> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 6

> *******

> Chapter Eight: The Nârâyana-kavaca Shield

> *******

> TEXT 1-2

> srî-râjovâca

> yayâ guptah sahasrâksah

> savâhân ripu-sainikân

> krîdann iva vinirjitya

> tri-lokyâ bubhuje sriyam

> bhagavams tan mamâkhyâhi

> varma nârâyanâtmakam

> yathâtatâyinah satrûn

> yena gupto 'jayan mrdhe

> srî-râjâ uvâca--King Parîksit said; yayâ--by which (the spiritual armor); guptah--protected; sahasra-aksah--the thousand-eyed King Indra; sa-vâhân--with their carriers; ripu-sainikân--the soldiers and commanders of the enemies; krîdan iva--just like playing; vinirjitya--conquering; tri-lokyâh--of the three worlds (the higher, middle and lower planetary systems); bubhuje--enjoyed; sriyam--the opulence; bhagavan--O great sage; tat--that; mama--unto me; âkhyâhi--please explain; varma--defensive armor made of a mantra; nârâyana-âtmakam--consisting of the mercy of Nârâyana; yathâ--in which way; âtatâyinah--who were endeavoring to kill him; satrûn--enemies; yena--by which; guptah--being protected; ajayat--conquered; mrdhe--in the fight.

> TRANSLATION

> King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: My lord, kindly explain the Visnu 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 Narayana armor, by which King Indra achieved success in battle, conquering the enemies who were endeavoring to kill him.

> *******

> TEXT 3

> srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> vrtah purohitas tvâstro

> mahendrâyânuprcchate

> nârâyanâkhyam varmâha

> tad ihaika-manâh srnu

> srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; vrtah--the chosen; purohitah--priest; tvâstrah--the son of Tvastâ; mahendrâya--unto King Indra; anuprcchate--after he (Indra) inquired; nârâyana-âkhyam--named Nârâyana-kavaca; vamaa--defensive armor made of a mantra; âha--he said; tat--that; iha--this; eka-manâh--with great attention; srnu--hear from me.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: King Indra, the leader of the demigods, inquired about the armor known as Narayana-kavaca from Visvarupa, who was engaged by the demigods as their priest. Please hear Visvarupa's reply with great attention.

> *******

> TEXT 4-6

> srî-visvarûpa uvâca

> dhautânghri-pânir âcamya

> sapavitra udan-mukhah

> krta-svânga-kara-nyâso

> mantrâbhyâm vâg-yatah sucih

> nârâyana-param varma

> sannahyed bhaya âgate

> pâdayor jânunor ûrvor

> udare hrdy athorasi

> mukhe sirasy ânupûrvyâd

> omkârâdîni vinyaset

> om namo nârâyanâyeti

> viparyayam athâpi vâ

> srî-visvarûpah uvâca--Srî Visvarûpa said; dhauta--having completely washed; anghri--feet; pânih--hands; âcamya--performing âcamana (sipping a little water three times after chanting the prescribed mantra); sa-pavitrah--wearing rings made of kusa grass (on the ring finger of each hand); udak-mukhah--sitting facing the north; krta--making; sva-anga-kara-nyâsah--mental assignment of the eight parts of the body and twelve parts of the hands; mantrâbhyâm--with the wo mantras (om namo bhagavate vâsudevâya and om namo nârâyanâya); vâk-yatah--keeping oneself silent; sucih--being purified; nârâyana-param--fully intent on Lord Nârâyana; varma--armor; sannahyet-- put on oneself; bhaye--when fear; âgate--has come; pâdayoh--on the two legs; jânunoh--on the two knees; ûrvoh--on the two thighs; udare--on the abdomen; hrdi--on the heart; atha--thus; urasi--on the chest; mukhe--on the mouth; sirasi--on the head; ânupûrvyât--one after another; omkâra-âdîni--beginning with omkâra; vinyaset--one should place; om--the pranava; namah--obeisances; nârâyanâya-- unto Nârâyana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; iti--thus; viparyayam--the reverse; atha api--moreover; vâ--or.

