Śrīmad Bhāgavatam |Canto 6 Chapter 8

The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield

VERSE 6.8.1-2

śrī-rājovāca

yayā guptaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ
savāhān ripu-sainikān
krīḍann iva vinirjitya
tri-lokyā bubhuje śriyam

bhagavaṁs tan mamākhyāhi
varma nārāyaṇātmakam
yathātatāyinaḥ śatrūn
yena gupto ’jayan mṛdhe

SYNONYMS

śrī-rājā uvāca — King Parīkṣit said; yayā — by which (the spiritual armor); guptaḥ — protected; sahasra-akṣaḥ — the thousand-eyed King Indra; sa-vāhān — with their carriers; ripu-sainikān — the soldiers and commanders of the enemies; krīḍan iva — just like playing; vinirjitya — conquering; tri-lokyāḥ — of the three worlds (the higher, middle and lower planetary systems); bubhuje — enjoyed; śriyam — the opulence; bhagavan — O great sage; tat — that; mama — unto me; ākhyāhi — please explain; varma — defensive armor made of a mantra; nārāyaṇa-ātmakam — consisting of the mercy of Nārāyaṇa; yathā — in which way; ātatāyinaḥ — who were endeavoring to kill him; śatrūn — enemies; yena — by which; guptaḥ — being protected; ajayat — conquered; mṛdhe — in the fight.

TRANSLATION

King Parīkṣit inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī: My lord, kindly explain the Viṣṇu 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 Nārāyaṇa armor, by which King Indra achieved success in battle, conquering the enemies who were endeavoring to kill him.

VERSE 6.8.3

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

vṛtaḥ purohitas tvāṣṭro
mahendrāyānupṛcchate
nārāyaṇākhyaṁ varmāha
tad ihaika-manāḥ śṛṇu

SYNONYMS

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; vṛtaḥ — the chosen; purohitaḥ — priest; tvāṣṭraḥ — the son of Tvaṣṭā; mahendrāya — unto King Indra; anupṛcchate — after he (Indra) inquired; nārāyaṇa-ākhyam — named Nārāyaṇa-kavaca; varma — defensive armor made of a mantra; āha — he said; tat — that; iha — this; eka-manāḥ — with great attention; śṛṇu — hear from me.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: King Indra, the leader of the demigods, inquired about the armor known as Nārāyaṇa-kavaca from Viśvarūpa, who was engaged by the demigods as their priest. Please hear Viśvarūpa’s reply with great attention.

VERSE 6.8.4-6

śrī-viśvarūpa uvāca

dhautāṅghri-pāṇir ācamya
sapavitra udaṅ-mukhaḥ
kṛta-svāṅga-kara-nyāso
mantrābhyāṁ vāg-yataḥ śuciḥ

nārāyaṇa-paraṁ varma
sannahyed bhaya āgate
pādayor jānunor ūrvor
udare hṛdy athorasi

mukhe śirasy ānupūrvyād
oṁkārādīni vinyaset
oṁ namo nārāyaṇāyeti
viparyayam athāpi vā

SYNONYMS

śrī-viśvarūpaḥ uvāca — Śrī Viśvarūpa said; dhauta — having completely washed; aṅghri — feet; pāṇiḥ — hands; ācamya — performing ācamana (sipping a little water three times after chanting the prescribed mantra); sa-pavitraḥ — wearing rings made of kuśa grass (on the ring finger of each hand); udak-mukhaḥ — sitting facing the north; kṛta — making; sva-aṅga-kara-nyāsaḥ — mental assignment of the eight parts of the body and twelve parts of the hands; mantrābhyām — with the two mantras (oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya and oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya); vāk-yataḥ — keeping oneself silent; śuciḥ — being purified; nārāyaṇa-param — fully intent on Lord Nārāyaṇa; varma — armor; sannahyet — put on oneself; bhaye — when fear; āgate — has come; pādayoḥ — on the two legs; jānunoḥ — on the two knees; ūrvoḥ — on the two thighs; udare — on the abdomen; hṛdi — on the heart; atha — thus; urasi — on the chest; mukhe — on the mouth; śirasi — on the head; ānupūrvyāt — one after another; oṁkāra-ādīni — beginning with oṁkāra; vinyaset — one should place; om — the praṇava; namaḥ — obeisances; nārāyaṇāya — unto Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; iti — thus; viparyayam — the reverse; atha api — moreover; — or.

