Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 3
Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa
श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच वृत: पुरोहितस्त्वाष्ट्रो महेन्द्रायानुपृच्छते । नारायणाख्यं वर्माह तदिहैकमना: शृणु ॥ ३ ॥
śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca vṛtaḥ purohitas tvāṣṭro mahendrāyānupṛcchate nārāyaṇākhyaṁ varmāha tad ihaika-manāḥ śṛṇu
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.
FAQs
It is a divine “armor” of protection connected with Lord Nārāyaṇa, introduced here as a sacred safeguard to be heard and practiced with one-pointed attention.
In the narrative of Canto 6, Indra seeks spiritual protection amid danger; therefore he requests his priest Viśvarūpa, who then explains the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca.
It emphasizes attentive hearing and focused remembrance of the Lord as the foundation for inner protection, steadiness, and faith during fear or uncertainty.