ॐ
1
राजोवाच।यया गुप्तः सहस्राक्षस्त्रैलोक्यं बुभुजे पुरा।तामिन्द्राणीं प्रवद नारायणोपदेशिताम्॥
2
श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच।इन्द्रं प्रति समाख्यातं वर्म यन्नाट्यवर्मणा।अथवा यदवोचत विश्वरूपो महात्मने॥
3
विश्वरूप उवाच।धौताङ्घ्रिपाणिराचम्य सपवित्र उदङ्मुखः।कृतस्वस्त्ययनो भूत्वा नमो नारायणायेट्॥
4
नमो नारायणायेति मन्त्रं वाग्गतमानसः।प्रणवं पूर्वमुद्धृत्य नमो नारायणायेति॥
5
चतुर्विंशत्यक्षरैरेतैर्वर्णेर्द्वादशभिः पदैः।कुर्यादन्यासमुद्दिष्टैर्दशार्णैस्तु मन्त्रवित्॥
6
मातृकाभिश्च न्यासं कुर्यादङ्गुल्यादिष्वथ।न्यासमेवं विधायोच्चैर्ध्यायेन्नागेशशायिनम्॥
7
शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गखड्गखेटगदायुधम्।चक्रं च कौमोदकीं खेटं च वरदाभयम्॥
8
चतुर्बाहूं चतुर्वक्त्रं गरुडध्वजभूषितम्।पीतवस्त्रं पीतवस्त्राभिभूतं च गदाधरम्॥
9
महालक्ष्म्या समलंकृतमब्जयुग्मं सुदर्शनम्।श्यामाङ्गं शुभ्रमुकुटं मकराकृतिकुण्डलम्॥
10
श्रीवत्सोरस्कं कौस्तुभामुक्तकण्ठं स्मितोज्ज्वलम्।केयूरहारकटकैः किरीटवरमण्डितम्॥
11
चतुरङ्गबलैर्युक्तं पार्षदाद्यैः समन्चितम्।स्तूर्यगीतगन्धर्वास्तुतिभिः स्तूयते स वै॥
12
स्वतेजसा परिच्छन्नं निजं रूपं प्रदर्शयन्।सङ्ख्यानं प्रजपन्मन्त्रं ततो वर्म प्रवर्तयेत्॥
13
विन्यासः सहस्रारस्य पादयुग्मे च मण्डलम्।द्वात्रिंशत्स्वर्णवर्णानां तेषां वर्णान् प्रकल्पयेत्॥
14
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं लक्ष्मी नारायणाय नमः।ॐ विष्णवे नमः॥
15
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय।ॐ नमो नारायणाय॥
16
यं रक्षति यतो रक्षा तं वक्ष्यामि प्रकीर्तितम्।अङ्गन्यासकरन्यासौ विधिरेष प्रकीर्तितः॥
17
ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय सहस्रशिरसे सहस्राक्षाय सहस्रपादाय सहस्रबाहवे॥
18
सर्वव्यापिने सहस्रनाम्ने सहस्रसंख्यकायाय।सर्वात्मने सर्वलोकाधिपतये सहस्रयुगधराय॥
19
नमस्ते नमः सहस्रकोटियुगधारिणे।नमस्ते नमः सहस्रकोटि युगधारिणे॥
20
चक्रं ते प्रहरणायास्तु सहस्रारं स्वतेजसा।विष्णुचक्रं सहस्रारं पातु मा सर्वतो दिशम्॥
21
गदा ते कौमोदकीं मां सर्वतो रक्षतु।शार्ङ्गं मे रक्षतु चापं मां सर्वतो भयात्॥
22
खड्गश्चर्म च मे रक्षतां सदा।पाञ्चजन्यः शङ्खः पातु मां सर्वतो भयात्॥
23
ऊर्ध्वं रक्षतु मे विष्णुः पातालस्थश्च पातु माम्।अन्तरीक्षे च मे विष्णुः सर्वतो मां स एव हि॥
24
प्राच्यां रक्षतु गोपीशो दक्षिणे मधुसूदनः।प्रतीच्यां द्वारकानाथ उदीच्यां देवकीसुतः॥
25
ईशान्यां गरुडध्वजश्चाग्न्येयां जनार्दनः।नैरृत्यां नारसिंहश्च वायव्यां केशवः स्वयम्॥
26
ऊर्ध्वं हृषीकेशश्च पातालस्थश्चाधोऽच्युतः।अन्तरीक्षे चानिरुद्धो दिग्षु वैकुण्ठ एव च॥
27
प्रातरेव च मां विष्णुर्मध्यदिने च माधवः।सायाह्ने च तथा विष्णुः क्षीराब्धिस्थो हरिः स्वयम्॥
28