> TRANSLATION

> Visvarupa said: If some form of fear arrives, one should first wash his hands and legs clean and then perform acamana by chanting this mantra: om apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato 'pi va/ yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantarah sucih/ sri-visnu sri-visnu sri-visnu. Then one should touch kusa 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 Narayana coat of armor. First, while chanting the mantra composed of eight syllables [om namo narayanaya], 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-nyasa and samhara-nyasa respectively.

> *******

> TEXT 7

> kara-nyâsam tatah kuryâd

> dvâdasâksara-vidyayâ

> pranavâdi-ya-kârântam

> anguly-angustha-parvasu

> kara-nyâsam--the ritual known as kara-nyâsa, which assigns the syllables of the mantra to the fingers; tatah--thereafter; kuryât--should execute; dvâdasa-aksara--composed of twelve syllables; vidyayâ--with the mantra; pranava-âdi--beginning with the omkâra; ya-kâra-antam--ending with the syllable ya; anguli--on the fingers, beginning with the index finger; angtha-parvasu--to the joints of the thumbs.

> TRANSLATION

> Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve syllables [om namo bhagavate vasudevaya]. Preceding each syllable by the omkara, 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 the left. The four remaining syllables should be placed on the joints of the thumbs.

> *******

> TEXT 8-10

> nyased dhrdaya omkâram

> vi-kâram anu mûrdhani

> sa-kâram tu bhruvor madhye

> na-kâram sikhayâ nyaset

> ve-kâram netrayor yunjyân

> na-kâram sarva-sandhisu

> ma-kâram astram uddisya

> mantra-mûrtir bhaved budhah

> savisargam phad-antam tat

> sama-diksu vinirdiset

> om visnave nama iti

> nyaset--should place; hrdaye--on the heart; omkâram--the pranava, omkâra; vi-kâram--the syllable vi of visnave; anu--thereafter; mûrdhani--on the top of the head; sa-kâram--the syllable sa; tu--and; bhruvoh madhye--between the two eyebrows; na-kâram--the syllable na; sikhayâ--on the sikhâ on the head; nyaset--should place; vekâram--the syllable ve; netrayoh--between the two eyes; yunjyât--should be placed; na-kâram--the syllable na of the word namah; sarva-sandhisu--on all the joints; ma-kâram--the syllable ma of the word namah; astram--a weapon; uddisya--thinking; mantra-mûrtih--the form of the mantra; bhavet--should become; budhah--an intelligent person; sa-visargam--with the visarga (h); phat-antam--ending with the sound phat; tat--that; sarva-diksu--in all directions; vinirdiset--should fix; om--pranava; visnave--unto Lord Visnu; namah--obeisances; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> One must then chant the mantra of six syllables [om visnave namah]. One should place the syllable om on his heart, the syllable vi on the top of his head, the syllable sa between his eyebrows, the syllable na on his tuft of hair [sikha], and the syllable ve between his eyes. The chanter of the mantra should then place the syllable na 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 astraya phat in all directions, beginning from the east. In this way, all directions will be bound by the protective armor of the mantra.

> *******

> TEXT 11

> âtmânam paramam dhyâyed

> dhyeyam sat-saktibhir yutam

> vidyâ-tejas-tapo-mûrtim

> imam mantram udâharet

> âtmânam--the self; paramam--the supreme; dhyâyet--one should meditate on; dhyeyam--worthy to be meditated on; sat-saktibhih--the six opulences; yutam--possessed of; vidyâ--learning; tejah--influence; tapah--austerity: mûrtim--personified; imam--this; mantram--mantra; udâharet--should chant.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 Narayana, the Narayana-kavaca.

> *******

> TEXT 12

> om harir vidadhyân mama sarva-raksâm

> nyastânghri-padmah patagendra-prsthe

> darâri-carmâsi-gadesu-câpa-

> pâsân dadhâno 'sta-guno 'sta-bâhuh

> om--O Lord; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vidadhyât--may He bestow; mama--my; sarva-raksâm--protection from all sides; nyasta--placed; anghri-padmah--whose lotus feet: patagendra-prsthe--on the back of Garuda, the king of all birds; dara--conchshell; ari--disc; carma--shield; asi--sword; gadâ--club; isu--arrows; câpa--bow; pâsân--ropes; dadhânah--holding; asta--possessing eight; gunah--perfections; asta--eight; bâhuh--arms.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 [anima, laghima, etc.].