TRANSLATION

Viśvarūpa said: If some form of fear arrives, one should first wash his hands and legs clean and then perform ācamana by chanting this mantra: om apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṁ gato ’pi vā/ yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ/ śrī-viṣṇu śrī-viṣṇu śrī-viṣṇu. Then one should touch kuśa 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 Nārāyaṇa coat of armor. First, while chanting the mantra composed of eight syllables [oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya], beginning with the praṇava, 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-nyāsa and saṁhāra-nyāsa respectively.

VERSE 6.8.7

kara-nyāsaṁ tataḥ kuryād
dvādaśākṣara-vidyayā
praṇavādi-ya-kārāntam
aṅguly-aṅguṣṭha-parvasu

SYNONYMS

kara-nyāsam — the ritual known as kara-nyāsa, which assigns the syllables of the mantra to the fingers; tataḥ — thereafter; kuryāt — should execute; dvādaśa-akṣara — composed of twelve syllables; vidyayā — with the mantra; praṇava-ādi — beginning with the oṁkāra; ya-kāra-antam — ending with the syllable ya; aṅguli — on the fingers, beginning with the index finger; aṅguṣṭha-parvasu — to the joints of the thumbs.

TRANSLATION

Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve syllables [oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya]. Preceding each syllable by the oṁkāra, 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.

VERSE 6.8.8-10

nyased dhṛdaya oṁkāraṁ
vi-kāram anu mūrdhani
ṣa-kāraṁ tu bhruvor madhye
ṇa-kāraṁ śikhayā nyaset

ve-kāraṁ netrayor yuñjyān
na-kāraṁ sarva-sandhiṣu
ma-kāram astram uddiśya
mantra-mūrtir bhaved budhaḥ

savisargaṁ phaḍ-antaṁ tat
sarva-dikṣu vinirdiśet
oṁ viṣṇave nama iti

SYNONYMS

nyaset — should place; hṛdaye — on the heart; oṁkāram — the praṇava, oṁkāra; vi-kāram — the syllable vi of viṣṇave; anu — thereafter; mūrdhani — on the top of the head; ṣa-kāram — the syllable sa; tu — and; bhruvoḥ madhye — between the two eyebrows; ṇa-kāram — the syllable ṇa; śikhayā — on the śikhā on the head; nyaset — should place; vekāram — the syllable ve; netrayoḥ — between the two eyes; yuñjyāt — should be placed; na-kāram — the syllable na of the word namaḥ; sarva-sandhiṣu — on all the joints; ma-kāram — the syllable ma of the word namaḥ; astram — a weapon; uddiśya — thinking; mantra-mūrtiḥ — the form of the mantra; bhavet — should become; budhaḥ — an intelligent person; sa-visargam — with the visarga (ḥ); phaṭ-antam — ending with the sound phaṭ; tat — that; sarva-dikṣu — in all directions; vinirdiśet — should fix; om — praṇava; viṣṇave — unto Lord Viṣṇu; namaḥ — obeisances; iti — thus.

TRANSLATION

One must then chant the mantra of six syllables [oṁ viṣṇave namaḥ]. 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 [śikhā], 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 maḥ astrāya phaṭ in all directions, beginning from the east. In this way, all directions will be bound by the protective armor of the mantra.

VERSE 6.8.11

ātmānaṁ paramaṁ dhyāyed
dhyeyaṁ ṣaṭ-śaktibhir yutam
vidyā-tejas-tapo-mūrtim
imaṁ mantram udāharet

SYNONYMS

ātmānam — the self; paramam — the supreme; dhyāyet — one should meditate on; dhyeyam — worthy to be meditated on; ṣaṭ-śaktibhiḥ — the six opulences; yutam — possessed of; vidyā — learning; tejaḥ — influence; tapaḥ — austerity; mūrtim — personified; imam — this; mantram — mantra; udāharet — 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 Nārāyaṇa, the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca.

