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Shloka 2

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

श्रीराजोवाच यया गुप्त: सहस्राक्ष: सवाहान् रिपुसैनिकान् । क्रीडन्निव विनिर्जित्य त्रिलोक्या बुभुजे श्रियम् ॥ १ ॥ भगवंस्तन्ममाख्याहि वर्म नारायणात्मकम् । यथाततायिन: शत्रून्येन गुप्तोऽजयन्मृधे ॥ २ ॥

śrī-rājovāca yayā guptaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ savāhān ripu-sainikān krīḍann iva vinirjitya tri-lokyā bubhuje śriyam

王は言った。「おおバガヴァーン、どうかお説きください。千眼のインドラが、乗り物を伴う敵軍を遊ぶがごとく打ち破り、三界の栄華を享受できたのは、いかなるヴィシュヌのマントラの鎧によって守られたからですか。彼を護り、命を狙う敵を戦場で征したそのナーラーヤナの護甲を、詳しくお語りください。」

bhagavanO venerable one
bhagavan:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)
tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
mamato me; of me
mama:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormGenitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); सर्वनाम
ākhyāhitell; declare
ākhyāhi:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-khyā (धातु)
FormImperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद
varmaarmor; protective formula
varma:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
nārāyaṇa-ātmakamwhose essence is Nārāyaṇa; Nārāyaṇa-formed
nārāyaṇa-ātmakam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootnārāyaṇa + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘नारायणस्य आत्मा/स्वरूपं यस्य तत्’
yathāhow; in what way
yathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
FormConjunction/Adverb (अव्यय) indicating manner ‘as/how’
tatāyinaḥassailants; aggressors
tatāyinaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottatāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)
śatrūnenemies
śatrūn:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśatru (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)
yenaby which
yena:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदik)
FormNeuter/Masculine (नपुं/पुं), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
guptaḥprotected
guptaḥ:
Kriya/Predicate (क्रिया/विधेय)
TypeVerb
Rootgup (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
ajayatconquered
ajayat:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootji (धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद
mṛdhein battle
mṛdhe:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootmṛdh (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)
K
King Parīkṣit
I
Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
N
Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

It is a divine “armor” of Nārāyaṇa—protective spiritual shelter invoked through sacred remembrance and prayer—said here to have protected Indra so he could defeat powerful aggressors.

Hearing that Indra conquered enemy armies effortlessly due to a specific divine shield, Parīkṣit requests the sage to explain that Nārāyaṇa-centered armor and how it grants protection against attackers.

By taking refuge in Nārāyaṇa through sincere prayer, remembrance, and disciplined devotion, one cultivates inner protection—steadiness, fearlessness, and clarity—when facing conflict, anxiety, or adversity.