substances. In the ultimate analysis, however,

together they constitute the supreme one, the

Personality of Godhead. Therefore those who are

advanced in spiritual knowledge see unity in

diversity. For such advanced persons, the Lord.as

bodily decorations, His name, His fame, His

attributes and forms and the weapons in His hand

are manifestations of the strength of His potency.

According to their elevated spiritual

understanding, the omniscient Lord, who manifests

various forms, is present everywhere. May He always

protect us everywhere from all calamities.

\ PURPORT

A person highly elevated in spiritual knowledge

knows that nothing exists but the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. This is also confirmed in

Bhagavad-giitaa (9.4) where Lord KRishhNa says,

mayaa tatam idaM sarvam, indicating that everything

we see is an expansion of His energy. This is

confirmed in the VishhNu PuraaNa (1.22.52):

एकदेश- िKथतKयाxनdेयP$Kना !वKता�रणी यथा

परKय �Nमणः शि(तKतथदेम ्अ<खल ंजगत ्

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As a fire, although existing in one place, can

expand its light and heat everywhere, so the

omnipotent Lord, the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, although situated in His spiritual abode,

expands Himself everywhere, in both the material

and spiritual worlds, by His various energies.

Since both cause and effect are the Supreme Lord,

there is no difference between cause and effect.

Consequently the ornaments and weapons of the Lord,

being expansions of His spiritual energy, are not

different from Him. There is no difference between

the Lord and His variously presented energies. This

is also confirmed in the Padma PuraaNa:

नाम ,च�ताम<णः कृ=णDचैत�य- रस- !वrहः

पूण#ः शtुो �न$य- म(ुतोऽSभ�न$वान ्नाम- नाSमनोः

The holy name of the Lord is fully identical with

the Lord, not partially. The word puurNa means

"complete." The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient,

and similarly, His name, form, qualities,

paraphernalia and everything pertaining to Him are

complete, pure, eternal and free from material

contamination. The prayer to the ornaments and

carriers of the Lord is not false, for they are as

good as the Lord. Since the Lord is all-pervasive,

He exists in everything, and everything exists in

Him. Therefore even worship of the Lord.as weapons

or ornaments has the same potency as worship of the

Lord. Maayaavaadiis refuse to accept the form of

the Lord, or they say that the form of the Lord is

maayaa, or false, but one should note very

carefully that this is not acceptable. Although the

Lord.as original form and His impersonal expansion

are one, the Lord maintains His form, qualities and

abode eternally. Therefore this prayer says, paatu

sarvaiH svaruupair naH sadaa sarvatra sama-gaH:

"May the Lord, who is all-pervasive in His various

forms, protect us everywhere." The Lord is always

present everywhere by His name, form, qualities,

attributes and paraphernalia, and they all have

Page 26: The Narayana Kavacham

equal power to protect the devotees. shriila

Madhvaacaarya explains this as follows:

एक एव परो !व=णभुू#षाहे�त bवजे=व ्अजः

तत-् तच-् चि(त- [द$वने Kवयम ्एव TयविKथतः

स$येनानने मां देवः पातु सवoDवरो ह�रः

!व0द�हु 0द�हूbव#म ्अधः सम�ताद�तर ्ब0हर ्भगवान ्नारSसहंः

[हापय� लोक- भय ंKवनने Kव- तजेसा rKत- समKत- तजेाः || ३४ ||

!व0द�हु in all corners; 0द�हु in all directions (east,

west, north and south); ऊbव#म ्above; अधः below;

सम�तात ्on all sides; अ�तः internally; ब0हः

externally; भगवान ्the Supreme Personality of

Godhead; नारSसहंः in the form of NRisiMhadeva (half-

lion and half-man); [हापयन ्completely destroying;

लोक- भयम ्fear created by animals, poison, weapons,

water, air, fire and so on; Kवनेन by His roar or the vibration of His name by His devotee Prahlaada

Mahaaraaja; Kव- तजेसा by His personal effulgence;

rKत covered; समKत all other; तजेाः influences.

