TEXTS 4–6

çré-viçvarüpa uväca

dhautäìghri-päëir äcamya

sapavitra udaì-mukhaù

kåta-sväìga-kara-nyäso

manträbhyäà väg-yataù çuciù

näräyaëa-paraà varma

sannahyed bhaya ägate

pädayor jänunor ürvor

udare hådy athorasi

mukhe çirasy änupürvyäd

oàkärädéni vinyaset

oà namo näräyaëäyeti

viparyayam athäpi vä

TRANSLATION

Viçvarüpa said: If some form of fear arrives, one should first wash his hands and legs clean and then perform äcamana by chanting this mantra: oà apavitraù pavitro vä sarvävasthäà gato ’pi vä/ yaù smaret puëňarékäkńaà sa bahyäbhyantaraù çuciù/ çré-viñëu çré-viñëu çré-viñëu. Then one should touch kuça grass and sit gravely and silently, facing north. When completely purified, one should touch the mantra composed of eight syllables to the eight parts of his body and touch the mantra composed of twelve syllables to his hands. Thus, in the following manner, he should bind himself with the Näräyaëa coat of armor. First, while chanting the mantra composed of eight syllables [oà namo näräyaëäya], beginning with the praëava, the syllable oà, one should touch his hands to eight parts of his body, starting with the two feet and progressing systematically to the knees, thighs, abdomen, heart, chest, mouth and head. Then one should chant the mantra in reverse, beginning from the last syllable [ya], while touching the parts of his body in the reverse order. These two processes are known as utpatti-nyäsa and saàhära-nyäsa respectively.

TEXT 7

kara-nyäsaà tataù kuryäd

dvädaçäkñara-vidyayä

praëavädi-ya-käräntam

aìguly-aìguñöha-parvasu

TRANSLATION

Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve syllables [oà namo bhagavate väsudeväya]. Preceding each syllable by the oàkära, one should place the syllables of the mantra on the tips of his fingers, beginning with the index finger of the right hand and concluding with the index finger of the left. The four remaining syllables should be placed on the joints of the thumbs.

TEXTS 8–10

nyased dhådaya oàkäraà

vi-käram anu mürdhani

ña-käraà tu bhruvor madhye

ëa-käraà çikhayä nyaset

ve-käraà netrayor yuïjyän

na-käraà sarva-sandhiñu

ma-käram astram uddiçya

mantra-mürtir bhaved budhaù

savisargaà phaò-antaà tat

sarva-dikñu vinirdiçet

oà viñëave nama iti

TRANSLATION

One must then chant the mantra of six syllables [oà viñëave namaù]. One should place the syllable "oà" on his heart, the syllable "vi" on the top of his head, the syllable "ña" between his eyebrows, the syllable "ëa" on his tuft of hair [çikhä], and the syllable "ve" between his eyes. The chanter of the mantra should then place the syllable "na" on all the joints of his body and meditate on the syllable "ma" as being a weapon. He should thus become the perfect personification of the mantra. Thereafter, adding visarga to the final syllable "ma," he should chant the mantra "maù asträya phaö" in all directions, beginning from the east. In this way, all directions will be bound by the protective armor of the mantra.

TEXT 11

ätmänaà paramaà dhyäyed

dhyeyaà ñaö-çaktibhir yutam

vidyä-tejas-tapo-mürtim

imaà mantram udäharet

TRANSLATION

After finishing this chanting, one should think himself qualitatively one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full in six opulences and is worthy to be meditated upon. Then one should chant the following protective prayer to Lord Näräyaëa, the Näräyaëa-kavaca.

TEXT 12

oà harir vidadhyän mama sarva-rakñäà

nyastäìghri-padmaù patagendra-påñöhe

daräri-carmäsi-gadeñu-cäpa-

päçän dadhäno ’ñöa-guëo ’ñöa-bähuù

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord, who sits on the back of the bird Garuňa, touching him with His lotus feet, holds eight weapons—the conchshell, disc, shield, sword, club, arrows, bow and ropes. May that Supreme Personality of Godhead protect me at all times with His eight arms. He is all-powerful because He fully possesses the eight mystic powers [aëimä, laghimä, etc.].

TEXT 13

jaleñu mäà rakñatu matsya-mürtir

yädo-gaëebhyo varuëasya päçät

sthaleñu mäyävaöu-vämano ’vyät

trivikramaù khe ’vatu viçvarüpaù

TRANSLATION

May the Lord, who assumes the body of a great fish, protect me in the water from the fierce animals that are associates of the demigod Varuëa. By expanding His illusory energy, the Lord assumed the form of the dwarf Vämana. May Vämana protect me on the land. Since the gigantic form of the Lord, Viçvarüpa, conquers the three worlds, may He protect me in the sky.

