Hindu prayer

Vishnu Sahasranama Phalashruti and Narayana Kavacham

Narayana Kavacham in its original Sanskrit, with its meaning.

123 lines
About 4 minutes to recite
Vishnu Sahasranama Phalashruti and Narayana Kavacham

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1
राजोवाच ।
The king said:
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यया गुप्तः सहस्राक्षः सवाहान्रिपुसैनिकान् ।
Protected by it, the thousand-eyed Indra defeated the enemy soldiers together with their mounts,
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क्रीडन्निव विनिर्जित्य त्रिलोक्या बुभुजे श्रियम् ॥
as though at play, and enjoyed the prosperity of the three worlds.
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भगवंस्तन्ममाख्याहि वर्म नारायणात्मकम् ।
O revered sage, tell me of that armor whose essence is Narayana,
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यथाऽऽततायिनः शत्रून् येन गुप्तोऽजयन्मृधे ॥
and how, protected by it, he conquered his attacking enemies in battle.
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
Shri Shuka said:
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वृतः पुरोहितस्त्वाष्ट्रो महेन्द्रायानुपृच्छते ।
The son of Tvashta, chosen as priest, spoke to the great Indra, who had asked him,
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नारायणाख्यं वर्माह तदिहैकमनाः शृणु ॥
of the armor called Narayana. Hear it now with undivided attention.
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विश्वरूप उवाच ।
Vishvarupa said:
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धौताण्घ्रिपाणिराचम्य सपवित्र उदण्मुखः ।
Having washed his feet and hands and sipped water for purification, wearing a ring of sacred grass and facing north,
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कृतस्वाण्गकरन्यासो मन्त्राभ्यां वाग्यतः शुचिः ॥
pure and restrained in speech, having performed nyasa on his limbs and hands with the two mantras,
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नारायणमयं वर्म सन्नह्येद्भय आगते ।
one should put on the armor consisting of Narayana when danger arises.
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पादयोर्जानुनोरूर्वोरुदरे हृद्यथोरसि ॥
On the feet, knees, thighs, abdomen, heart, and then the chest,
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मुखे शिरस्यानुपूर्व्यादोंकारादीनि विन्यसेत् ।
mouth and head, one should place in sequence the syllables beginning with Om
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ॐ नमो नारायणायेति विपर्ययमथापि वा ॥
of “Om, homage to Narayana,” or else do so in reverse order.
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करन्यासं ततः कुर्याद्द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया ।
Then one should perform nyasa on the hands with the twelve-syllable mantra,
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प्रणवादियकारान्तमण्गुल्यण्गुष्ठपर्वसु ॥
placing its syllables, beginning with Om and ending with ya, on the fingers and the joints of the thumbs.
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न्यसेद्धृदय ॐकारं विकारमनु मूर्धनि ।
One should place Om in the heart, then vi on the head,
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षकारं तु भ्रुवोर्मध्ये णकारं शिखया दिशेत् ॥
sha between the eyebrows, and na on the tuft of hair.
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वेकारं नेत्रयोर्युJण्ज्यान्नकारं सर्वसन्धिषु ।
One should place ve on the eyes and na on all the joints,
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मकारमस्त्रमुद्दिश्य मन्त्रमूर्तिर्भवेद्बुधः ॥
and designate ma as the weapon. Thus the wise practitioner should become the embodiment of the mantra.
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सविसर्गं फडन्तं तत् सर्वदिक्षु विनिर्दिशेत् ।
Adding the visarga to it and ending with phat, one should direct it toward all directions.
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ॐ विष्णवे नम इति ॥
Om, homage to Vishnu.
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आत्मानं परमं ध्यायेद्ध्येयं षट्शक्तिभिर्युतम् ।
One should meditate on the Supreme Self, worthy of meditation and endowed with the six powers,
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विद्यातेजस्तपोमूर्तिमिमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत् ॥
the embodiment of knowledge, splendor, and austerity, and recite this mantra.
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ॐ हरिर्विदध्यान्मम सर्वरक्षां
Om. May Hari grant me protection in every way,
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न्यस्ताण्घ्रिपद्मः पतगेन्द्रपृष्ठे ।
his lotus feet resting upon the back of the king of birds,
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दरारिचर्मासिगदेषुचाप-
bearing a conch, discus, shield, sword, mace, arrows, bow
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पाशान्दधानोऽष्टगुणोऽष्टबाहुः ॥
and noose, endowed with eight powers and eight arms.
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जलेषु मां रक्षतु मत्स्यमूर्ति-
In the waters, may his fish form protect me
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र्यादोगणेभ्यो वरुणस्य पाशात् ।
from aquatic creatures and from Varuna’s noose.
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स्थलेषु मायावटुवामनोऽव्यात्
On land, may Vamana, the dwarf who assumes a student’s guise through his Maya, protect me;
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त्रिविक्रमः खेऽवतु विश्वरूपः ॥
in the sky, may Trivikrama, whose form is the universe, protect me.
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दुर्गेष्वटव्याजिमुखादिषु प्रभुः
In inaccessible places, forests, battlefronts and the like, may the Lord
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पायान्नृसिंहोऽसुरयूथपारिः ।
Narasimha, the enemy of the hosts of demons, protect me.
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विमुJण्चतो यस्य महाट्टहासं
When he let out his mighty, thunderous laugh,
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दिशो विनेदुर्न्यपतंश्च गर्भाः ॥
the quarters resounded, and unborn children fell from their wombs.