VERSE 6.8.12

om harir vidadhyān mama sarva-rakṣāṁ
nyastāṅghri-padmaḥ patagendra-pṛṣṭhe
darāri-carmāsi-gadeṣu-cāpa-
pāśān dadhāno ’ṣṭa-guno ’ṣṭa-bāhuḥ

SYNONYMS

om — O Lord; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vidadhyāt — may He bestow; mama — my; sarva-rakṣām — protection from all sides; nyasta — placed; aṅghri-padmaḥ — whose lotus feet; patagendra-pṛṣṭhe — on the back of Garuḍa, the king of all birds; dara — conchshell; ari — disc; carma — shield; asi — sword; gadā — club; iṣu — arrows; cāpa — bow; pāśān — ropes; dadhānaḥ — holding; aṣṭa — possessing eight; guṇaḥ — perfections; aṣṭa — eight; bāhuḥ — arms.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord, who sits on the back of the bird Garuḍa, 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 [aṇimā, laghimā, etc.].

VERSE 6.8.13

jaleṣu māṁ rakṣatu matsya-mūrtir
yādo-gaṇebhyo varuṇasya pāśāt
sthaleṣu māyāvaṭu-vāmano vyāt
trivikramaḥ khe vatu viśvarūpaḥ

SYNONYMS

jaleṣu — in the water; mām — me; rakṣatu — protect; matsya-mūrtiḥ — the Supreme Lord in the form of a great fish; yādaḥ-gaṇebhyaḥ — from fierce aquatic animals; varuṇasya — of the demigod known as Varuṇa; pāśāt — from the arresting rope; sthaleṣu — on the land; māyā-vaṭu — the merciful form of the Lord as a dwarf; vāmanaḥ — named Vāmanadeva; avyāt — may He protect; trivikramaḥ — Trivikrama, whose three gigantic steps took the three worlds from Bali; khe — in the sky; avatu — may the Lord protect; viśvarūpaḥ — 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 Varuṇa. By expanding His illusory energy, the Lord assumed the form of the dwarf Vāmana. May Vāmana protect me on the land. Since the gigantic form of the Lord, Viśvarūpa, conquers the three worlds, may He protect me in the sky.

VERSE 6.8.14

durgeṣv aṭavy-āji-mukhādiṣu prabhuḥ
pāyān nṛsiṁho ’sura-yūthapāriḥ
vimuñcato yasya mahāṭṭa-hāsaṁ
diśo vinedur nyapataṁś ca garbhāḥ

SYNONYMS

durgeṣu — in places where travel is very difficult; aṭavi — in the dense forest; āji-mukha-ādiṣu — on the war front and so on; prabhuḥ — the Supreme Lord; pāyāt — may He protect; nṛsiṁhaḥ — Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva; asura-yūthapa — of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the leader of the demons; ariḥ — the enemy; vimuñcataḥ — releasing; yasya — of whom; mahā-aṭṭa-hāsam — great and fearful laughing; diśaḥ — all the directions; vineduḥ — resounded through; nyapatan — fell down; ca — and; garbhāḥ — the embryos of the wives of the demons.

TRANSLATION

May Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, who appeared as the enemy of Hiraṇyakaśipu, 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.

VERSE 6.8.15

rakṣatv asau mādhvani yajña-kalpaḥ
sva-daṁṣṭrayonnīta-dharo varāhaḥ
rāmo ’dri-kūṭeṣv atha vipravāse
salakṣmaṇo ’vyād bharatāgrajo ’smān

SYNONYMS

rakṣatu — may the Lord protect; asau — that; — me; adhvani — on the street; yajña-kalpaḥ — who is ascertained by performance of ritualistic ceremonies; sva-daṁṣṭrayā — by His own tusk; unnīta — raising; dharaḥ — the planet earth; varāhaḥ — Lord Boar; rāmaḥ — Lord Rāma; adri-kūṭeṣu — on the summits of the mountains; atha — then; vipravāse — in foreign countries; sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ — with His brother Lakṣmaṇa; avyāt — may He protect; bharata-agrajaḥ — the elder brother of Mahārāja Bharata; asmān — us.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme indestructible Lord is ascertained through the performance of ritualistic sacrifices and is therefore known as Yajñeśvara. 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 Paraśurāma protect me on the tops of mountains, and may the elder brother of Bharata, Lord Rāmacandra, along with His brother Lakṣmaṇa, protect me in foreign countries.