TEXT 14

durgeñv aöavy-äji-mukhädiñu prabhuù

päyän nåsiàho ’sura-yüthapäriù

vimuïcato yasya mahäööa-häsaà

diço vinedur nyapataàç ca garbhäù

TRANSLATION

May Lord Nåsiàhadeva, who appeared as the enemy of Hiraëyakaçipu, protect me in all directions. His loud laughing vibrated in all directions and caused the pregnant wives of the asuras to have miscarriages. May that Lord be kind enough to protect me in difficult places like the forest and battlefront.

TEXT 15

rakñatv asau mädhvani yajïa-kalpaù

sva-daàñörayonnéta-dharo varähaù

rämo ’dri-küöeñv atha vipraväse

salakñmaëo ’vyäd bharatägrajo ’smän

TRANSLATION

The Supreme indestructible Lord is ascertained through the performance of ritualistic sacrifices and is therefore known as Yajïeçvara. In His incarnation as Lord Boar, He raised the planet earth from the water at the bottom of the universe and kept it on His pointed tusks. May that Lord protect me from rogues on the street. May Paraçuräma protect me on the tops of mountains, and may the elder brother of Bharata, Lord Rämacandra, along with His brother Lakñmaëa, protect me in foreign countries.

TEXT 16

mäm ugra-dharmäd akhilät pramädän

näräyaëaù pätu naraç ca häsät

dattas tv ayogäd atha yoga-näthaù

päyäd guëeçaù kapilaù karma-bandhät

TRANSLATION

May Lord Näräyaëa protect me from unnecessarily following false religious systems and falling from my duties due to madness. May the Lord in His appearance as Nara protect me from unnecessary pride. May Lord Dattätreya, the master of all mystic power, protect me from falling while performing bhakti-yoga, and may Lord Kapila, the master of all good qualities, protect me from the material bondage of fruitive activities.

TEXT 17

sanat-kumäro ’vatu kämadeväd

dhayaçérñä mäà pathi deva-helanät

devarñi-varyaù puruñärcanäntarät

kürmo harir mäà nirayäd açeñät

TRANSLATION

May Sanat-kumära protect me from lusty desires. As I begin some auspicious activity, may Lord Hayagréva protect me from being an offender by neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord. May Devarñi Närada protect me from committing offenses in worshiping the Deity, and may Lord Kürma, the tortoise, protect me from falling to the unlimited hellish planets.

TEXT 18

dhanvantarir bhagavän pätv apathyäd

dvandväd bhayäd åñabho nirjitätmä

yajïaç ca lokäd avatäj janäntäd

balo gaëät krodha-vaçäd ahéndraù

TRANSLATION

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Dhanvantari relieve me from undesirable eatables and protect me from physical illness. May Lord Åñabhadeva, who conquered His inner and outer senses, protect me from fear produced by the duality of heat and cold. May Yajïa protect me from defamation and harm from the populace, and may Lord Balaräma as Çeña protect me from envious serpents.

TEXT 19

dvaipäyano bhagavän aprabodhäd

buddhas tu päñaëòa-gaëa-pramädät

kalkiù kaleù käla-malät prapätu

dharmävanäyoru-kåtävatäraù

TRANSLATION

May the Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Vyäsadeva protect me from all kinds of ignorance resulting from the absence of Vedic knowledge. May Lord Buddhadeva protect me from activities opposed to Vedic principles and from laziness that causes one to madly forget the Vedic principles of knowledge and ritualistic action. May Kalkideva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared as an incarnation to protect religious principles, protect me from the dirt of the age of Kali.

TEXT 20

mäà keçavo gadayä prätar avyäd

govinda äsaìgavam ätta-veëuù

näräyaëaù prähëa udätta-çaktir

madhyan-dine viñëur aréndra-päëiù

TRANSLATION

May Lord Keçava protect me with His club in the first portion of the day, and may Govinda, who is always engaged in playing His flute, protect me in the second portion of the day. May Lord Näräyaëa, who is equipped with all potencies, protect me in the third part of the day, and may Lord Viñëu, who carries a disc to kill His enemies, protect me in the fourth part of the day.

TEXT 21

devo ’parähëe madhu-hogradhanvä

säyaà tri-dhämävatu mädhavo mäm

doñe håñékeça utärdha-rätre

niçétha eko ’vatu padmanäbhaù

TRANSLATION

May Lord Madhusüdana, who carries a bow very fearful for the demons, protect me during the fifth part of the day. In the evening, may Lord Mädhava, appearing as Brahmä, Viñëu and Maheçvara, protect me, and in the beginning of night may Lord Håñékeça protect me. At the dead of night [in the second and third parts of night] may Lord Padmanäbha alone protect me.

