The Narayan Kavach appears in the sixth ‘skandh’ of the eighth ‘adhyaaya’ verses 36-46 in the
Shrimad Bhaagvad. The Narayan Kavach was taught by Vishvaroopa to Lord Indra.
Narayan Kavach literally means the armor of Lord Narayan. An armor protects one from blows and adversities.
That is exactly what this prayer is meant to do.
It is a fascinating prayer as you will learn if you, at least will read the translation that is rendered. All the possible
situations, times, circumstances are covered. The more ambitious ones could recite it everyday for themselves
or/and their loved ones. It is believed to be very powerful. I would recommend that the ‘less ambitious
ones’ recite or learn the last 4 lines.
From ‘Vidikshu dikshu…….samast tejaha’
Before commencing the recital, chant ‘Om Namo Naraayanaya’ or ‘Om Namo Bhagvadey Vaasudey
Vaaya (‘ey’ pronounced as Whey) or your favourite mantra 12 times.
Visualize yourself and/or your loved ones, totally protected. My favourite way of doing it is by visualizing a
family portrait. You could ‘see’ them dressed in an armor. You could see them immersed in white or violet
light. You could see them in a tube of Light. You could see an impenetrable ring of white Light around them.
‘Sound’ started with the chanting of Om. The entire SamVeda was transferred through the notes
of the ‘sargam’ Music commenced with the recitation of Mantras and Shlokas. There is Spiritual strength in it.
(One must remember that this prayer was granted for Victory in the battlefield. Hence it asks for
destruction of enemies, I would prefer to pray for the destruction of enmity rather than the enemies, Shakun)
I am presenting to you the translation first. The original follows:
May the Lord Hari protect you from all sides.
Shree Hari has placed His ‘Charan Kamal’ (Lotus feet)
On the back of Shree Garuda (The vehicle of Lord Vishnu)
All the 8 ‘Siddhis’ (Miraculous Powers) serve Him..
On His 8 hands, He Holds 8 weapons.
(Shankh, Chakra, Dhaal, Talvaar, Gada, Baan, Dhanush and Paash)
May the Lord protect me in the water as Matsya-Murtir (The Fish Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) from
all the Water Creatures.
May the Lord protect me from the Fury of Typhoons.
On the Earth, may the Lord Vaaman (Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) protect me.
Lord Trivikrama should protect me in the sky.
May Lord Narasimha (The half-Man and Half-Lion Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) by whose
Mighty roar, all the four directions shook, and pregnant demonesses lost their children in their
wombs, protect me in forts, jungles, battlefields and dangerous places.
May Varaaha (The Boar Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) who saved the earth with the help of
His tusk, and who symbolises ‘Yagna’ (Sacrifice, effort) protect me when I am going my way.
May Parshurama (The Incarnation of Lord Vishnu who cleansed the earth of power hungry
corrupt warriors), protect me on mountain-peaks.
May Sri Laxman, together with Sri Bharat’s elder brother Shri Ram, protect me whenever I travel.
May the Lord Narayan protect me from wrong thoughts, deeds (whenever I may act against ‘Dharma’, my duties)
May the ‘Rishi Shreshta’ protect me from (the disease of ) the Human ego.
Lord Dattatreya! Please protect me from the obstacles that one generally encounters when one goes to
pray, or for Spiritual gatherings.
May the Lord Kapil protect me from the bondage of karmas.
May Sanat Kumara protect me from the God of Passion.
May HayaSheersha, protect me from the offense of not paying obeisance to the
Dev Murtis (Temples) that one encounters on the way.
May the Dev-Rishi Naarad protect me from (‘Seva-Apraadh) My shortcomings in service (to the Celestial Beings).
May the Tortoise Avtaar of the Lord protect me from all kinds of health problems.
May the Lord Dhanvantari protect me from unhealthy food items.
May RishabhDev protect me from ‘dualities’ (ie. Joy, sorrow, pleasure, pain, Like, Dislike etc)
May Yagna Bhagwan (The Lord Of Yagna or Sacrifices) protect me from social stigmas.
May Lord Sheshya (Snake) protect me from all kinds of snakes of anger.