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रक्षत्वसौ माध्वनि यज्ञकल्पः
May he whose form embodies sacrifice protect me on the road—
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स्वदंष्ट्रयोन्नीतधरो वराहः ।
Varaha, who raised the earth upon his tusk.
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रामोऽद्रिकूटेष्वथ विप्रवासे
May Rama protect us on mountain peaks, and, in exile,
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सलक्ष्मणोऽव्याद्भरताग्रजोऽस्मान् ॥
may Bharata’s elder brother, accompanied by Lakshmana, protect us.
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मामुग्रधर्मादखिलात्प्रमादा-
From terrible religious practices and from all negligence,
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न्नारायणः पातु नरश्च हासात् ।
may Narayana protect me, and may Nara protect me from derisive laughter.
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दत्तस्त्वयोगादथ योगनाथः
May Datta, the Lord of yoga, protect me from failure in yoga;
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पायाद्गुणेशः कपिलः कर्मबन्धात् ॥
may Kapila, Lord of the gunas, protect me from the bondage of action.
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सनत्कुमारोऽवतु कामदेवा-
May Sanatkumara protect me from the god of desire;
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द्धयशीर्षा मां पथि देवहेलनात् ।
may Hayashirsha protect me on the path from showing contempt for the gods.
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देवर्षिवर्यः पुरुषार्चनान्तरात्
May the foremost of divine sages protect me from lapses in worship of the Supreme Person;
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कूर्मो हरिर्मां निरयादशेषात् ॥
may Hari in the form of Kurma protect me from every hell.
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धन्वन्तरिर्भगवान्पात्वपथ्या-
May Lord Dhanvantari protect me from unwholesome food.
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द्द्वन्द्वाद्भयादृषभो निर्जितात्मा ।
May Rishabha, who has mastered himself, protect me from fear of the pairs of opposites.
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यज्ञश्च लोकादवताJण्जनान्ता-
May Yajna protect me from the world; from the end of life,
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द्बलो गणात्क्रोधवशादहीन्द्रः ॥
may Balarama protect me; and may the lord of serpents protect me from the hosts born of anger.
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द्वैपायनो भगवानप्रबोधा-
May the blessed Dvaipayana protect me from ignorance,
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द्बुद्धस्तु पाखण्डगणप्रमादात् ।
and may Buddha protect me from the heedlessness of heretical hosts.
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कल्किः कलेः कालमलात्प्रपातु
May Kalki protect me from the impurity of the age of Kali,
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धर्मावनायोरुकृतावतारः ॥
he who takes mighty incarnations to preserve righteousness.
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मां केशवो गदया प्रातरव्या-
May Keshava protect me with his mace at dawn,
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द्गोविन्द आसण्गवमात्तवेणुः ।
and Govinda, holding his flute, in the early morning.
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नारायणः प्राह्ण उदात्तशक्ति-
May Narayana, whose power is exalted, protect me in the forenoon,
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र्मध्यन्दिने विष्णुररीन्द्रपाणिः ॥
and Vishnu, bearing the sovereign discus in his hand, at midday.
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देवोऽपराह्णे मधुहोग्रधन्वा
May the divine slayer of Madhu, bearing his formidable bow, protect me in the afternoon,
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सायं त्रिधामावतु माधवो माम् ।
and may Madhava, whose form is threefold, protect me in the evening.
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दोषे हृषीकेश उतार्धरात्रे
May Hrishikesha protect me at nightfall, and at midnight,
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निशीथ एकोऽवतु पद्मनाभः ॥
in the deepest night, may Padmanabha alone protect me.
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श्रीवत्सधामापररात्र ईशः
May the Lord who bears the Shrivatsa mark protect me in the latter part of the night,
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प्रत्युष ईशोऽसिधरो जनार्दनः ।
and at daybreak, may Lord Janardana, bearing his sword, protect me.
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दामोदरोऽव्यादनुसन्ध्यं प्रभाते
May Damodara protect me at each twilight, and at dawn,
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विश्वेश्वरो भगवान् कालमूर्तिः ॥
may the blessed Lord of the universe, the embodiment of time, protect me.
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चक्रं युगान्तानलतिग्मनेमि
O discus, whose rim is sharp as the fire at the end of an age,
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भ्रमत्समन्ताद्भगवत्प्रयुक्तम् ।
whirling on every side, wielded by the Lord,
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दन्दग्धि दन्दग्ध्यरिसैन्यमाशु
burn, burn the enemy army swiftly,
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कक्षं यथा वातसखो हुताशः ॥
as fire, aided by the wind, burns dry grass.
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गदेऽशनिस्पर्शनविस्फुलिण्गे
O mace, whose touch sends forth sparks like a thunderbolt,
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निष्पिण्ढि निष्पिण्ढ्यजितप्रियासि ।
crush, crush them! You are dear to the unconquerable Lord.
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कूष्माण्डवैनायकयक्षरक्षो-
The Kushmandas, Vainayakas, Yakshas, Rakshasas,
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भूतग्रहांश्चूर्णय चूर्णयारीन् ॥
spirits and possessing demons—crush them, crush these enemies.
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त्वं यातुधानप्रमथप्रेतमातृ-
You, the Yatudhanas, Pramathas, departed spirits, Mother spirits,
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पिशाचविप्रग्रहघोरदृष्टीन् ।
