Shloka 14

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

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

Translation

Dans les lieux périlleux—forêts, passages difficiles et fronts de bataille—que Seigneur Nṛsiṁhadeva me protège, ennemi du chef asura Hiraṇyakaśipu. Lorsque jaillit Son grand éclat de rire, les directions résonnèrent et les ventres des épouses asuras enceintes se vidèrent. Que ce Seigneur miséricordieux me garde partout, surtout dans l’épreuve.

Synonyms

• durgeṣu: in forts/difficult places
• durgeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• aṭavī-āji-mukha-ādiṣu: in forests, battles, at the front, etc.
• aṭavī-āji-mukha-ādiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṭavī (प्रातिपदिक) + āji (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थक समास (अटवी च आजिः च मुखं च इत्यादि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pāyāt: may he protect
• pāyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• nṛsiṁhaḥ: Nṛsiṁha
• nṛsiṁhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + siṁha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नर-सिंहः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asura-yūtha-pāriḥ: overcoming the hordes of demons
• asura-yūtha-pāriḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + yūtha (प्रातिपदिक) + pārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (असुराणां यूथं; तस्य पारिः/पारिन् = ‘one who crosses/overcomes’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of nṛsiṁhaḥ

• vimuñcataḥ: of (him) releasing/letting out
• vimuñcataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपदी; षष्ठी-एकवचन/पञ्चमी? here: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular) agreeing with yasya: ‘of whom (while) releasing’

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• mahā-aṭṭa-hāsam: a great loud laugh
• mahā-aṭṭa-hāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + aṭṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + hāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् अट्टहासः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• diśaḥ: the directions
• diśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vineduḥ: resounded
• vineduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nad (धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• nyapatan: fell down
• nyapatan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु) + ni- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• garbhāḥ: fetuses/wombs (embryos)
• garbhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Nrsimha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Nrsimha protecting devotees in danger?

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.

Why is Lord Nrsimha described with a terrifying laughter in Bhagavatam 6.8?

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.

Practical application of the Narayana-kavacha mood in modern life?

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.