May Ved- Vyaasji protect me from ignorance.
May Lord Buddha protect me from hypocrisy and laziness.
May Lord Kalki protect me from all the evil prevalent in Kaliyuga.
May Lord Keshav protect me in the morning with His ‘Gada’ (weapon)
May Lord Govind protect me with His flute after dawn.
Before noon may Lord Narayana protect me with His strength.
At noon, may Lord Vishnu protect me with His Sudarshan Chakra (weapon)
During the afternoon, may Lord Madhusudan protect me with His Mighty ‘Dhanush’ (weapon, Bow)
May Tri-Murti-Dhaari protect me during the evening.
After sunset may Lord Rishikesh protect me.
At midnight I seek protection from Bhagwan Padmanaabha.
After midnight may Shree Hari protect me.
At Dawn may Bhagwan Janaardan, who holds the sword protect me.
Before Sunrise may Shree Damodara protect me.
And may Bhagwan Vishweshwara also protect me.
O Sudarshan (weapon of the Lord) You appear like a wheel of a chariot.
Your edges are sharp like a devastating fire.
By instructions from Your Lord, you move on all sides
Just like fire, with the help of the wind, burns dry grass,
Similarly you destroy the army of my enemies (enmity).
O Gada! (weapon) the sparks that emanate from you, are unbearable to the touch.
You are the beloved of Lord Ajit (Invincible)
Hence you destroy the evil spirits as well as my enemies (enmity).
O Shankha! (Conch) May my enemies (and evil tendencies) get frightened, when they hear your
sound as Lord Krishna blows upon you.
Make their hearts tremble and cause the demons and evil spirits to flee.
O Mighty Talvaar (Sword) of the Lord whose edge is so sharp.
You destroy my enemies (enmity)
O Great Dhaal of the Lord, which is adorned with countless moons,
You forever close the eyes of my sinful enemies (evil, enmity)
May all those (that) be destroyed, who (which is, an) are an obstacle to my well being.
May all my enemies (enmity) be destroyed by the strength of my chanting and prayers.
May the Lord’s name, form, vehicle and helpers protect our intellect, mind, breath and senses.
God is in reality the ‘Action’ and the ‘Reason for all Creation’
By the Strength of the above Truth, may all my obstacles cease to exist.
Those who have realised ‘Brahma’ or become Enlightened, have realised that the Lord is without form.
Yet by the Power of the Lord’s ‘Maya’ it is true, that the Lord does assume an appearance, and owns (acquires)
Jewels, Weapons, Attributes.
That is why, may the Omni- Present God Shree Hari always protect me with His Form.
May the Lord NaraSimha ( The Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Half Lion, Half Man) , Whose Mighty Roar, makes
flee the fear of everyone, and by whose effulgence, (enemy’s) brightness is devoured, May He always protect me.
Following is the original in Sanskrit:
Om Hareer vida-dhyaan mama sarva rakshaam
Nyastaangni padmah patgendra prishtey
Daraari charmaasi gadeshu chaapo
Paashaan dadhaanoshta gunoshta vaahu
Jaleshu maam rakshatu matsya murtir
Yaado ganebhyo varunasya paashaat
Sthaleshu maaya vatu vaamano vyaat
Trivikramaha khevatu vishwaroopaha
Durgeshu atavyaaji mukhaadishu Prabhu
Paayaan Nrasimho asurayoothpaarih
Vimunchato yasya mahaat haasam
Disho vinedur nyapatanshcha garbhaah
Rakshatvasao Maadhvani yagnakalpah
Svadanshtrayo nneet dhavo varaaha
Ramo adrikuteshu atha vipravaase
Sa Laxmano avyaad Bharataagrajo smaan
