Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa
श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच वृत: पुरोहितस्त्वाष्ट्रो महेन्द्रायानुपृच्छते । नारायणाख्यं वर्माह तदिहैकमना: शृणु ॥ ३ ॥
śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca vṛtaḥ purohitas tvāṣṭro mahendrāyānupṛcchate nārāyaṇākhyaṁ varmāha tad ihaika-manāḥ śṛṇu
श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच—देवैः पुरोहितत्वेन वृतः त्वाष्ट्रः विश्वरूपः महेन्द्रेण पृष्टः सन् ‘नारायणाख्यं वर्म’ प्रोवाच। तदिदानीं एकाग्रचित्तः शृणु।
It is a divine “armor” of protection connected with Lord Nārāyaṇa, introduced here as a sacred safeguard to be heard and practiced with one-pointed attention.
In the narrative of Canto 6, Indra seeks spiritual protection amid danger; therefore he requests his priest Viśvarūpa, who then explains the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca.
It emphasizes attentive hearing and focused remembrance of the Lord as the foundation for inner protection, steadiness, and faith during fear or uncertainty.