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
Disse o rei: Ó Bhagavān, explica-me a armadura-mantra de Viṣṇu que protegeu Indra, o de mil olhos, para que ele vencesse, como num jogo, os exércitos inimigos com suas montarias e desfrutasse da opulência dos três mundos. Descreve, por favor, esse Nārāyaṇa-kavaca, por cuja proteção Indra triunfou no campo de batalha sobre inimigos que intentavam matá-lo.
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.