Shloka 16

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

मामुग्रधर्मादखिलात्प्रमादा- न्नारायण: पातु नरश्च हासात् । दत्तस्त्वयोगादथ योगनाथ: पायाद्गुणेश: कपिल: कर्मबन्धात् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

mām ugra-dharmād akhilāt pramādān nārāyaṇaḥ pātu naraś ca hāsāt dattas tv ayogād atha yoga-nāthaḥ pāyād guṇeśaḥ kapilaḥ karma-bandhāt

Translation

అనవసరమైన ఉగ్ర-మిథ్యాధర్మాలనుసరణ వల్ల కలిగే ప్రమాదం నుండి నారాయణుడు నన్ను కాపాడుగాక; ‘నర’ అవతారుడు అహంకారమునుండి రక్షించుగాక. యోగనాథుడు దత్తాత్రేయుడు భక్తియోగంలో జారిపోవడం నుండి కాపాడుగాక; గుణేశుడు కపిలుడు కర్మబంధనమునుండి నన్ను విడిపించుగాక.

Synonyms

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• ugra-dharmāt: from harsh conduct/duty
• ugra-dharmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘ugraḥ dharmaḥ’ = fierce/harsh duty (or harsh conduct)

• akhilāt: from all (evil)
• akhilāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; used adverbially ‘from all (of it)’

• pramādāt: from negligence
• pramādāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• pātu: may (he) protect
• pātu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• naraḥ: Nara (incarnation)
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• hāsāt: from laughter/mockery
• hāsāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन

• dattaḥ: Datta (Dattātreya)
• dattaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: datta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name (Dattātreya)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adversative/contrast particle

• ayogāt: from non-yoga / lack of discipline
• ayogāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘non-yoga’/lack of discipline

• atha: then/and
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; sequence marker

• yoga-nāthaḥ: Lord of Yoga
• yoga-nāthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘yogasya nāthaḥ’

• pāyāt: may (he) protect
• pāyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; छान्दस/वैकल्पिक रूप ‘pāyāt’

• guṇa-īśaḥ: Lord of the guṇas
• guṇa-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘guṇānām īśaḥ’

• kapilaḥ: Kapila
• kapilaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• karma-bandhāt: from the bondage of karma
• karma-bandhāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + bandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘karmasya bandhaḥ’

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Nara
• Dattātreya (Datta)
• Yoganātha
• Kapila

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about protection from negligence (pramāda)?

In this verse of the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca, the devotee prays that Lord Nārāyaṇa protect him from pramāda—heedlessness that leads one into danger and spiritual downfall.

Why are Nārāyaṇa, Nara, Datta (Dattātreya), and Kapila invoked in this verse?

The kavaca invokes specific divine personalities for specific vulnerabilities: Nārāyaṇa for protection from grave irreligion and negligence, Nara from frivolity, Datta from lack of yoga, and Kapila from karmic bondage.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Use it as a daily reminder to avoid carelessness, curb distracting humor that derails focus, maintain steady sādhana (yoga/bhakti practice), and act without entangling attachment—seeking shelter of the Lord.