Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 5

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

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 ॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

ଶ୍ରୀ ବିଶ୍ୱରୂପ କହିଲେ—ଭୟ ଆସିଲେ ପ୍ରଥମେ ହାତପା ଧୋଇ ଆଚମନ କରି, ପବିତ୍ର ହୋଇ ଉତ୍ତରମୁଖେ ବସି କୁଶ ସ୍ପର୍ଶ କରି ମୌନ ରହିବା ଉଚିତ। ପରେ ଅଷ୍ଟାକ୍ଷର ଓ ଦ୍ୱାଦଶାକ୍ଷର ମନ୍ତ୍ରରେ କର-ଅଙ୍ଗନ୍ୟାସ କରି ‘ଓଁ ନମୋ ନାରାୟଣାୟ’ ଜପ କରି ପାଦରୁ କ୍ରମେ ଜାନୁ, ଊରୁ, ଉଦର, ହୃଦୟ, ଉରସ, ମୁଖ ଓ ଶିରରେ ନ୍ୟାସ କର; ପଛେ ଉଲ୍ଟା କ୍ରମରେ ମଧ୍ୟ କର। ଏହା ନାରାୟଣ କବଚ।

Synonyms

• śrī-viśvarūpaḥ: Śrī Viśvarūpa
• śrī-viśvarūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-viśvarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; संज्ञा (proper name)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dhauta-aṅghri-pāṇiḥ: having washed (his) feet and hands
• dhauta-aṅghri-pāṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhauta (कृदन्त, √dhāv/√dhū ‘to wash’) + aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘धौतौ अङ्घ्री च पाणी च यस्य’ इति (washed feet and hands)

• ācamya: having performed ācamana
• ācamya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-cam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘आचम्य’ = having sipped water (ācamana)

• sa-pavitraḥ: with sacred grass (pavitra) / wearing pavitra
• sa-pavitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह-भाव) + pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘पवित्रेण सह’/‘पवित्रयुक्तः’

• udaṅ-mukhaḥ: facing north
• udaṅ-mukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udak (दिक्-प्रातिपदिक ‘north’) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘उदङ् दिशि मुखं यस्य’

• kṛta-sva-aṅga-kara-nyāsaḥ: having done the nyāsa on one’s limbs and hands
• kṛta-sva-aṅga-kara-nyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त, √kṛ ‘to do’) + sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘कृतः स्वाङ्ग-करन्यासः येन’ = who has performed body- and hand-nyāsa

• mantrābhyām: with two mantras
• mantrābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), द्विवचन

• vāk-yataḥ: restrained in speech
• vāk-yataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + yata (कृदन्त, √yam ‘to restrain’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘वाचा यतः’ = restrained in speech

• śuciḥ: pure
• śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about overcoming fear through Narayana-kavacha?

This verse instructs that when fear arises one should take shelter of the Narayana-centered “armor,” mentally placing divine protection over the body—signifying complete dependence on Nārāyaṇa.

Why did Viśvarūpa teach the Narayana-kavacha in Canto 6 Chapter 8?

Viśvarūpa teaches this protective discipline as a devotional safeguard in times of danger, directing the practitioner to consciously invoke Nārāyaṇa’s protection through sacred placement (nyāsa).

How can a devotee apply the idea of “spiritual armor” in modern life?

When anxiety or threat arises, remember Nārāyaṇa, recite His name/mantra, and cultivate mindful God-centered protection—training the mind to respond to fear with surrender rather than panic.