Shloka 20
Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa
मां केशवो गदया प्रातरव्याद् गोविन्द आसङ्गवमात्तवेणु: । नारायण: प्राह्ण उदात्तशक्ति- र्मध्यन्दिने विष्णुररीन्द्रपाणि: ॥ २० ॥
māṁ keśavo gadayā prātar avyād govinda āsaṅgavam ātta-veṇuḥ nārāyaṇaḥ prāhṇa udātta-śaktir madhyan-dine viṣṇur arīndra-pāṇiḥ
प्रातर् मां केशवो गदया रक्षतु, द्वितीयभागे वेणुधरः गोविन्दः। तृतीयभागे उदात्तशक्तिर्नारायणः, मध्यन्दिने अरिचक्रपाणिर्विष्णुः पालयतु॥
According to Vedic astronomical calculations, day and night are each divided into thirty ghaṭikās (twenty-four minutes), instead of twelve hours. Generally, each day and each night is divided into six parts consisting of five ghaṭikās. In each of these six portions of the day and night, the Lord may be addressed for protection according to different names. Lord Keśava, the proprietor of the holy place of Mathurā, is the Lord of the first portion of the day, and Govinda, the Lord of Vṛndāvana, is the master of the second portion.
FAQs
It is a devotional protective prayer invoking Lord Viṣṇu’s names and forms to guard the devotee in all directions and times; this verse specifically seeks protection through the day—morning, forenoon, midday, and afternoon.
Indra is applying the Narayana-kavaca taught in the narrative (via Viśvarūpa’s instruction), invoking the Lord’s different names and attributes as a shield of remembrance and surrender for protection.
By structuring your day around mindful remembrance—beginning the morning with prayer and carrying the Lord’s names through work and stress—using bhakti and surrender as inner protection against fear and agitation.