VERSE 6.8.16

mām ugra-dharmād akhilāt pramādān
nārāyaṇaḥ pātu naraś ca hāsāt
dattas tv ayogād atha yoga-nāthaḥ
pāyād guṇeśaḥ kapilaḥ karma-bandhāt

SYNONYMS

mām — me; ugra-dharmāt — from unnecessary religious principles; akhilāt — from all kinds of activities; pramādāt — which are enacted in madness; nārāyaṇaḥ — Lord Nārāyaṇa; pātu — may He protect; naraḥ ca — and Nara; hāsāt — from unnecessary pride; dattaḥ — Dattātreya; tu — of course; ayogāt — from the path of false yoga; atha — indeed; yoga-nāthaḥ — the master of all mystic powers; pāyāt — may He protect; guṇa-īśaḥ — the master of all spiritual qualities; kapilaḥ — Lord Kapila; karma-bandhāt — from the bondage of fruitive activities.

TRANSLATION

May Lord Nārāyaṇa 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 Dattātreya, 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.

VERSE 6.8.17

sanat-kumāro ’vatu kāmadevād
dhayaśīrṣā māṁ pathi deva-helanāt
devarṣi-varyaḥ puruṣārcanāntarāt
kūrmo harir māṁ nirayād aśeṣāt

SYNONYMS

sanat-kumāraḥ — the great brahmacārī named Sanat-kumāra; avatu — may he protect; kāma-devāt — from the hands of Cupid or lusty desire; haya-śīrṣā — Lord Hayagrīva, the incarnation of the Lord whose head is like that of a horse; mām — me; pathi — on the path; deva-helanāt — from neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to brāhmaṇas, Vaiṣṇavas and the Supreme Lord; devarṣi-varyaḥ — the best of the saintly sages, Nārada; puruṣa-arcana-antarāt — from the offenses in worshiping the Deity; kūrmaḥ — Lord Kūrma, the tortoise; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mām — me; nirayāt — from hell; aśeṣāt — unlimited.

TRANSLATION

May Sanat-kumāra protect me from lusty desires. As I begin some auspicious activity, may Lord Hayagrīva protect me from being an offender by neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord. May Devarṣi Nārada protect me from committing offenses in worshiping the Deity, and may Lord Kūrma, the tortoise, protect me from falling to the unlimited hellish planets.

VERSE 6.8.18

dhanvantarir bhagavān pātv apathyād
dvandvād bhayād ṛṣabho nirjitātmā
yajñaś ca lokād avatāj janāntād
balo gaṇāt krodha-vaśād ahīndraḥ

SYNONYMS

dhanvantariḥ — the incarnation Dhanvantari, the physician; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pātu — may He protect me; apathyāt — from things injurious to the health, such as meat and intoxicants; dvandvāt — from duality; bhayāt — from fear; ṛṣabhaḥ — Lord Ṛṣabhadeva; nirjita-ātmā — who fully controlled his mind and self; yajñaḥ — Yajña; ca — and; lokāt — from the defamation of the populace; avatāt — may He protect; jana-antāt — from dangerous positions created by other people; balaḥ — Lord Balarāma; gaṇāt — from the hordes of; krodha-vaśāt — the angry serpents; ahīndraḥ — Lord Balarāma in the form of the serpent Śeṣa Nāga.

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 Ṛṣabhadeva, who conquered His inner and outer senses, protect me from fear produced by the duality of heat and cold. May Yajña protect me from defamation and harm from the populace, and may Lord Balarāma as Śeṣa protect me from envious serpents.

VERSE 6.8.19

dvaipāyano bhagavān aprabodhād
buddhas tu pāṣaṇḍa-gaṇa-pramādāt
kalkiḥ kaleḥ kāla-malāt prapātu
dharmāvanāyoru-kṛtāvatāraḥ

SYNONYMS

dvaipāyanaḥ — Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the giver of all Vedic knowledge; bhagavān — the most powerful incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aprabodhāt — from ignorance of the śāstra; buddhaḥ tu — also Lord Buddha; pāṣaṇḍa-gaṇa — of atheists creating disillusionment for innocent persons; pramādāt — from the madness; kalkiḥ — Lord Kalki, the incarnation of Keśava; kaleḥ — of this Kali-yuga; kāla-malāt — from the darkness of the age; prapātu — may He protect; dharma-avanāya — for the protection of religious principles; uru — very great; kṛta-avatāraḥ — who took an incarnation.

TRANSLATION

May the Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Vyāsadeva 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.