> *******

> TEXT 13

> jalesu mâm raksatu matsya-mûrtir

> yâdo-ganebhyo varunasya pâsât

> sthalesu mâyâvatu-vâmano 'vyât

> trivikramah khe 'vatu visvarûpah

> jalesu--in the water; mâm--me; raksatu--protect; matsya-mûrtih--the Supreme Lord in the form of a great fish; yâdah-ganebhyah--from fierce aquatic animals; varunasya--of the demigod known as Varuna: pâsât--from the arresting rope; sthalesu--on the land; mâyâ-vatu--the merciful form of the Lord as a dwarf; vâmanah--named Vâmanadeva; avyât--may He protect; trivikramah--Trivikrama, whose three gigantic steps took the three worlds from Bali; khe--in the sky: avatu--may the Lord protect; visvarûpah--the gigantic universal form.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 Vamana. May Vamana protect me on the land. Since the gigantic form of the Lord, Visvarupa, conquers the three worlds, may He protect me in the sky.

> *******

> TEXT 14

> durgesv atavy-âji-mukhâdisu prabhuh

> pâyân nrsimho 'sura-yûthapârih

> vimuncato yasya mahâtta-hâsam

> diso vinedur nyapatams ca garbhâh

> durgesu--in places where travel is very difficult; atavi--in the dense forest; âji-mukha-âdisu--on the war front and so on; prabhuh--the Supreme Lord; pâyât--may He protect; nrsimhah--Lord Nrsimhadeva; asura-yûthapa--of Hiranyakasipu, the leader of the demons; arih--the enemy; vimuncatah--releasing; yasya--of whom; mahâ-atta-hâsam--great and fearful laughing; disah--all the directions; vineduh--resounded through; nyapatan--fell down; ca--and; garbhâh--the embryos of the wives of the demons.

> TRANSLATION

> May Lord Nrsimhadeva, who appeared as the enemy of Hiranyakasipu, protect me in all directions. His 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.

> *******

> TEXT 15

> raksatv asau mâdhvani yajna-kalpah

> sva-damstrayonnîta-dharo varâhah

> râmo 'dri-kûtesv atha vipravâse

> salaksmano 'vyâd bharatâgrajo 'smân

> raksatu--may the Lord protect; asau--that; mâ--me; adhvani--on the street; yajna-kalpah--who is ascertained by performance of ritualistic ceremonies; sva-damstrayâ--by His own tusk; unnîta--raising; dharah--the planet earth; varâhah--Lord Boar; râmah--Lord Râma; adri-kûtesu--on the summits of the mountains; atha--then; vipravâse--in foreign countries; sa-laksmanah--with His brother Laksmana; avyât--may He protect; bharata-agrajah--the elder brother of Mahârâja Bharata; asmân--us.

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme indestructible Lord is ascertained through the performance of ritualistic sacrifices and is therefore known as Yajnesvara. 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 Parasurama protect me on the tops of mountains, and may the elder brother of Bharata, Lord Ramacandra, along with His brother Laksmana, protect me in foreign countries.

> PURPORT

> There are three Ramas. One Rama is Parasurama (Jamadagnya). another Rama is Lord Ramacandra, and a third Rama is Lord Balarama. In this verse the words ramo'dri-kutesv atha indicate Lord Parasurama. The brother of Bharata Maharaja and Laksmana is Lord Ramacandra.

> *******

> TEXT 16

> mâm ugra-dharmâd akhilât pramâdân

> nârâyanah pâtu naras ca hâsât

> dattas tv ayogâd atha yoga-nâthah

> pâyâd gunesah kapilah karma-bandhât

> mâm--me; ugra-dharmât--from unnecessary religious principles; akhilât--from all kinds of activities; pramâdât--which are enacted in madness; nârâyanah--Lord Nârâyana; pâtu--may He protect; narah ca--and Nara; hâsât--from unnecessary pride; dattah--Dattâtreya; tu--of course; ayogât--from the path of false yoga; atha--indeed; yoga-nâthah--the master of all mystic powers; pâyât--may He protect; guna-îsah--the master of all spiritual qualities; kapilah--Lord Kapila; karma-bandhât--from the bondage of fruitive activities.

