Shloka 22
Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa
श्रीवत्सधामापररात्र ईश: प्रत्यूष ईशोऽसिधरो जनार्दन: । दामोदरोऽव्यादनुसन्ध्यं प्रभाते विश्वेश्वरो भगवान् कालमूर्ति: ॥ २२ ॥
śrīvatsa-dhāmāpara-rātra īśaḥ pratyūṣa īśo ’si-dharo janārdanaḥ dāmodaro ’vyād anusandhyaṁ prabhāte viśveśvaro bhagavān kāla-mūrtiḥ
Möge der Herr, der das Śrīvatsa-Zeichen auf Seiner Brust trägt, mich nach Mitternacht bis zum rosigen Morgen schützen. Möge Janārdana mit dem Schwert in der Hand mich am Ende der Nacht behüten. Möge Dāmodara mich in der Frühe schützen, und in den Übergängen von Tag und Nacht möge Viśveśvara, Bhagavān als Gestalt der Zeit, mich bewahren.
FAQs
This verse invokes specific names and forms of the Lord to protect the devotee at particular times—late night, dawn, sandhyā junctions, and morning—showing that remembrance of Viṣṇu throughout the day is itself a spiritual shield.
Janārdana emphasizes the Lord as the remover of the suffering of living beings (and here, as a sword-bearing protector), while Dāmodara highlights His intimate, devotional aspect—both majesty and sweetness are invoked for complete protection.
Create brief daily “remembrance checkpoints” (pre-dawn, sunrise, twilight, morning) by chanting a name of the Lord; it builds steadiness of mind, reduces fear, and keeps one aligned with devotion and dharma.