VERSE 6.8.20

māṁ keśavo gadayā prātar avyād
govinda āsaṅgavam ātta-veṇuḥ
nārāyaṇaḥ prāhṇa udātta-śaktir
madhyan-dine viṣṇur arīndra-pāṇiḥ

SYNONYMS

mām — me; keśavaḥ — Lord Keśava; gadayā — by His club; prātaḥ — in the morning hours; avyāt — may He protect; govindaḥ — Lord Govinda; āsaṅgavam — during the second part of the day; ātta-veṇuḥ — holding His flute; nārāyaṇaḥ — Lord Nārāyaṇa with four hands; prāhṇaḥ — during the third part of the day; udātta-śaktiḥ — controlling different types of potencies; madhyam-dine — during the fourth part of the day; viṣṇuḥ — Lord Viṣṇu; arīndra-pāṇiḥ — bearing the disc in His hand to kill the enemies.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 6.8.21

devo ’parāhṇe madhu-hogradhanvā
sāyaṁ tri-dhāmāvatu mādhavo mām
doṣe hṛṣīkeśa utārdha-rātre
niśītha eko ’vatu padmanābhaḥ

SYNONYMS

devaḥ — the Lord; aparāhṇe — in the fifth part of the day; madhu- — named Madhusūdana; ugra-dhanvā — bearing the very fearful bow known as Śārṅga; sāyam — the sixth part of the day; tri-dhāmā — manifesting as the three deities Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara; avatu — may He protect; mādhavaḥ — named Mādhava; mām — me; doṣe — during the first portion of the night; hṛṣīkeśaḥ — Lord Hṛṣīkeśa; uta — also; ardha-rātre — during the second part of the night; niśīthe — during the third part of the night; ekaḥ — alone; avatu — may He protect; padmanābhaḥ — Lord Padmanābha.

TRANSLATION

May Lord Madhusūdana, who carries a bow very fearful for the demons, protect me during the fifth part of the day. In the evening, may Lord Mādhava, appearing as Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara, protect me, and in the beginning of night may Lord Hṛṣīkeśa protect me. At the dead of night [in the second and third parts of night] may Lord Padmanābha alone protect me.

VERSE 6.8.22

śrīvatsa-dhāmāpara-rātra īśaḥ
pratyūṣa īśo ’si-dharo janārdanaḥ
dāmodaro ’vyād anusandhyaṁ prabhāte
viśveśvaro bhagavān kāla-mūrtiḥ

SYNONYMS

śrīvatsa-dhāmā — the Lord, on whose chest the mark of Śrīvatsa is resting; apara-rātre — in the fourth part of the night; īśaḥ — the Supreme Lord; pratyūṣe — in the end of the night; īśaḥ — the Supreme Lord; asi-dharaḥ — carrying a sword in the hand; janārdanaḥ — Lord Janārdana; dāmodaraḥ — Lord Dāmodara; avyāt — may He protect; anusandhyam — during each junction or twilight; prabhāte — in the early morning (the sixth part of the night); viśva-īśvaraḥ — the Lord of the whole universe; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kāla-mūrtiḥ — the personification of time.

TRANSLATION

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who bears the Śrīvatsa on His chest, protect me after midnight until the sky becomes pinkish. May Lord Janārdana, who carries a sword in His hand, protect me at the end of night [during the last four ghaṭikās of night]. May Lord Dāmodara protect me in the early morning, and may Lord Viśveśvara protect me during the junctions of day and night.

VERSE 6.8.23

cakraṁ yugāntānala-tigma-nemi
bhramat samantād bhagavat-prayuktam
dandagdhi dandagdhy ari-sainyam āśu
kakṣaṁ yathā vāta-sakho hutāśaḥ

SYNONYMS

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; samantāt — 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; āśu — immediately; kakṣam — dry grass; yathā — like; vāta-sakhaḥ — the friend of the wind; hutāśaḥ — 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 Sudarśana cakra burn our enemies to ashes.

VERSE 6.8.24

gade ’śani-sparśana-visphuliṅge
niṣpiṇḍhi niṣpiṇḍhy ajita-priyāsi
kuṣmāṇḍa-vaināyaka-yakṣa-rakṣo-
bhūta-grahāṁś cūrṇaya cūrṇayārīn

SYNONYMS

gade — O club in the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aśani — like thunderbolts; sparśana — whose touch; visphuliṅge — giving off sparks of fire; niṣpiṇḍhi niṣpiṇḍhi — pound to pieces, pound to pieces; ajita-priyā — very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asi — you are; kuṣmāṇḍa — imps named Kuṣmāṇḍas; vaināyaka — ghosts named Vaināyakas; yakṣa — ghosts named Yakṣas; rakṣaḥ — ghosts named Rākṣasas; bhūta — ghosts named Bhūtas; grahān — and evil demons named Grahas; cūrṇaya — pulverize; cūrṇaya — pulverize; arīn — 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 Kuṣmāṇḍas, Vaināyakas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Bhūtas and Grahas. Please pulverize them.