Pishachas, Brahmin spirits and those with dreadful gazes—
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दरेन्द्र विद्रावय कृष्णपूरितो
O king of conches, filled with Krishna’s breath, drive them away,
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भीमस्वनोऽरेहृ।र्दयानि कम्पयन् ॥
shaking the hearts of enemies with your terrifying sound.
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त्वं तिग्मधारासिवरारिसैन्य-
You, excellent sword with a keen edge, the armies of my enemies—
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मीशप्रयुक्तो मम छिन्धि छिन्धि ।
wielded by the Lord, cut them down, cut them down.
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चक्षूंषि चर्मJण्छतचन्द्र छादय
O shield adorned with a hundred moons, cover the eyes
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द्विषामघोनां हर पापचक्षुषाम् ॥
of my sinful enemies; take away their evil sight.
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यन्नो भयं ग्रहेभ्योऽभूत्केतुभ्यो नृभ्य एव च ।
Whatever fear has arisen for us from planets, from ominous portents or from human beings,
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सरीसृपेभ्यो दंष्ट्रिभ्यो भूतेभ्योंऽहोभ्य वा ॥
from creeping creatures, fanged beasts, spirits or sins—
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सर्वाण्येतानि भगवन्नामरूपास्त्रकीर्तनात् ।
through the glorification of the Lord’s names, forms and weapons, may all these
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प्रयान्तु संक्षयं सद्यो ये नः श्रेयःप्रतीपकाः ॥
that oppose our welfare immediately perish.
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गरुडो भगवान् स्तोत्रस्तोभश्छन्दोमयः प्रभुः ।
May the mighty Lord Garuda, whose praise is sung in hymns and chants and whose form is the Vedic metres,
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रक्षत्वशेषकृच्छ्रेभ्यो विष्वक्सेनः स्वनामभिः ॥
protect us from every hardship; may Vishvaksena protect us through his own names.
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सर्वापद्भ्यो हरेर्नामरूपयानायुधानि नः ।
From every danger, may Hari’s names, forms, mounts and weapons
93
बुद्धीन्द्रियमनःप्राणान्पान्तु पार्षदभूषणाः ॥
protect us, our intellect, senses, mind and vital breaths, together with his attendants and ornaments.
94
यथा हि भगवानेव वस्तुतः सदसच्च यत् ।
Since the Lord alone is, in truth, all that is manifest and unmanifest,
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सत्येनानेन नः सर्वे यान्तु नाशमुपद्रवाः ॥
by this truth may all our afflictions perish.
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यथैकात्म्यानुभावानां विकल्परहितः स्वयम् ।
Since he himself is free from distinctions for those who experience his oneness,
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भूषणायुधलिण्गाख्या धत्ते शक्तीः स्वमायया ॥
yet through his own Maya bears his powers called ornaments, weapons, emblems and names,
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तेनैव सत्यमानेन सर्वज्ञो भगवान् हरिः ।
by this very truth, may the all-knowing Lord Hari,
99
पातु सर्वैः स्वरूपैर्नः सदा सर्वत्र सर्वगः ॥
who pervades all things, protect us with all his forms, always and everywhere.
100
विदिक्षु दिक्षूर्ध्वमधः समन्ता-
In the intermediate directions, in the cardinal directions, above, below and on every side—
101
दन्तर्बहिर्भगवान्नारसिंहः ।
Lord Narasimha is within and without,
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प्रहापयं।cलोकभयं स्वनेन
dispelling the fear of the worlds with his roar,
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स्वतेजसा ग्रस्तसमस्ततेजाः ॥
his own radiance engulfing all other radiance.
104
मघवन्निदमाख्यातं वर्म नारायणात्मकम् ।
O Indra, this armor, whose very essence is Narayana, has been described to you.
105
विजेष्यस्यJण्जसा येन दंशितोऽसुरयूथपान् ॥
Clad in it, you will readily conquer the leaders of the demons.
106
एतद्धारयमाणस्तु यं यं पश्यति चक्षुषा ।
Whoever one wearing this armor looks upon with his eyes,
107
पदा वा संस्पृशेत्सद्यः साध्वसात्स विमुच्यते ॥
or touches with his foot, is immediately freed from fear.
108
न कुतश्चिद्भयं तस्य विद्यां धारयतो भवेत् ।
One who bears this sacred knowledge will have no fear from any source,
109
राजदस्युग्रहादिभ्यो व्याघ्रादिभ्यश्च कर्हिचित् ॥
whether from kings, robbers, malevolent spirits and the like, or tigers and other beasts, at any time.
110
इमां विद्यां पुरा कश्चित्कौशिको धारयन् द्विजः ।
Long ago, a certain brahmin of the Kaushika lineage, bearing this sacred knowledge,
111
योगधारणया स्वाण्गं जहौ स मरुधन्वनि ॥
gave up his body in the desert through yogic concentration.
112
तस्योपरि विमानेन गन्धर्वपतिरेकदा ।
Once, the lord of the Gandharvas passed over him in a celestial chariot,
113
ययौ चित्ररथः स्त्रीभिर्वृतो यत्र द्विजक्षयः ॥
Chitraratha, surrounded by women, passing over the place where the brahmin had died.
114
गगनान्न्यपतत्सद्यः सविमानो ह्यवाक्षिराः ।
He immediately fell headfirst from the sky, together with his chariot.
115
स वालखिल्यवचनादस्थीन्यादाय विस्मितः ।
Astonished, he gathered up the bones at the direction of the Valakhilya sages,
116
प्रास्य प्राचीसरस्वत्यां स्नात्वा धाम स्वमन्वगात् ॥
cast them into the eastward-flowing Sarasvati, bathed, and returned to his own abode.
117
श्रीशुक उवाच ।
Sri Shuka said:
118
य इदं शृणुयात्काले यो धारयति चादृतः ।
Whoever hears this at the proper time, or reverently bears it,
119
तं नमस्यन्ति भूतानि मुच्यते सर्वतो भयात् ॥
is honored by all beings and freed from fear on every side.
120
एतां विद्यामधिगतो विश्वरूपाच्छतक्रतुः ।
Having received this sacred knowledge from Vishvarupa, Indra, performer of a hundred sacrifices,
121
त्रैलोक्यलक्ष्मीं बुभुजे विनिर्जित्य मृधेऽसुरान् ॥
defeated the demons in battle and enjoyed the splendor of the three worlds.
122
॥ इति श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां
Thus, in the Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana, the sacred collection for the supreme renunciants,
123
षष्ठस्कन्धे नारायणवर्मकथनं नामाष्टमोऽध्यायः ॥
ends the eighth chapter of the sixth canto, entitled “The Description of the Armor of Narayana.”

