Shloka 23

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

चक्रं युगान्तानलतिग्मनेमि भ्रमत् समन्ताद् भगवत्प्रयुक्तम् । दन्दग्धि दन्दग्ध्यरिसैन्यमाशु कक्षं यथा वातसखो हुताश: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

cakraṁ yugāntānala-tigma-nemi bhramat samantād bhagavat-prayuktam dandagdhi dandagdhy ari-sainyam āśu kakṣaṁ yathā vāta-sakho hutāśaḥ

Translation

จักรของพระผู้เป็นสูงสุดซึ่งพระองค์ทรงขับเคลื่อนให้หมุนเวียนไปทั่วทุกทิศ มีคมดุจไฟพินาศปลายกัลป์ ดุจไฟที่มีลมเป็นสหายเผาหญ้าแห้งให้เป็นเถ้า ขอสุทรรศนะจักรนั้นเผากองทัพศัตรูของเราให้เป็นเถ้าโดยพลัน

Synonyms

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc Singular); अत्र कर्तृरूपे (as subject)

• युगान्तानलतिग्मनेमि: with a rim sharp like the fire at the end of an age
• युगान्तानलतिग्मनेमि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युगान्त-अनल-तिग्म-नेमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-कर्मधारय (युगान्तानल इव तिग्मा नेमिः यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; विशेषण (of cakram)

• भ्रमत्: spinning
• भ्रमत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; विशेषण (spinning)

• समन्तात्: on all sides
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: on all sides)

• भगवत्प्रयुक्तम्: set in motion by the Lord
• भगवत्प्रयुक्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत्-प्रयुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भगवता प्रयुक्तम्); प्रयुक्त = क्त-प्रत्यय (√युज्/प्र-युज् ‘to employ’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; विशेषण

• दन्दग्धि: burn!
• दन्दग्धि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; छान्दस/वैदिक-रूप (दग्धि < दह्)

• दन्दग्धि: burn (again)!
• दन्दग्धि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• अरिसैन्यम्: the army of enemies
• अरिसैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरी-सेन्य/सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अरिणां सैन्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative Singular)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• कक्षम्: dry grass/thicket
• कक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative Singular)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: as/like)

• वातसखः: wind’s companion
• वातसखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात-सख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वातः सखा यस्य—कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• हुताशः: fire
• हुताशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुताश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Bhagavan (Narayana)
• Sudarshana Chakra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Sudarshana Chakra’s protective power?

This verse prays that the Lord’s Sudarśana cakra, spinning on all sides, will swiftly burn hostile forces to ashes—showing it as a divine, all-directional protector employed by Bhagavān.

Why is this prayer spoken by Indra in Canto 6 Chapter 8?

Indra faces grave danger from demonic opposition and, following the Narayana-kavacha taught through Vishvarupa, invokes the Lord’s weapons—especially the Sudarśana cakra—for invincible protection.

Practical application of the Narayana-kavacha concept in modern life?

Cultivate steady remembrance of the Lord as your shield—through prayer, mantra, and disciplined conduct—so fear and hostility are “burned” by inner clarity, faith, and divine dependence.