VERSE 6.8.25

tvaṁ yātudhāna-pramatha-preta-mātṛ-
piśāca-vipragraha-ghora-dṛṣṭīn
darendra vidrāvaya kṛṣṇa-pūrito
bhīma-svano ’rer hṛdayāni kampayan

SYNONYMS

tvam — you; yātudhāna — Rākṣasas; pramatha — Pramathas; preta — Pretas; mātṛ — Mātās; piśāca — Piśācas; vipra-graha — brāhmaṇa ghosts; ghora-dṛṣṭīn — who have very fearful eyes; darendra — O Pāñcajanya, the conchshell in the hands of the Lord; vidrāvaya — drive away; kṛṣṇa-pūritaḥ — being filled with air from the mouth of Kṛṣṇa; bhīma-svanaḥ — sounding extremely fearful; areḥ — of the enemy; hṛdayāni — the cores of the hearts; kampayan — causing to tremble.

TRANSLATION

O best of conchshells, O Pāñcajanya in the hands of the Lord, you are always filled with the breath of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore you create a fearful sound vibration that causes trembling in the hearts of enemies like the Rākṣasas, pramatha ghosts, Pretas, Mātās, Piśācas and brāhmaṇa ghosts with fearful eyes.

VERSE 6.8.26

tvaṁ tigma-dhārāsi-varāri-sainyam
īśa-prayukto mama chindhi chindhi
cakṣūṁṣi carmañ chata-candra chādaya
dviṣām aghonāṁ hara pāpa-cakṣuṣām

SYNONYMS

tvam — you; tigma-dhāra-asi-vara — O best of swords possessing very sharp blades; ari-sainyam — the soldiers of the enemy; īśa-prayuktaḥ — being engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mama — my; chindhi chindhi — chop to pieces, chop to pieces; cakṣūṁṣi — the eyes; carman — O shield; śata-candra — possessing brilliant circles like a hundred moons; chādaya — please cover; dviṣām — of those who are envious of me; aghonām — who are completely sinful; hara — please take away; pāpa-cakṣuṣām — 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.

VERSE 6.8.27-28

yan no bhayaṁ grahebhyo ’bhūt
ketubhyo nṛbhya eva ca
sarīsṛpebhyo daṁṣṭribhyo
bhūtebhyo ’ṁhobhya eva ca

sarvāṇy etāni bhagavan-
nāma-rūpānukīrtanāt
prayāntu saṅkṣayaṁ sadyo
ye naḥ śreyaḥ-pratīpakāḥ

SYNONYMS

yat — which; naḥ — our; bhayam — fear; grahebhyaḥ — from the Graha demons; abhūt — was; ketubhyaḥ — from meteors, or falling stars; nṛbhyaḥ — from envious human beings; eva ca — also; sarīsṛpebhyaḥ — from snakes or scorpions; daṁṣṭribhyaḥ — from animals with fierce teeth like tigers, wolves and boars; bhūtebhyaḥ — from ghosts or the material elements (earth, water, fire, etc); aṁhobhyaḥ — from sinful activities; eva ca — as well as; sarvāṇi etāni — all these; bhagavat-nāma-rūpa-anukīrtanāt — by glorifying the transcendental form, name, attributes and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prayāntu — let them go; saṅkṣayam — to complete destruction; sadyaḥ — immediately; ye — which; naḥ — our; śreyaḥ-pratīpakāḥ — 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 Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

VERSE 6.8.29

garuḍo bhagavān stotra-
stobhaś chandomayaḥ prabhuḥ
rakṣatv aśeṣa-kṛcchrebhyo
viṣvaksenaḥ sva-nāmabhiḥ

SYNONYMS

garuḍaḥ — His Holiness Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu; bhagavān — as powerful as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stotra-stobhaḥ — who is glorified by selected verses and songs; chandaḥ-mayaḥ — the personified Vedas; prabhuḥ — the lord; rakṣatu — may He protect; aśeṣa-kṛcchrebhyaḥ — from unlimited miseries; viṣvaksenaḥ — Lord Viṣvaksena; sva-nāmabhiḥ — by His holy names.

