Shloka 19
Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa
द्वैपायनो भगवानप्रबोधाद् बुद्धस्तु पाषण्डगणप्रमादात् । कल्कि: कले: कालमलात् प्रपातु धर्मावनायोरुकृतावतार: ॥ १९ ॥
dvaipāyano bhagavān aprabodhād buddhas tu pāṣaṇḍa-gaṇa-pramādāt kalkiḥ kaleḥ kāla-malāt prapātu dharmāvanāyoru-kṛtāvatāraḥ
వేదజ్ఞానాభావం వల్ల కలిగే అజ్ఞానం నుండి భగవాన్ ద్వైపాయన వ్యాసుడు నన్ను కాపాడుగాక. పాషండుల గుంపుల ప్రమాదం మరియు వేదవిరోధ క్రియల నుండి బుద్ధదేవుడు రక్షించుగాక. ధర్మరక్షణార్థం మహావతారుడైన కల్కి, కలియుగ మలినత నుండి నన్ను కాపాడుగాక.
This verse mentions various incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appear for various purposes. Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Mahāmuni, compiled the Vedic literature for the benefit of all human society. If one wants to be protected from the reactions of ignorance even in this Age of Kali, one may consult the books left by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, namely the four Vedas ( Sāma, Yajur, Ṛg and Atharva ), the 108 Upaniṣads, Vedānta-sūtra ( Brahma-sūtra ), Mahābhārata, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Mahā-Purāṇa (Vyāsadeva’s commentary on the Brahma-sūtra ) and the other seventeen Purāṇas. Only by the mercy of Śrīla Vyāsadeva do we have so many volumes of transcendental knowledge to save us from the clutches of ignorance.
FAQs
This verse invokes divine protection through avatāras—especially Lord Kalki—specifically to be saved from the impurity and destructive influence of Kali-yuga and to safeguard dharma.
They are invoked as protective manifestations aligned with specific dangers: Vyāsa against spiritual dullness, Buddha against deception by irreligious sects, and Kalki against Kali-yuga’s corruption—each guarding dharma in different ways.
Use it as a daily reminder to seek genuine spiritual awakening (avoid apathy), discern truth from misleading ideologies, and actively support dharma through sādhana, ethical living, and devotion.