> TRANSLATION

> May Lord Narayana 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 Dattatreya, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 17

> sanat-kumâro 'vatu kâmadevâd

> dhayasîrsâ mâm pathi deva-helanât

> devarsi-varyah purusârcanântarât

> kûrmo harir mâm nirayâd asesât

> sanat-kumârah--the great brahmacârî named Sanat-kumâra; avatu--may he protect; kâma-devât--from the hands of Cupid or lusty desire; haya-sîrsâ--Lord Hayagrîva, the incarnation of the Lord whose head is like that of a horse; mâm--me; pathi--on the path; deva-helanât--from neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to brâhmanas, Vaisnavas and the Supreme Lord; devarsi-varyah--the best of the saintly sages, Nârada; purusa-arcana-antarât--from the offenses in worshiping the Deity; kûrmah--Lord Kûrma, the tortoise; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mâm--me; nirayât--from hell; asesât--unlimited.

> TRANSLATION

> May Sanat-kumara protect me from lusty desires. As I begin some auspicious activity, may Lord Hayagriva protect me from being an offender by neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord. May Devarsi Narada protect me from committing offenses in worshiping the Deity, and may Lord Kurma, the tortoise, protect me from falling to the unlimited hellish planets.

> *******

> TEXT 18

> dhanvantarir bhagavân pâtv apathyâd

> dvandvâd bhayâd rsabho nirjitâtmâ

> yajnas ca lokâd avatâj janântâd

> balo ganât krodha-vasâd ahîndrah

> dhanvantarih--the incarnation Dhanvantari, the physician; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pâtu--may He protect me; apathyât--from things injurious to the health, such as meat and intoxicants; dvandvât--from duality; bhayât--from fear; rsabhah--Lord Rsabhadeva; nirjita-âtmâ--who fully controlled his mind and self; yajnah--Yajna; ca--and; lokât--from the defamation of the populace; avatât--may He protect; jana-antât--from dangerous positions created by other people; balah--Lord Balarâma; ganât--from the hordes of; krodha-vasât--the angry serpents; ahîndrah--Lord Balarâma in the form of the serpent Sesa Nâga.

> TRANSLATION

> May the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Dhanvantari relieve me from undesirable eatables and protect me from physical illness. May Lord Rsabhadeva, who conquered His inner and outer senses, protect me from fear produced by the duality of heat and cold. May Yajna protect me from defamation and harm from the populace, and may Lord Balarama as Sesa protect me from envious serpents.

> *******

> TEXT 19

> dvaipâyano bhagavân aprabodhâd

> buddhas tu pâsanda-gana-pramâdât

> kalkih kaleh kâla-malât prapâtu

> dhamâvanâyoru-krtâvatârah

> dvaipâyanah--Srîla Vyâsadeva, the giver of all Vedic knowledge; bhagavân--the most powerful incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aprabodhât--from ignorance of the sâstra; buddhah tu--also Lord Buddha; pâsanda-gana--of atheists creating disillusionment for innocent persons; pramâdât--from the madness; kalkih--Lord Kalki, the incarnation of Kesava; kaleh--of this Kali-yuga; kâla-malât--from the darkness of the age; prapâtu--may He protect; dharma-avanâya--for the protection of religious principles; uru--very great; krta-avatârah--who took an incarnation.

> TRANSLATION

> May the Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Vyasadeva 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.

> *******

> TEXT 20

> mâm kesavo gadayâ prâtar avyâd

> govinda âsangavam âtta-venuh

> nârâyanah prâhna udâtta-saktir

> madhyan-dine visnur arîndra-pânih

> mâm--me; kesavah--Lord Kesava; gadayâ--by His club; prâtah--in the morning hours; avyât--may He protect; govindah--Lord Govinda; âsangavam--during the second part of the day; âtta-venuh--holding His flute; nârâyanah--Lord Nârâyana with four hands; prâhnah--during the third part of the day; udâtta-saktih--controlling different types of potencies; madhyam-dine--during the fourth part of the day; visnuh--Lord Visnu; arîndra-pânih--bearing the disc in His hand to kill the enemies.