Maam ugra dharmaad akhilaat pramaadaat
Naaraayanah paatu narashcha haasaat
Dattastu ayogaat atha yognaatha
Paayaad Gunesha Kapilaha karmabandhaat
Sanat Kumaro avatu kaamdevaad
Haya sheershaa maam pathi devahelnaat
Devarishi varyaha purushaarcha naantaraat
Koormo Hareer maam niryaa dasheshaat
Dhanvantarir Bhagwan paatu apathyaad
Dwandwaad bhayaad Rishabho nirjitaatmaa
Yagnashcha lokaa davtaad janaantaad
Balo ganaat krodha vashaa daheendraha
Dvaipaayano Bhagwaan aprabodhaad
Budhastu Paakhand Ganaat Pramaadaat
Kalkih kaley kaalmalaat prapaatu dharmaa-vanaayo rukrutaa vataaraha
Maam Keshavo gadayaa praata ravyaad
Govind aasangava Maatra venu
Naraayanah praahna udaatta Shaktir madhyam diney Vishnu ravindra paanihi
Devo aparaahney madhuhogra dhanvaa
Saayam tridhaama vatu Madhavo maam
Doshey Rishikesha utaardha raatrey
Nisheetha eko avatu Padmanaabhah
Shreevatsa dhaama para-raatra Eeshah
Pratyoosha Eesho asidharo Janaardanaha
Daamodaro avyaada nu sandhyam prabhatey
Vishweshwaro Bhagwan kaalmurtih
Chakram Yugaantaanal tigmanemi
Bhramat samantaad Bhagavat prayuktam
Dandhagdhee dandagdhya arisainya maashu
Kaksham yathaa vaata sakho hutaashah
Gadey shani sparshan visphulindey
Nishpindee nishpindhya ajita priyaasi
Kooshmanda vainaayaka yaksha raksho
Bhoota grahaam schoornaya schoornaya reen
Tvam yaatu dhaana pramatha preta maatru
Pishaacha vipra graha ghora drishteen
Darendra vidraavaya Krishna poorito
Bheema svanorarer rdyaani kampayan
Tvam tigmadhaara Sivaraari sainya
Meesha prayukto mama chhindi chhindi
Chakshoom shi charman chhat chandra chhaadaya
Dwishaam aghonaam hara paapa chakshushaam
Yanno bhayam grahebhyo bhoot
Ketubhyo nrubhya eva cha
Sareesru pebhyo damshthrubhyo bhootebhyo hobhya eva va
Sarvaani etaani Bhagwan naam roopaastra keertanaat
prayaantu sankshayam sadyo ye naha shreyah prateepaka
Garudo Bhagwaan stotra stobha rachhando mayaha prabhuh
Rakshatva shesha kruchhebhyo vishwaksenaha svanaamabhi
Sarvaa padbhyo Hareer naama roopa yaanaayu dhaani naha
Budhi indriya manah praanaan
Paantu paarshad Bhooshanaaha
Yathaa hi Bhagwaaneva vastutaha sadasachayat
Satyenaa nena naha sarve yaantu naashamupadra vaaha
Yathei kaatmya nubhaavaanaam vikalpa rahitaha svayam
Bhooshnaa yudha lingaakhyaa dhatey shakteeh svamaayaya
Teneiva satyamaanena sarvagyo Bhagwan Hareeh
Paatu sarvai svaroopairna sadaa sarvatra sarvagaha
Vidikshu dikshu urdhwa madhaha samantaad
Antar baahir Bhagwaan Narasimhaha
Prahaapayan loka bhayan svanena
Svatejasaa grasta samasta tejaaha
Do complete the above prayer by chanting
HARAYE NAMAH three times, as that corrects whichever words may have been mispronounced or any other
mistake that may have been committed during the chant.
GLOSSARY (Pronunciation)
A Like in ‘but’ Aa Like in ‘Far’ Ai Like in ‘hair’ Ey Like in Whey I Like in ‘Pin’ Oo Like in ‘Shoot’ Oon ‘n’
has got a nasal sound. U Like in ‘Put’
SANSKRIT
Sanskrit believes that the sound of the word never gets ruined and that it has an everlasting value.
Words in Sanskrit open out from their seed (beej) form.
A root is always a single syllable that contains one of the basic sounds a, I, u, ri
The root or seed may create a word, yet the word will vibrate to its best, and gives it tremendous power.
The Vedic or the Sanskrit view gives more importance to the special sound it should produce, than to the
meaning of the spoken word.
Shakun Kimatrai 