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Shloka 4

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

श्रीविश्‍वरूप उवाच धौताङ्‌घ्रिपाणिराचम्य सपवित्र उदङ्‍मुख: । कृतस्वाङ्गकरन्यासो मन्त्राभ्यां वाग्यत: शुचि: ॥ ४ ॥ नारायणपरं वर्म सन्नह्येद् भय आगते । पादयोर्जानुनोरूर्वोरुदरे हृद्यथोरसि ॥ ५ ॥ मुखे शिरस्यानुपूर्व्यादोंङ्कारादीनि विन्यसेत् । ॐ नमो नारायणायेति विपर्ययमथापि वा ॥ ६ ॥

śrī-viśvarūpa uvāca dhautāṅghri-pāṇir ācamya sapavitra udaṅ-mukhaḥ kṛta-svāṅga-kara-nyāso mantrābhyāṁ vāg-yataḥ śuciḥ

Viśvarūpa berkata: Bila rasa takut datang, mula-mula basuh tangan dan kaki, lalu lakukan ācamana; sentuh kuśa yang suci dan duduk menghadap utara dengan hening serta bersih. Kemudian lakukan nyāsa pada anggota dan tangan dengan mantra beraksara delapan ‘oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya’ dan mantra beraksara dua belas, lalu kenakan baju zirah yang berpusat pada Nārāyaṇa. Mulailah menempatkan suku kata, diawali praṇava, pada kaki, lutut, paha, perut, hati, dada, mulut, dan kepala; lalu lakukan pula dalam urutan terbalik.

śrī-viśvarūpaḥŚrī Viśvarūpa
śrī-viśvarūpaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī + viśvarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘श्रीमान् विश्वरूपः’
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
dhauta-aṅghri-pāṇiḥwhose feet and hands are washed
dhauta-aṅghri-pāṇiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootdhauta (धौत, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + aṅghri + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहिः—‘धौतौ अङ्घ्री च पाणी च यस्य सः’
ācamyahaving performed ācamana
ācamya:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-cam (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
FormGerund/Absolutive (ल्यप्), ‘having sipped (water)’
sa-pavitraḥwith pavitra (ring/grass); purified
sa-pavitraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsa (सह) + pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘पवित्रेण सह/सहितः’
udaṅ-mukhaḥfacing north
udaṅ-mukhaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootudak/udañc (उदङ्) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘उदङ् (उत्तराभिमुख) मुखः’
kṛta-sva-aṅga-kara-nyāsaḥhaving done the nyāsa of one’s limbs and hands
kṛta-sva-aṅga-kara-nyāsaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṛta (कृत, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + sva + aṅga + kara + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘स्वाङ्ग-कर-न्यासः कृतः येन सः’ (performed nyāsa on one’s limbs and hands)
mantrābhyāmwith two mantras
mantrābhyām:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootmantra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन)
vāk-yataḥrestraining speech; silent
vāk-yataḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootvāc (प्रातिपदिक) + yata (यत, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘वाचः यतः’ (speech-restrained)
śuciḥpure; clean
śuciḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootśuci (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
V
Viśvarūpa

FAQs

This verse emphasizes external and internal purification—washing, ācamana, facing north, performing nyāsa with mantras, and observing controlled speech—before beginning the Narāyaṇa-kavaca.

Viśvarūpa teaches the proper method to invoke Lord Nārāyaṇa’s protective armor, ensuring the practitioner approaches the prayer with purity, discipline, and correct ritual focus.

Create a brief, consistent pre-prayer routine—cleanliness, a quiet posture, and mindful speech—so chanting becomes focused, reverent, and steady.