Shloka 42

Nārāyaṇa-kavaca — The Armor of Lord Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

एतां विद्यामधिगतो विश्वरूपाच्छतक्रतु: । त्रैलोक्यलक्ष्मीं बुभुजे विनिर्जित्य मृधेऽसुरान् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

etāṁ vidyām adhigato viśvarūpāc chatakratuḥ trailokya-lakṣmīṁ bubhuje vinirjitya mṛdhe ’surān

Translation

شَتکرتو اندرا نے یہ وِدیا وِشورूप سے حاصل کی۔ میدانِ جنگ میں اسوروں کو شکست دے کر اس نے تینوں لوکوں کی ساری شکتی و دولت (لکشمی) کا بھوگ کیا۔

Synonyms

• etām: this
• etām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally; Feminine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies vidyām

• vidyām: knowledge/vidyā
• vidyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• adhigataḥ: having learned
• adhigataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√gam (गम्/गतौ धातु)
• Form: Kta participle (क्त, past passive participle) used actively; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having obtained/learned’

• viśvarūpāt: from Viśvarūpa
• viśvarūpāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• śatakratuḥ: Śatakratu (Indra)
• śatakratuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatakratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of Indra

• trailokya-lakṣmīm: the fortune of the three worlds
• trailokya-lakṣmīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + loka + lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘prosperity of the three worlds’; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• bubhuje: enjoyed/possessed
• bubhuje: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (भुज्/भोगे धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• vinirjitya: having conquered
• vinirjitya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-nir-√ji (जि/जये धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta/Absolutive, ‘having completely conquered’; prefixes वि-निर्-

• mṛdhe: in battle
• mṛdhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• asurān: the demons
• asurān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Purport

This mystical mantric armor given by Viśvarūpa to Indra, the King of heaven, acted powerfully, with the effect that Indra was able to conquer the asuras and enjoy the opulence of the three worlds without impediments. In this regard, Madhvācārya points out:

Characters & Entities

• Viśvarūpa
• Indra (Śatakratu)
• Asuras

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the results of the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca?

This verse states that Indra, after learning the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca knowledge from Viśvarūpa, conquered the Asuras in battle and obtained the prosperity of the three worlds—showing the kavaca’s power to grant protection and victory when properly received and applied.

Why did Indra learn this knowledge from Viśvarūpa?

In Canto 6, Chapter 8, Indra seeks divine protection to overcome the Asuras; Viśvarūpa teaches him the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca, and Śukadeva explains that Indra’s later victory came from receiving this spiritual safeguard.

Practical application of spiritual ‘shield’ teachings in modern life?

The verse highlights taking shelter of sacred practice under proper guidance; in modern life, it translates to disciplined prayer/mantra, steady devotional remembrance of the Lord, and living dharmically to gain inner protection and clarity amid conflict.