TRANSLATION

Lord Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, 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 Viṣvaksena, the Personality of Godhead, also protect us from all dangers by His holy names.

VERSE 6.8.30

sarvāpadbhyo harer nāma-
rūpa-yānāyudhāni naḥ
buddhīndriya-manaḥ-prāṇān
pāntu pārṣada-bhūṣaṇāḥ

SYNONYMS

sarva-āpadbhyaḥ — from all kinds of danger; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nāma — the holy name; rūpa — the transcendental form; yāna — the carriers; āyudhāni — and all the weapons; naḥ — our; buddhi — intelligence; indriya — senses; manaḥ — mind; prāṇān — life air; pāntu — may they protect and maintain; pārṣada-bhūṣaṇāḥ — 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.

VERSE 6.8.31

yathā hi bhagavān eva
vastutaḥ sad asac ca yat
satyenānena naḥ sarve
yāntu nāśam upadravāḥ

SYNONYMS

yathā — just as; hi — indeed; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva — undoubtedly; vastutaḥ — at the ultimate issue; sat — manifested; asat — unmanifested; ca — and; yat — whatever; satyena — by the truth; anena — this; naḥ — our; sarve — all; yāntu — let them go; nāśam — to annihilation; upadravāḥ — 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.

VERSE 6.8.32-33

yathaikātmyānubhāvānāṁ
vikalpa-rahitaḥ svayam
bhūṣaṇāyudha-liṅgākhyā
dhatte śaktīḥ sva-māyayā

tenaiva satya-mānena
sarva-jño bhagavān hariḥ
pātu sarvaiḥ svarūpair naḥ
sadā sarvatra sarva-gaḥ

SYNONYMS

yathā — just as; aikātmya — in terms of oneness manifested in varieties; anubhāvānām — of those thinking; vikalpa-rahitaḥ — the absence of difference; svayam — Himself; bhūṣaṇa — decorations; āyudha — weapons; liṅga-ākhyāḥ — characteristics and different names; dhatte — possesses; śaktīḥ — potencies like wealth, influence, power, knowledge, beauty and renunciation; sva-māyayā — by expanding His spiritual energy; tena eva — by that; satya-mānena — true understanding; sarva-jñaḥ — omniscient; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ — who can take away all the illusion of the living entities; pātu — may He protect; sarvaiḥ — with all; sva-rūpaiḥ — His forms; naḥ — us; sadā — always; sarvatra — everywhere; sarva-gaḥ — 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.

VERSE 6.8.34

vidikṣu dikṣūrdhvam adhaḥ samantād
antar bahir bhagavān nārasiṁhaḥ
prahāpayaḻ loka-bhayaṁ svanena
sva-tejasā grasta-samasta-tejāḥ

SYNONYMS

vidikṣu — in all corners; dikṣu — in all directions (east, west, north and south); ūrdhvam — above; adhaḥ — below; samantāt — on all sides; antaḥ — internally; bahiḥ — externally; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nārasiṁhaḥ — in the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva (half-lion and half-man); prahāpayan — 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 Prahlāda Mahārāja; sva-tejasā — by His personal effulgence; grasta — covered; samasta — all other; tejāḥ — influences.

TRANSLATION

Prahlāda Mahārāja loudly chanted the holy name of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva. May Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, roaring for His devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja, 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 Nṛsiṁhadeva protect us in all directions and in all corners, above, below, within and without.

VERSE 6.8.35

maghavann idam ākhyātaṁ
varma nārāyaṇātmakam
vijeṣyase ’ñjasā yena
daṁśito ’sura-yūthapān

SYNONYMS

maghavan — O King Indra; idam — this; ākhyātam — described; varma — mystic armor; nārāyaṇa-ātmakam — related to Nārāyaṇa; vijeṣyase — you will conquer; añjasā — very easily; yena — by which; daṁśitaḥ — being protected; asura-yūthapān — the chief leaders of the demons.

TRANSLATION

Viśvarūpa continued: O Indra, this mystic armor related to Lord Nārāyaṇa 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.