> TRANSLATION

> May Lord Kesava 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 Narayana, who is equipped with all potencies, protect me in the third part of the day, and may Lord Visnu, who carries a disc to kill His enemies, protect me in the fourth part of the day.

> *******

> TEXT 21

> devo 'parâhne madhu-hogradhanvâ

> sâyam tri-dhâmâvatu mâdhavo mâm

> dose hrsîkesa utârdha-râtre

> nisîtha eko 'vatu padmanâbhah

> devah--the Lord; aparâhne--in the fifth part of the day; madhuhâ--named Madhusûdana; ugra-dhanvâ--bearing the very fearful bow known as Sârnga; sâyam--the sixth part of the day; tri-dhâmâ--manifesting as the three deities Brahmâ, Visnu and Mahesvara; avatu--may He protect; mâdhavah--named Mâdhava; mâm--me; dose--during the first portion of the night; hrsîkesah--Lord Hrsîkesa; uta--also; ardha-râtre--during the second part of the night; nisîthe--during the third part of the night; ekah--alone; avatu--may He protect; padmanâbhah--Lord Padmanâbha.

> TRANSLATION

> May Lord Madhusudana, who carries a bow very fearful for the demons, protect me during the fifth part of the day. In the evening, may Lord Madhava, appearing as Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara, protect me, and in the beginning of night may Lord Hrsikesa protect me. At the dead of night [in the second and third parts of night] may Lord Padmanabha alone protect me.

> *******

> TEXT 22

> srîvatsa-dhâmâpara-râtra îsah

> pratyûsa îso 'si-dharo janârdanah

> dâmodaro 'vyâd anusandhyam prabhâte

> visvesvaro bhagavân kâla-mûrtih

> srîvatsa-dhâmâ--the Lord, on whose chest the mark of Srîvatsa is resting; apara-râtre--in the fourth part of the night; îsah--the Supreme Lord; pratyûse--in the end of the night; îsah--the Supreme Lord; asi-dharah--carrying a sword in the hand; janârdanah--Lord Janârdana; dâmodarah--Lord Dâmodara; avyât--may He protect; anu-sandhyam--during each junction or twilight; prabhâte--in the early morning (the sixth part of the night); visva-îsvarah--the Lord of the whole universe; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kâla-mûrtih--the personification of time.

> TRANSLATION

> May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who bears the Srivatsa on His chest, protect me after midnight until the sky becomes pinkish. May Lord Janardana, who carries a sword in His hand, protect me at the end of night [during the last four ghatikas of night]. May Lord Damodara protect me in the early morning, and may Lord Visvesvara protect me during the junctions of day and night.

> *******

> TEXT 23

> cakram yugântânala-tigma-nemi

> bhramat samantâd bhagavat-prayuktam

> dandagdhi dandagdhy ari-sainyam âsu

> kaksam yathâ vâta-sakho hutâsah

> cakram--the disc of the Lord; yuga-anta--at the end of the millennium; anala--like the fire of devastation; tigma-nemi--with a sharp rim; bhramat--wandering; samantât--on all sides; bhagavat-prayuktam--being engaged by the Lord; dandagdhi dandagdhi--please burn completely, please burn completely; ari-sainyam--the army of our enemies; âsu--immediately; kaksam--dry grass; yathâ--like; vâta-sakhah--the friend of the wind; hutâsah--blazing fire.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 Sudarsana cakra burn our enemies to ashes.

> *******

> TEXT 24

> gade 'sani-sparsana-visphulinge

> nispindhi nispindhy ajita-priyâsi

> kusmânda-vainâyaka-yaksa-rakso-

> bhûta-grahâms cûrnaya cûrnayârîn

> gade--O club in the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asani--like thunderbolts; sparsana--whose touch; visphulinge--giving off sparks of fire; nispindhi nispindhi--pound to pieces, pound to pieces; ajita-priyâ--very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asi--you are; kusmânda--imps named Kusmândas; vainâyaka--ghosts named Vainâyakas; yaksa--ghosts named Yaksas; raksah--ghosts named Râksasas; bhûta--ghosts named Bhûta's; grahân--and evil demons named Grahas; cûrnaya--pulverize; cûrnaya--pulverize; arîn--my enemies.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 Kusmandas, Vainayakas, Yaksas, Raksasas, Bhutas and Grahas. Please pulverize them.