TEXT 22

çrévatsa-dhämäpara-rätra éçaù

pratyüña éço ’si-dharo janärdanaù

dämodaro ’vyäd anusandhyaà prabhäte

viçveçvaro bhagavän käla-mürtiù

TRANSLATION

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who bears the Çrévatsa on His chest, protect me after midnight until the sky becomes pinkish. May Lord Janärdana, who carries a sword in His hand, protect me at the end of night [during the last four ghaöikäs of night]. May Lord Dämodara protect me in the early morning, and may Lord Viçveçvara protect me during the junctions of day and night.

TEXT 23

cakraà yugäntänala-tigma-nemi

bhramat samantäd bhagavat-prayuktam

dandagdhi dandagdhy ari-sainyam äçu

kakñaà yathä väta-sakho hutäçaù

TRANSLATION

Set into motion by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and wandering in all the four directions, the disc of the Supreme Lord has sharp edges as destructive as the fire of devastation at the end of the millennium. As a blazing fire burns dry grass to ashes with the assistance of the breeze, may that Sudarçana cakra burn our enemies to ashes.

TEXT 24

gade ’çani-sparçana-visphuliìge

niñpiëòhi niñpiëòhy ajita-priyäsi

kuñmäëòa-vainäyaka-yakña-rakño-

bhüta-grahäàç cürëaya cürëayärén

TRANSLATION

O club in the hand of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you produce sparks of fire as powerful as thunderbolts, and you are extremely dear to the Lord. I am also His servant. Therefore kindly help me pound to pieces the evil living beings known as Kuñmäëòas, Vainäyakas, Yakñas, Räkñasas, Bhütas and Grahas. Please pulverize them.

TEXT 25

tvaà yätudhäna-pramatha-preta-mätå-

piçäca-vipragraha-ghora-dåñöén

darendra vidrävaya kåñëa-pürito

bhéma-svano ’rer hådayäni kampayan

TRANSLATION

O best of conchshells, O Päïcajanya in the hands of the Lord, you are always filled with the breath of Lord Kåñëa. Therefore you create a fearful sound vibration that causes trembling in the hearts of enemies like the Räkñasas, pramatha ghosts, Pretas, Mätäs, Piçäcas and brähmaëa ghosts with fearful eyes.

TEXT 26

tvaà tigma-dhäräsi-varäri-sainyam

éça-prayukto mama chindhi chindhi

cakñüàñi carmaï chata-candra chädaya

dviñäm aghonäà hara päpa-cakñuñäm

TRANSLATION

O king of sharp-edged swords, you are engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Please cut the soldiers of my enemies to pieces. Please cut them to pieces! O shield marked with a hundred brilliant moonlike circles, please cover the eyes of the sinful enemies. Pluck out their sinful eyes.

TEXTS 27–28

yan no bhayaà grahebhyo ’bhüt

ketubhyo nåbhya eva ca

sarésåpebhyo daàñöribhyo

bhütebhyo ’àhobhya eva ca

sarväëy etäni bhagavan-

näma-rüpänukértanät

prayäntu saìkñayaà sadyo

ye naù çreyaù-pratépakäù

TRANSLATION

May the glorification of the transcendental name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect us from the influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals like tigers and wolves. May it protect us from ghosts and the material elements like earth, water, fire and air, and may it also protect us from lightning and our past sins. We are always afraid of these hindrances to our auspicious life. Therefore, may they all be completely destroyed by the chanting of the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra.

TEXT 29

garuòo bhagavän stotra-

stobhaç chandomayaù prabhuù

rakñatv açeña-kåcchrebhyo

viñvaksenaù sva-nämabhiù

TRANSLATION

Lord Garuòa, the carrier of Lord Viñëu, is the most worshipable lord, for he is as powerful as the Supreme Lord Himself. He is the personified Vedas and is worshiped by selected verses. May he protect us from all dangerous conditions, and may Lord Viñvaksena, the Personality of Godhead, also protect us from all dangers by His holy names.

TEXT 30

sarväpadbhyo harer näma-

rüpa-yänäyudhäni naù

buddhéndriya-manaù-präëän

päntu pärñada-bhüñaëäù

TRANSLATION

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s holy names, His transcendental forms, His carriers and all the weapons decorating Him as personal associates protect our intelligence, senses, mind and life air from all dangers.

TEXT 31

yathä hi bhagavän eva

vastutaù sad asac ca yat

satyenänena naù sarve

yäntu näçam upadraväù

TRANSLATION

The subtle and gross cosmic manifestation is material, but nevertheless it is nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is ultimately the cause of all causes. Cause and effect are factually one because the cause is present in the effect. Therefore the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can destroy all our dangers by any of His potent parts.