सर्वकालं च सर्वत्र मां पातु पुरुषोत्तमः।अहर्निशं योगनिद्रायां पातु मामपराजितः॥
29
चक्रं मां दुष्टदैत्येभ्यो गदा मां पातु वै रिपोः।शार्ङ्गं मे रक्षतु क्रोधे खड्गं मे पातु मे भयात्॥
30
शङ्खं मे रक्षतु वादेषु सर्वदैव च केशवः।सर्वाङ्गं पातु मे विष्णुः सर्वदा सर्वतो दिशम्॥
31
एतद्वर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम्।असाध्यसाधकं नृणां ब्रह्मविद्याप्रकाशकम्॥
32
य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं धारयेद्यश्च मानवः।स सर्वान् कामानाव्नोति सर्वांश्चाभिमतं लभेत्॥
33
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान् निर्धनो धनमाप्नुयात्।विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां स्त्रियो लभन्ते सदृशम्॥
34
भूतप्रेतपिशाचाद्या राक्षसा दानवास्तथा।व्याधिग्रहाश्च सर्वे वै यक्षगन्धर्वकिन्नराः॥
35
दूरतो विलयं यान्ति दृष्ट्वा कवचं तत्परम्।यतो धर्मस्ततो जयो यतो कृष्णस्ततो जयः॥
36
इति श्रीविष्णुपुराणे विश्वरूपप्रोक्तं श्रीनारायणकवचं सम्पूर्णम्॥
Meaning & Translation
Verse 1
The King (Parikshit) said: 'Please narrate to me that armor (Kavach) by which Indra, the thousand-eyed, was protected in ancient times and enjoyed the three worlds, that which was taught by Lord Narayana.'
Verse 2
Shri Shuka (son of Badarayana) said: 'I shall now narrate that divine armor which Vishwarupa, by his transcendental form, once taught to the great soul Indra.'
Verse 3
Vishwarupa said: 'First, one should purify their hands and feet, perform Achamana (ritual sipping of water), wear Kusha grass rings (Pavitra), face north, and perform Swastyayana (prayers for auspiciousness). Then, one should chant 'Om Namo Narayanaya'.
Verse 4
One should meditate on the mantra 'Om Namo Narayanaya' with full concentration, first uttering the Pranava (Om) and then 'Namo Narayanaya'.
Verse 5
One who knows the mantra should perform Nyasa (placing the mantra's parts on the body) with these twenty-four letters, or with the twelve-lettered mantra, or with the ten-lettered mantra (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya).
Verse 6
After performing Nyasa with the Matrika letters (alphabet syllables) on the fingers and other parts of the body, one should then meditate on Lord Vishnu, who rests on Ananta-Naga (Shesha).
Verse 7
He holds the conch, discus, mace, bow (Sharanga), sword, shield, and his lotus-like hands display the Mudras of granting boons and dispelling fear.
Verse 8
He has four arms and four faces (in his cosmic form), adorned with the Garuda flag, clad in yellow garments, and holding the mace.