> *******

> TEXT 25

> tvam yâtudhâna-pramatha-preta-mâtr-

> pisâca-vipragraha-ghora-drstîn

> darendra vidrâvaya krsna-pûrito

> bhîma-svano 'rer hrdayâni kampayan

> tvam--you; yâtudhâna--Râksasas; pramatha--Pramathas; preta--Pretas; mâtr--Mâtâs; pisâca--Pisâcas; vipra-graha--brâhmana ghosts: ghora-drstîn--who have very fearful eyes; darendra--O Pâncajanya, the conchshell in the hands of the Lord; vidrâvaya--drive away; krsna-pûritah--being filled with air from the mouth of Krsna; bhîma-svanah--sounding extremely fearful; areh--of the enemy; hrdayâni--the cores of the hearts; kampayan--causing to tremble.

> TRANSLATION

> O best of conchshells, O Pancajanya in the hands of the Lord, you are always filled with the breath of Lord Krsna. Therefore you create a fearful sound vibration that causes trembling in the hearts of enemies like the Raksasas, pramatha ghosts, Pretas, Matas, Pisacas and brahmana ghosts with fearful eyes.

> *******

> TEXT 26

> tvam tigma-dhârâsi-varâri-sainyam

> îsa-prayukto mama chindhi chindhi

> caksûmsi carman chata-candra châdaya

> dvisâm aghonâm hara pâpa-caksusâm

> tvam--you; tigma-dhâra-asi-vara--O best of swords possessing very sharp blades; ari-sainyam--the soldiers of the enemy; îsa-prayuktah--being engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mama--my; chindhi chindhi--chop to pieces, chop to pieces; caksûmsi--the eyes; carman--O shield; sata-candra--possessing brilliant circles like a hundred moons; châdaya--please cover; dvisâm--of those who are envious of me; aghonâm--who are completely sinful; hara--please take away; pâpa-caksusâm--of those whose eyes are very sinful.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 27-28

> yan no bhayam grahebhyo 'bhût

> ketubhyo nrbhya eva ca

> sarîsrpebhyo damstribhyo

> bhûtebhyo 'mhobhya eva ca

> sarvâny etâni bhagavan-

> nâma-rûpânukîrtanât

> prayântu sanksayam sadyo

> ye nah sreyah-pratîpakâh

> yat--which; nah--our; bhayam--fear; grahebhyah--from the Graha demons; abhût--was; ketubhyah--from meteors, or falling stars; nrbhyah--from envious human beings; eva ca--also; sarîsrpebhyah--from snakes or scorpions; damstribhyah--from animals with fierce teeth like tigers, wolves and boars; bhûtebhyah--from ghosts or the material elements (earth, water, fire, etc.); amhobhyah--from sinful activities; eva ca--as well as; sarvâni etâni--all these; bhagavat-nâma-rûpa-anukîrtanât--by glorifying the transcendental form, name, attributes and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prayântu--let them go; sanksayam--to complete destruction; sadyah--immediately; ye--which; nah--our; sreyah-pratîpakâh--hindrances to well-being.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 Krsna maha-mantra.

> *******

> TEXT 29

> garudo bhagavân stotra-

> stobhas chandomayah prabhuh

> raksatv asesa-krcchrebhyo

> visvaksenah sva-nâmabhih

> garudah--His Holiness Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu; bhagavân--as powerful as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stotra-stobhah--who is glorified by selected verses and songs; chandah-mayah--the personified Vedas; prabhuh--the lord; raksatu--may He protect; asesa-krcchrebhyah--from unlimited miseries; visvaksenah--Lord Visvaksena; sva-nâmabhih--by His holy names.

> TRANSLATION

> Lord Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu, 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 Visvaksena, the Personality of Godhead, also protect us from all dangers by His holy names.