TEXTS 32–33

yathaikätmyänubhävänäà

vikalpa-rahitaù svayam

bhüñaëäyudha-liìgäkhyä

dhatte çaktéù sva-mäyayä

tenaiva satya-mänena

sarva-jïo bhagavän hariù

pätu sarvaiù svarüpair naù

sadä sarvatra sarva-gaù

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entities, the material energy, the spiritual energy and the entire creation are all individual substances. In the ultimate analysis, however, together they constitute the supreme one, the Personality of Godhead. Therefore those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge see unity in diversity. For such advanced persons, the Lord’s bodily decorations, His name, His fame, His attributes and forms and the weapons in His hand are manifestations of the strength of His potency. According to their elevated spiritual understanding, the omniscient Lord, who manifests various forms, is present everywhere. May He always protect us everywhere from all calamities.

TEXT 34

vidikñu dikñürdhvam adhaù samantäd

antar bahir bhagavän närasiàhaù

prahäpayaû loka-bhayaà svanena

sva-tejasä grasta-samasta-tejäù

TRANSLATION

Prahläda Mahäräja loudly chanted the holy name of Lord Nåsiàhadeva. May Lord Nåsiàhadeva, roaring for His devotee Prahläda Mahäräja, protect us from all fear of dangers created by stalwart leaders in all directions through poison, weapons, water, fire, air and so on. May the Lord cover their influence by His own transcendental influence. May Nåsiàhadeva protect us in all directions and in all corners, above, below, within and without.

TEXT 35

maghavann idam äkhyätaà

varma näräyaëätmakam

vijeñyase ’ïjasä yena

daàçito ’sura-yüthapän

TRANSLATION

Viçvarüpa continued: O Indra, this mystic armor related to Lord Näräyaëa has been described by me to you. By putting on this protective covering, you will certainly be able to conquer the leaders of the demons.

TEXT 36

etad dhärayamäëas tu

yaà yaà paçyati cakñuñä

padä vä saàspåçet sadyaù

sädhvasät sa vimucyate

TRANSLATION

If one employs this armor, whomever he sees with his eyes or touches with his feet is immediately freed from all the above-mentioned dangers.

TEXT 37

na kutaçcid bhayaà tasya

vidyäà dhärayato bhavet

räja-dasyu-grahädibhyo

vyädhy-ädibhyaç ca karhicit

TRANSLATION

This prayer, Näräyaëa-kavaca, constitutes subtle knowledge transcendentally connected with Näräyaëa. One who employs this prayer is never disturbed or put in danger by the government, by plunderers, by evil demons or by any type of disease.
 

TEXT 38
 

imäà vidyäà purä kaçcit

kauçiko dhärayan dvijaù

yoga-dhäraëayä sväìgaà

jahau sa maru-dhanvani
 

TRANSLATION

O King of heaven, a brähmaëa named Kauçika formerly used this armor when he purposely gave up his body in the desert by mystic power.
 

TEXT 39
 

tasyopari vimänena

gandharva-patir ekadä

yayau citrarathaù strébhir

våto yatra dvija-kñayaù
 

TRANSLATION

Surrounded by many beautiful women, Citraratha, the King of Gandharvaloka, was once passing in his airplane over the brähmaëa’s body at the spot where the brähmaëa had died.
 

TEXT 40
 

gaganän nyapatat sadyaù

savimäno hy aväk-çiräù

sa välikhilya-vacanäd

asthény ädäya vismitaù

präsya präcé-sarasvatyäà

snätvä dhäma svam anvagät

TRANSLATION

Suddenly Citraratha was forced to fall from the sky headfirst with his airplane. Struck with wonder, he was ordered by the great sages named the Välikhilyas to throw the brähmaëa’s bones in the nearby River Sarasvaté. He had to do this and bathe in the river before returning to his own abode.

TEXT 41

çré-çuka uväca

ya idaà çåëuyät käle

yo dhärayati cädåtaù

taà namasyanti bhütäni

mucyate sarvato bhayät

TRANSLATION

Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé said: My dear Mahäräja Parékñit, one who employs this armor or hears about it with faith and veneration when afraid because of any conditions in the material world is immediately freed from all dangers and is worshiped by all living entities.

TEXT 42

etäà vidyäm adhigato

viçvarüpäc chatakratuù

trailokya-lakñméà bubhuje

vinirjitya mådhe ’surän

TRANSLATION

King Indra, who performed one hundred sacrifices, received this prayer of protection from Viçvarüpa. After conquering the demons, he enjoyed all the opulences of the three worlds.