Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 10
Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa
न्यसेद्धृदय ओंङ्कारं विकारमनु मूर्धनि । षकारं तु भ्रुवोर्मध्ये णकारं शिखया न्यसेत् ॥ ८ ॥ वेकारं नेत्रयोर्युञ्ज्यान्नकारं सर्वसन्धिषु । मकारमस्त्रमुद्दिश्य मन्त्रमूर्तिर्भवेद् बुध: ॥ ९ ॥ सविसर्गं फडन्तं तत्सर्वदिक्षु विनिर्दिशेत् । ॐ विष्णवे नम इति ॥ १० ॥
nyased dhṛdaya oṁkāraṁ vi-kāram anu mūrdhani ṣa-kāraṁ tu bhruvor madhye ṇa-kāraṁ śikhayā nyaset
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.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes mantra-nyāsa—placing the syllables of “oṁ viṣṇave namaḥ” on different parts of the body—so the devotee becomes “mantra-mūrti,” the embodied presence of the mantra, and projects protection in all directions.
Chapter 6.8 presents the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca as a devotional shield; Śukadeva explains the method so the practitioner anchors remembrance of Viṣṇu throughout the body and mind, making devotion itself the protection.
Chant “oṁ viṣṇave namaḥ” with steady attention, mentally dedicating your heart, mind, vision, and actions to Viṣṇu; this cultivates inner steadiness and a protective devotional focus amid stress and uncertainty.