> *******

> TEXT 30

> sarvâpadbhyo harer nâma-

> rûpa-yânâyudhâni nah

> buddhîndriya-manah-prânân

> pântu pârsada-bhûsanâh

> sarva-âpadbhyah--from all kinds of danger; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nâma--the holy name; rûpa--the transcendental form; yâna--the carriers; âyudhâni--and all the weapons; nah--our; buddhi--intelligence; indriya--senses; manah--mind; prânân--life air; pântu--may they protect and maintain; pârsada-bhûsanâh--the decorations who are personal associates.

> TRANSLATION

> May the Supreme Personality of Godhead's 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.

> *******

> TEXT 31

> yathâ hi bhagavân eva

> vastutah sad asac ca yat

> satyenânena nah sarve

> yântu nâsam upadravâh

> yathâ--just as; hi--indeed; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva--undoubtedly; vastutah--at the ultimate issue; sat--manifested; asat--unmanifested; ca--and; yat--whatever; satyena--by the truth; anena--this; nah--our; sarve--all; yântu--let them go; nâsam--to annihilation; upadravâh--disturbances.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 32-33

> yathaikâmyânubhâvânâm

> vikalpa-rahitah svayam

> bhûsanâyudha-lingâkhyâ

> dhatte saktîh sva-mâyayâ

> tenaiva satya-mânena

> sarva jno bhagavân harih

> pâtu samaih svarûpair nah

> sadâ sarvatra sarva-gah

> yathâ--just as; aikâtmya--in terms of oneness manifested in varieties; anubhâvânâm--of those thinking; vikalpa-rahitah--the absence of difference; svayam--Himself; bhûsana--decorations; âyudha--weapons; linga-âkhyâh--characteristics and different names; dhatte--possesses; saktîh--potencies like wealth, influence, power, knowledge, beauty and renunciation; sva-mâyayâ--by expanding His spiritual energy;

> tena eva--by that; satya-mânena--true understanding; sarva jnah--omniscient; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; harih--who can take away all the illusion of the living entities; pâtu--may He protect; sarvaih--with all; sva-rûpaih--His forms; nah--us; sadâ--always; sarvatra--everywhere; sarva-gah--who is all-pervasive.

> TRANSLATION

> 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's 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.

> *******

> TEXT 34

> vidiksu diksûrdhvam adhah samantâd

> antar bahir bhagavân nârasimhah

> prahâpayal loka-bhayam svanena

> sva-tejasâ grasta-samasta-tejâh

> vidiksu--in all corners; diksu--in all directions (east, west, north and south); ûrdhvam--above; adhah--below; samantât--on all sides; antah--internally; bahih--externally; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nârasimhah--in the form of Nrsimhadeva (half-lion and half-man); prahâpayan--completely destroying; loka-bhayam--fear created by animals, poison, weapons, water, air, fire and so on; svanena--by His roar or the vibration of His name by His devotee Prahlâda Mahârâja; sva-tejasâ--by His personal effulgence; grasta--covered; samasta--all other; tejâh--influences.

> TRANSLATION

> Prahlada Maharaja loudly chanted the holy name of Lord Nrsimhadeva. May Lord Nrsimhadeva, roaring for His devotee Prahlada Maharaja, 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 Nrsimhadeva protect us in all directions and in all corners, above, below, within and without.

> *******

> TEXT 35

> maghavann idam âkhyâtam

> varma nârâyanâtmakam

> vijesyase 'njasâ yena

> damsito 'sura-yûthapân

> maghavan--O King Indra; idam--this; âkhyâtam--described; varma--mystic armor; nârâyana-âtmakam--related to Nârâyana; vijesyase--you will conquer; anjasâ--very easily; yena--by which; damsitah--being protected; asura-yûthapân--the chief leaders of the demons.

> TRANSLATION

> Visvarupa continued: O Indra, this mystic armor related to Lord Narayana 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.

> *******

> TEXT 36

> etad dhârayamânas tu

> yam yam pasyati caksusâ

> padâ vâ samsprset sadyah

> sâdhvasât sa vimucyate

> etat--this; dhârayamânah--a person employing; tu--but; yam yam--whomever; pasyati--he sees; caksusâ--by his eyes; padâ--by his feet; vâ--or; samsprset--may touch; sadyah--immediately; sâdhvasât--from all fear; sah--he; vimucyate--is freed.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 37

> na kutascid bhayam tasya

> vidyâm dhârayato bhavet

> râja-dasyu-grahâdibhyo

> vyâdhy-âdibhyas ca karhicit

> na--not; kutascit--from anywhere; bhayam--fear; tasya--of him; vidyâm--this mystical prayer; dhârayatah--employing; bhavet--may appear; râja--from the government; dasyu--from rogues and thieves; graha-âdibhyah--from demons and so on; vyâdhi-âdibhyah--from diseases and so on; ca--also; karhicit--at any time.

