Shloka 38

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

इमां विद्यां पुरा कश्चित्कौशिको धारयन् द्विज: । योगधारणया स्वाङ्गं जहौ स मरुधन्वनि ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

imāṁ vidyāṁ purā kaścit kauśiko dhārayan dvijaḥ yoga-dhāraṇayā svāṅgaṁ jahau sa maru-dhanvani

Translation

ഹേ സ്വർഗരാജാ, പുരാതനകാലത്ത് കൗശികൻ എന്നൊരു ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ ഈ വിദ്യ ധരിച്ചു, യോഗധാരണയാൽ മരുഭൂമിയിൽ തന്റെ ശരീരം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചു.

Synonyms

• imām: this
• imām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidyām: mantra/knowledge
• vidyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (विद्या प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• purā: formerly, once
• purā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (पुरा अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• kaścit: someone, a certain (person)
• kaścit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaścit (कश्चित् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kauśikaḥ: Kauśika (a sage)
• kauśikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to kaścit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśika (कौशिक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhārayan: holding/bearing
• dhārayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धृ धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvijaḥ: a brāhmaṇa, twice-born
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (द्विज प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yoga-dhāraṇayā: by yogic concentration
• yoga-dhāraṇayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (योग प्रातिपदिक) + dhāraṇā (धारणा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-aṅgam: his own body
• sva-aṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (स्व प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (अङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• jahau: abandoned, gave up
• jahau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hā (हा धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• maru-dhanvani: in the desert region
• maru-dhanvani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maru (मरु प्रातिपदिक) + dhanvan (धन्वन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Kauśika (a brāhmaṇa of the Kauśika lineage)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of Narayana-kavacha?

This verse states that the Narayana-kavacha is an ancient, practiced spiritual protection (vidyā) upheld by a brāhmaṇa, demonstrating its recognized potency and sanctity in the tradition.

Who is the Kauśika brāhmaṇa mentioned in Bhagavatam 6.8.38?

He is identified as a brāhmaṇa from the Kauśika lineage who maintained this protective vidyā; the verse highlights his practice and yogic resolve rather than giving a longer narrative identity.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate steady spiritual discipline—regular prayer/mantra-recitation with focused mind (dhāraṇā)—and rely on Lord Nārāyaṇa for inner protection, especially amid fear, uncertainty, and conflict.