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Shloka 14

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

दुर्गेष्वटव्याजिमुखादिषु प्रभु: पायान्नृसिंहोऽसुरयूथपारि: । विमुञ्चतो यस्य महाट्टहासं दिशो विनेदुर्न्यपतंश्च गर्भा: ॥ १४ ॥

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

In gefährlichen Lagen — in Wäldern, an unwegsamen Orten und an der Front des Kampfes — möge mich Herr Nṛsiṁhadeva beschützen, der Feind des Asura-Anführers Hiraṇyakaśipu. Als Sein gewaltiges Gelächter hervorbrach, dröhnten die Richtungen, und die Leibesfrüchte der schwangeren Asura-Frauen fielen ab. Möge dieser barmherzige Herr mich überall, besonders in der Not, behüten.

durgeṣuin forts/difficult places
durgeṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdurga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
aṭavī-āji-mukha-ādiṣuin forests, battles, at the front, etc.
aṭavī-āji-mukha-ādiṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootaṭavī (प्रातिपदिक) + āji (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थक समास (अटवी च आजिः च मुखं च इत्यादि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
prabhuḥthe Lord
prabhuḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
pāyātmay he protect
pāyāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√pā (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
nṛsiṁhaḥNṛsiṁha
nṛsiṁhaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + siṁha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (नर-सिंहः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
asura-yūtha-pāriḥovercoming the hordes of demons
asura-yūtha-pāriḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootasura (प्रातिपदिक) + yūtha (प्रातिपदिक) + pārin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (असुराणां यूथं; तस्य पारिः/पारिन् = ‘one who crosses/overcomes’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of nṛsiṁhaḥ
vimuñcataḥof (him) releasing/letting out
vimuñcataḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeVerb
Root√muc (धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग)
Formशतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपदी; षष्ठी-एकवचन/पञ्चमी? here: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular) agreeing with yasya: ‘of whom (while) releasing’
yasyawhose
yasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun
mahā-aṭṭa-hāsama great loud laugh
mahā-aṭṭa-hāsam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + aṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + hāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास (महान् अट्टहासः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
diśaḥthe directions
diśaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdiś (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
vineduḥresounded
vineduḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√nad (धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
nyapatanfell down
nyapatan:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√pat (धातु) + ni- (उपसर्ग)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
caand
ca:
Avyaya (अव्यय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)
garbhāḥfetuses/wombs (embryos)
garbhāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgarbha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
N
Nrsimha

FAQs

This verse prays that Lord Nṛsiṁha protect the devotee in every fearful situation—fortresses, forests, and battle—emphasizing that remembrance of the Lord is a shield even where danger seems unavoidable.

Because His laughter signifies the Lord’s irresistible power that shatters demoniac forces and dissolves fear for the devotee; it is a poetic marker of divine protection and the defeat of adharma.

In anxiety, conflict, travel risk, or uncertainty, one can consciously take shelter through prayer and remembrance of the Lord—cultivating steadiness, courage, and moral clarity rather than panic.