> TRANSLATION

> This prayer, Narayana-kavaca, constitutes subtle knowledge transcendentally connected with Narayana. 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.

> *******

> TEXT 38

> imâm vidyâm purâ kascit

> kausiko dhârayan dvijah

> yoga-dhâranayâ svângam

> jahau sa maru-dhanvani

> imâm--this; vidyâm--prayer; purâ--formerly; kascit--someone; kausikah--Kausika; dhârayan--using; dvijah--a brâhmana; yoga-dhâranayâ--by mystic power; sva-angam--his own body; jahau--gave up; sah--he; maru-dhanvani--in the desert.

> TRANSLATION

> O King of heaven, a brahmana named Kausika formerly used this armor when he purposely gave up his body in the desert by mystic power.

> *******

> TEXT 39

> tasyopari vimânena

> gandharva-patir ekadâ

> yayau citrarathah strîbhir

> vrto yatra dvija-ksayah

> tasya--his dead body; upari--above; vimânena--by airplane; gandharva-patih--the King of Gandharvaloka, Citraratha; ekadâ--once upon a time; yayau--went; citrarathah--Citraratha; strîbhih--by many beautiful women; vrtah--surrounded; yatra--where; dvija-ksayah--the brâhmana Kausika had died.

> TRANSLATION

> Surrounded by many beautiful women, Citraratha, the King of Gandharvaloka, was once passing in his airplane over the brahmana's body at the spot where the brahmana had died.

> *******

> TEXT 40

> gaganân nyapatat sadyah

> savimâno hy avâk-sirâh

> sa vâlikhilya-vacanâd

> asthîny âdâya vismitah

> prâsya prâcî-sarasvatyâm

> snâtvâ dhâma svam anvagât

> gaganât--from the sky; nyapatat--fell; sadyah--suddenly; sa-vimânah--with his airplane; hi--certainly; avâk-sirâh--with his head downward: sah--he; vâlikhilya--of the great sages named the Vâlikhilyas; vacanât--by the instructions; asthîni--all the bones; âdâya--taking; vismitah--struck with wonder; prâsya--throwing; prâcî-sarasvatyâm--in the River Sarasvatî, which flows to the east; snâtvâ--bathing in that river; dhâma--to the abode; svam--his own; anvagât--returned.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 Valikhilyas to throw the brahmana's bones in the nearby River Sarasvati. He had to do this and bathe in the river before returning to his own abode.

> *******

> TEXT 41

> srî-suka uvâca

> ya idam srnuyât kâle

> yo dhârayati câdrtah

> tam namasyanti bhûtâni

> mucyate sarvato bhayât

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; yah--anyone who; idam--this; srnuyât--may hear; kâle--at a time of fear; yah--anyone who; dhârayati--employs this prayer; ca--also; âdrtah--with faith and adoration; tam--unto him; namasyanti--offer respectful obeisances; bhûtâni--all living beings; mucyate--is released; sarvatah--from all; bhayât--fearful conditions.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear Maharaja Pariksit, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 42

> etâm vidyâm adhigato

> visvarûpâc chatakratuh

> trailokya-laksmîm bubhuje

> vinirjitya mrdhe 'surân

> etâm--this; vidyâm--prayer; adhigatah--received; visvarûpât--from the brâhmana Visvarûpa; sata-kratuh--Indra, the King of heaven; trailokya-laksmîm--all the opulence of the three worlds; bubhuje--enjoyed; vinirjitya--conquering; mrdhe--in battle; asurân--all the demons.

> TRANSLATION

> King Indra, who performed one hundred sacrifices, received this prayer of protection from Visvarupa. After conquering the demons, he enjoyed all the opulences of the three worlds.

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