Prahlaada Mahaaraaja loudly chanted the holy name

of Lord NRisiMhadeva. May Lord NRisiMhadeva,

roaring for His devotee Prahlaada Mahaaraaja,

protect us from all fear of dangers created by

stalwart leaders in all directions through poison,

weapons, water, fire, air and so on. May the Lord

cover their influence by His own transcendental

influence. May NRisiMhadeva protect us in all

directions and in all corners, above, below, within

and without.

Page 27: The Narayana Kavacham

मघव�न ्इदम ्आ/यातं वम# नारायणा$मकम ्

!वजे=यसेऽGजसा येन दंSशतोऽसुर- यथूपान ्|| ३५ ||

मघवन ्O King Indra; इदम ्this; आ/यातम ्described; वम#

mystic armor; नारायण- आ$मकम ्related to NaaraayaNa;

!वजे=यसे you will conquer; अGजसा very easily; येन by

which; दंSशतः being protected; असुर- यथूपान ्the chief leaders of the demons.

Vishvaruupa continued: O Indra, this mystic armor

related to Lord NaaraayaNa has been described by me

to you. By putting on this protective covering, you

will certainly be able to conquer the leaders of

the demons.

एतA धारयमाणस ्तु य ंय ंपDय�त च�हुषा

पदा वा संKपशृते ्सAयः साbवसात ्स !वम@ुयत े|| ३६ ||

एतत ्this; धारयमाणः a person employing; तु but; यम ्यम ्

whomever; पDय�त he sees; च�हुषा by his eyes; पदा by

his feet; वा or; संKपशृते ्may touch; सAयः immediately;

साbवसात ्from all fear; सः he; !वम@ुयत ेis freed.

If one employs this armor, whomever he sees with

his eyes or touches with his feet is immediately

freed from all the above-mentioned dangers.

न कुतिDचA भय ंतKय !वAयां धारयतो भवेत ्

राज- दKय-ु rहा0दMयो Tयाbय-् आ0दMयश ्च क0ह#,चत ्|| ३७ ||

न not; कुतिDचत ्from anywhere; भयम ्fear; तKय of him;

!वAयाम ्this mystical prayer; धारयतः employing; भवेत ्

may appear; राज from the government; दKय ुfrom

rogues and thieves; rह- आ0दMयः from demons and so

Page 28: The Narayana Kavacham

on; Tया,ध- आ0दMयः from diseases and so on; च also;

क0ह#,चत ्at any time.

This prayer, NaaraayaNa-kavacha, constitutes subtle

knowledge transcendentally connected with

NaaraayaNa. One who employs this prayer is never

disturbed or put in danger by the government, by

plunderers, by evil demons or by any type of

disease.

इमां !वAयां पुरा किDचत ्कौSशको धारयन ्A!वजः

योग- धारणया KवाGग ंजहौ स मn- ध�व�न || ३८ ||

इमाम ्this; !वAयाम ्prayer; पुरा formerly; किDचत ्

someone; कौSशकः Kaushika; धारयन ्using; A!वजः a

braahmaNa; योग- धारणया by mystic power; Kव- अGगम ्

his own body; जहौ gave up; सः he; मn- ध�व�न in the desert.

O King of heaven, a braahmaNa named Kaushika

formerly used this armor when he purposely gave up

his body in the desert by mystic power.

तKयोप�र !वमानेन ग�धव#- प�तर ्एकदा

ययौ ,च&रथः K&ीSभवृ#तो य& A!वज- �हयः || ३९ ||

तKय his dead body; उप�र above; !वमानेन by airplane;

ग�धव#- प�तः the King of Gandharvaloka, Citraratha;

एकदा once upon a time; ययौ went; ,च&रथः Citraratha;

K&ीSभः by many beautiful women; वतृः surrounded; य&

where; A!वज- �हयः the braahmaNa Kaushika had died.

Surrounded by many beautiful women, Citraratha, the

King of Gandharvaloka, was once passing in his

airplane over the braahmaNa.as body at the spot

where the braahmaNa had died.