VERSE 6.8.36

etad dhārayamāṇas tu
yaṁ yaṁ paśyati cakṣuṣā
padā vā saṁspṛśet sadyaḥ
sādhvasāt sa vimucyate

SYNONYMS

etat — this; dhārayamāṇaḥ — a person employing; tu — but; yam yam — whomever; paśyati — he sees; cakṣuṣā — by his eyes; padā — by his feet; — or; saṁspṛśet — may touch; sadyaḥ — immediately; sādhvasāt — from all fear; saḥ — 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.

VERSE 6.8.37

na kutaścid bhayaṁ tasya
vidyāṁ dhārayato bhavet
rāja-dasyu-grahādibhyo
vyādhy-ādibhyaś ca karhicit

SYNONYMS

na — not; kutaścit — from anywhere; bhayam — fear; tasya — of him; vidyām — this mystical prayer; dhārayataḥ — employing; bhavet — may appear; rāja — from the government; dasyu — from rogues and thieves; graha-ādibhyaḥ — from demons and so on; vyādhi-ādibhyaḥ — from diseases and so on; ca — also; karhicit — at any time.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 6.8.38

imāṁ vidyāṁ purā kaścit
kauśiko dhārayan dvijaḥ
yoga-dhāraṇayā svāṅgaṁ
jahau sa maru-dhanvani

SYNONYMS

imām — this; vidyām — prayer; purā — formerly; kaścit — someone; kauśikaḥ — Kauśika; dhārayan — using; dvijaḥ — a brāhmaṇa; yoga-dhāraṇayā — by mystic power; sva-aṅgam — his own body; jahau — gave up; saḥ — he; maru-dhanvani — in the desert.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 6.8.39

tasyopari vimānena
gandharva-patir ekadā
yayau citrarathaḥ strībhir
vṛto yatra dvija-kṣayaḥ

SYNONYMS

tasya — his dead body; upari — above; vimānena — by airplane; gandharva-patiḥ — the King of Gandharvaloka, Citraratha; ekadā — once upon a time; yayau — went; citrarathaḥ — Citraratha; strībhiḥ — by many beautiful women; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; yatra — where; dvija-kṣayaḥ — the brāhmaṇa Kauśika had died.

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 6.8.40

gaganān nyapatat sadyaḥ
savimāno hy avāk-śirāḥ
sa vālikhilya-vacanād
asthīny ādāya vismitaḥ
prāsya prācī-sarasvatyāṁ
snātvā dhāma svam anvagāt

SYNONYMS

gaganāt — from the sky; nyapatat — fell; sadyaḥ — suddenly; sa-vimānaḥ — with his airplane; hi — certainly; avāk-śirāḥ — with his head downward; saḥ — he; vālikhilya — of the great sages named the Vālikhilyas; vacanāt — by the instructions; asthīni — all the bones; ādāya — taking; vismitaḥ — struck with wonder; prāsya — throwing; prācī-sarasvatyām — in the river Sarasvatī, which flows to the east; snātvā — bathing in that river; dhāma — to the abode; svam — his own; anvagāt — 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 Vālikhilyas to throw the brāhmaṇa’s bones in the nearby river Sarasvatī. He had to do this and bathe in the river before returning to his own abode.

VERSE 6.8.41

śrī-śuka uvāca

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyāt kāle
yo dhārayati cādṛtaḥ
taṁ namasyanti bhūtāni
mucyate sarvato bhayāt

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; yaḥ — anyone who; idam — this; śṛṇuyāt — may hear; kāle — at a time of fear; yaḥ — anyone who; dhārayati — employs this prayer; ca — also; ādṛtaḥ — with faith and adoration; tam — unto him; namasyanti — offer respectful obeisances; bhūtāni — all living beings; mucyate — is released; sarvataḥ — from all; bhayāt — fearful conditions.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, 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.

VERSE 6.8.42

etāṁ vidyām adhigato
viśvarūpāc chatakratuḥ
trailokya-lakṣmīṁ bubhuje
vinirjitya mṛdhe ’surān

SYNONYMS

etām — this; vidyām — prayer; adhigataḥ — received; viśvarūpāt — from the brāhmaṇa Viśvarūpa; śata-kratuḥ — Indra, the King of heaven; trailokya-lakṣmīm — all the opulence of the three worlds; bubhuje — enjoyed; vinirjitya — conquering; mṛdhe — in battle; asurān — all the demons.

TRANSLATION

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