Text: Narayana Kavacham (Bhagavata Purana 6.8), Sanskrit text. Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is recited

Many Hindus recite Narayana Kavacham during daily worship or when seeking courage and reassurance in difficult circumstances. In the tradition, it is recited as a prayer for protection through devotion to Vishnu. It is not restricted to a particular season.

Daily worship
Difficult times
Seeking protection

Where it comes from

Narayana Kavacham comes from the Bhagavata Purana, where Vishvarupa teaches it to Indra. It invokes Vishnu through his names, forms and attributes as spiritual armour. The Vishnu Sahasranama Phalashruti named in the title belongs to the Mahabharata tradition and describes the benefits traditionally associated with reciting Vishnu's names.

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Questions about Vishnu Sahasranama Phalashruti and Narayana Kavacham

What does Narayana Kavacham mean?

The title means the armour of Narayana. The hymn invokes Narayana, a form of Vishnu, for protection.

How long is the text shown here?

The text shown has 123 lines.

How long does it take to recite?

Allow about 4 minutes to recite it, though the pace varies with the reciter.

Which language is Narayana Kavacham in?

It is in Sanskrit. The original text is accompanied here by its meaning.

Are the Phalashruti and Narayana Kavacham the same text?

No. The Vishnu Sahasranama Phalashruti describes the benefits traditionally associated with reciting Vishnu's names, while Narayana Kavacham is a distinct prayer invoking Vishnu's protection.