Shloka 17
Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa
सनत्कुमारोऽवतु कामदेवा- द्धयशीर्षा मां पथि देवहेलनात् । देवर्षिवर्य: पुरुषार्चनान्तरात् कूर्मो हरिर्मां निरयादशेषात् ॥ १७ ॥
sanat-kumāro ’vatu kāmadevād dhayaśīrṣā māṁ pathi deva-helanāt devarṣi-varyaḥ puruṣārcanāntarāt kūrmo harir māṁ nirayād aśeṣāt
Möge Sanat-kumāra mich vor lüsternen Begierden schützen. Wenn ich ein glückverheißendes Werk beginne, möge der Herr Hayagrīva mich auf dem Weg davor bewahren, durch unterlassene ehrerbietige Verneigungen zum Beleidiger zu werden. Möge der Devarṣi Nārada mich vor Vergehen in der Verehrung der Gottheit schützen, und möge Hari in der Gestalt Kūrmas mich vor dem Sturz in die grenzenlosen Höllenwelten bewahren.
Lusty desires are very strong in everyone, and they are the greatest impediment to the discharge of devotional service. Therefore those who are very much influenced by lusty desires are advised to take shelter of Sanat-kumāra, the great brahmacārī devotee. Nārada Muni, who is the guide for arcana, is the author of the Nārada-pañcarātra, which prescribes the regulative principles for worshiping the Deity. Everyone engaged in Deity worship, whether at home or in the temple, should always seek the mercy of Devarṣi Nārada in order to avoid the thirty-two offenses while worshiping the Deity. These offenses in Deity worship are mentioned in The Nectar of Devotion.
FAQs
This verse prays for protection from lust (kāma) through Sanat-kumāra and for safety from deva-aparādha (offenses toward demigods) through Hayagrīva, showing that inner purity and respectful conduct support spiritual protection.
Kūrma is invoked as Lord Hari’s protective avatāra, and the prayer asks Him to remove the devotee entirely from niraya (hellish states), emphasizing the Lord’s power to rescue one from severe karmic suffering.
Cultivate self-control against lust, avoid disrespect toward sacred beings and religious paths, and maintain steady daily worship without interruptions—while remembering the Lord’s forms for inner strength and protection.