Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 11

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

आत्मानं परमं ध्यायेद् ध्येयं षट्‍‌शक्तिभिर्युतम् । विद्यातेजस्तपोमूर्तिमिमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

ātmānaṁ paramaṁ dhyāyed dhyeyaṁ ṣaṭ-śaktibhir yutam vidyā-tejas-tapo-mūrtim imaṁ mantram udāharet

Translation

Al concluir el japa, uno debe contemplarse cualitativamente uno con la Suprema Personalidad, el Paramapuruṣa, pleno en seis opulencias y digno de meditación. Teniéndolo por la encarnación de la sabiduría sagrada, el fulgor y la austeridad, recite entonces esta oración protectora a Señor Nārāyaṇa, el “Nārāyaṇa-kavaca”.

Synonyms

• ātmānam: the Self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of ātmānam

• dhyāyet: should meditate
• dhyāyet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• dhyeyam: meditatable; object of meditation
• dhyeyam: Viśeṣya/Predicate (विशेष्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhyeya (प्रातिपदिक; √dhyai + यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be meditated upon’ (predicate/attribute)

• ṣaṭ-śaktibhiḥ: with six powers
• ṣaṭ-śaktibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (षट् + शक्तयः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• yutam: endowed (with)
• yutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuta (प्रातिपदिक; √yuj + क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with dhyeyam

• vidyā-tejas-tapo-mūrtim: the form embodying knowledge, splendor, and austerity
• vidyā-tejas-tapo-mūrtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (विद्या/तेजस्/तपस्-रूपा मूर्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• imam: this
• imam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of mantram

• mantram: mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• udāharet: should recite/utter
• udāharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āhṛ (धातु) + ud- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Narayana)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on Narayana for protection?

This verse instructs meditating on the Supreme Lord as the highest object of contemplation—endowed with six potencies—and then reciting the protective mantra, forming the inner basis of the Narayana-kavacha.

Why did Shukadeva Gosvami describe the Lord as 'vidya, tejas, and tapa'?

To establish that the Lord is not merely a deity to be invoked externally, but the very embodiment of spiritual knowledge, divine power, and purifying austerity—making the mantra effective when recited with proper understanding and meditation.

How can I apply this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Before chanting prayers for protection, first center the mind on the Supreme Lord with reverence and clarity, then chant steadily—treating the practice as both meditation and surrender rather than a mechanical ritual.