Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, 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
Semoga Tuhan yang bertanda Śrīvatsa di dada melindungiku selepas tengah malam hingga fajar memerah. Semoga Janārdana yang memegang pedang melindungiku pada penghujung malam. Semoga Dāmodara melindungiku pada pagi hari, dan semoga Viśveśvara, Bhagavān berwujud Kala, melindungiku pada waktu-waktu peralihan siang dan malam.
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.