Page 29: The Narayana Kavacham

गगनान ्�यपतत ्सAयः स!वमानो Nय ्अवाक्- Sशराः

स वाSल<ख\य- वचनाA अKथी�य ्आदाय !विKमतः

[ाKय [ाची- सरKव$यां Kना$वा धाम Kवम ्अ�वगात ्|| ४० ||

गगनात ्from the sky; �यपतत ्fell; सAयः suddenly; स-

!वमानः with his airplane; 0ह certainly; अवाक्- Sशराः

with his head downward; सः he; वाSल<ख\य of the great

sages named the Vaalikhilyas; वचनात ्by the

instructions; अKथी�न all the bones; आदाय taking;

!विKमतः struck with wonder; [ाKय throwing; [ाची-

सरKव$याम ्in the River Sarasvatii, which flows to

the east; Kना$वा bathing in that river; धाम to the

abode; Kवम ्his own; अ�वगात ्returned. Suddenly Citraratha was forced to fall from the sky

headfirst with his airplane. Struck with wonder, he

was ordered by the great sages named the

Vaalikhilyas to throw the braahmaNa.as bones in the

nearby River Sarasvatii. He had to do this and

bathe in the river before returning to his own

abode.

ी- शकु उवाच

य इदं शणृयुात ्काले यो धारय�त चा{तः

तं नमKयि�त भूता�न म@ुयत ेसव#तो भयात ्|| ४१ ||

ी- शकुः उवाच shrii shukadeva Gosvaamii said; यः

anyone who; इदम ्this; शणृयुात ्may hear; काले at a

time of fear; यः anyone who; धारय�त employs this

prayer; च also; आ{तः with faith and adoration; तम ्

unto him; नमKयि�त offer respectful obeisances;

भूता�न all living beings; मु@यत ेis released; सव#तः

from all; भयात ्fearful conditions.

Page 30: The Narayana Kavacham

shrii shukadeva Gosvaamii said: My dear Mahaaraaja

Pariikshhit, one who employs this armor or hears

about it with faith and veneration when afraid

because of any conditions in the material world is

immediately freed from all dangers and is worshiped

by all living entities.

एतां !वAयाम ्अ,धगतो !वDवEपाच ्चत�तुः

&ैलो(य- ल�Nमीं बुभजेु !व�निज#$य मधेृऽसरुान ्|| ४२ ||

एताम ्this; !वAयाम ्prayer; अ,धगतः received; !वDवEपात ्

from the braahmaNa Vishvaruupa; शत- �तुः Indra, the

King of heaven; &लैो(य- ल�Nमीम ्all the opulence of

the three worlds; बभुुजे enjoyed; !व�निज#$य conquering;

मधेृ in battle; असुरान ्all the demons.

King Indra, who performed one hundred sacrifices,

received this prayer of protection from

Vishvaruupa. After conquering the demons, he

enjoyed all the opulences of the three worlds.

\ PURPORT

This mystical mantric armor given by Vishvaruupa to

Indra, the King of heaven, acted powerfully, with

the effect that Indra was able to conquer the

asuras and enjoy the opulence of the three worlds

without impediments. In this regard, Madhvaacaarya

points out:

!वAयाः कमा#<ण च सदा

गुरोः [ा�ताः फल- [दाः

अ�यथा नैव फलदाः

[स�नो(ताः फल- [दाः

One must receive all kinds of mantras from a bona

fide spiritual master; otherwise the mantras will

not be fruitful. This is also indicated in

Bhagavad-giitaa (4.34):

Page 31: The Narayana Kavacham

तA !व!t [<णपातने

प�र[Dनने सेवया

उपदे�Nयि�त त ेdङान ं

dङा�ननस ्त$$व- दSश#नः

"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a

spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and

render service unto him. The self-realized soul can

impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the

truth." All mantras should be received through the

authorized guru, and the disciple must satisfy the

guru in all respects, after surrendering at his

lotus feet. In the Padma PuraaNa it is also said,

sampradaaya-vihiinaa ye mantraas te nishhphalaa

mataaH. There are four sampradaayas, or disciplic

successions, namely the Brahma-sampradaaya, the

Rudra-sampradaaya, the shrii sampradaaya and the

Kumaara-sampradaaya. If one wants to advance in

spiritual power, one must receive his mantras from

one of these bona fide sampradaayas; otherwise he

will never successfully advance in spiritual life.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Sixth

Canto, Eighth chapter, of the shriimad-Bhaagavatam,

entitled "The NaaraayaNa-kavacha Shield."

\

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