Verse 9
He is adorned by Mahalakshmi, holds two lotuses and the Sudarshana Chakra; His body is dark-complexioned, He wears a shining crown and crocodile-shaped earrings.
Verse 10
He bears the Srivatsa mark on His chest, His neck is adorned with the Kaustubha jewel, and He shines with a gentle smile. He is decorated with armlets, necklaces, bracelets, and a splendid crown.
Verse 11
He is accompanied by His four-fold army (Chathuranga Bala) and chief attendants (Parshadas). He is glorified by the melodious hymns and praises of Gandharvas and divine musicians.
Verse 12
Meditating on His own effulgent form, one should recite the prescribed number of mantras, and then invoke the divine armor.
Verse 13
One should visualize the Sahasrara (thousand-petaled lotus) Chakra in the two feet and imagine the thirty-two golden-colored letters.
Verse 14
Om Hrīṁ Śrīṁ Klīṁ Salutations to Lakshmi Narayana. Om Salutations to Vishnu.
Verse 15
Om Salutations to Lord Vasudeva. Om Salutations to Narayana.
Verse 16
I shall now describe that famous protection (armor) by which one is protected. This is the prescribed method for performing Anganyasa (placing mantra on body parts) and Karanyasa (placing mantra on hands).
Verse 17
Om, Salutations to the Supreme Being (Mahapurusha) with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet, and a thousand arms.
Verse 18
To the all-pervading One, who has a thousand names, who embodies countless forms, who is the soul of all, the Lord of all worlds, who sustains thousands of Yugas (ages).
Verse 19
Salutations to You, again and again, O Sustainer of thousands of crores of Yugas! Salutations to You again and again.
Verse 20
May Your discus (Chakra), with its thousand spokes and self-effulgence, be my weapon. May the Vishnu Chakra, with its thousand spokes, protect me from all directions.
Verse 21
May Your mace, Kaumodaki, protect me from all sides. May Your bow, Sharanga, protect me from all fears.
Verse 22
May Your sword and shield always protect me. May Your conch, Panchajanya, protect me from all fears.
Verse 23
May Vishnu protect me from above, and may He protect me when I am in the nether regions (Patala). In the intermediate space (Antariksha), may Vishnu indeed protect me from all sides.
Verse 24
May Gopisvara (Krishna) protect me in the East, Madhusudana in the South. May Dwarkanath protect me in the West, and Devaki's son (Krishna) in the North.
Verse 25
May Garuda-dhvaja protect me in the Northeast (Ishanya), Janardana in the Southeast (Agneya). May Narasimha protect me in the Southwest (Nairutya), and Keshava Himself in the Northwest (Vayavya).
Verse 26
May Hrishikesha protect me above, and Achyuta protect me below (in Patala). May Aniruddha protect me in the intermediate space, and Vaikuntha (Lord Vishnu) in all directions.
Verse 27
May Vishnu protect me in the morning, and Madhava in the midday. And in the evening, may Vishnu, Hari Himself, residing in the milk ocean, protect me.
Verse 28
May Purushottama protect me at all times and everywhere. Day and night, and during sleep (Yoganidra), may the unconquered Lord protect me.
Verse 29
May the Chakra protect me from wicked demons, and the Mace protect me from enemies. May the Sharanga bow protect me from anger, and the Sword protect me from fear.
Verse 30
May the Conch protect me in debates, and Keshava always. May Vishnu protect all my limbs, always and in all directions.
Verse 31
I shall now describe this armor, which destroys all enemies, achieves the impossible for humans, and illuminates the knowledge of Brahman.
Verse 32
Whoever regularly listens to or holds (recites) this (Kavach), that person attains all desires and obtains all that is wished for.
Verse 33
One without a son obtains sons, the poor attain wealth. A student obtains knowledge, and women attain suitable partners/progeny.
Verse 34
Ghosts, spirits, vampires, demons, and rakshasas, as well as diseases, malefic planetary influences, Yakshas, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras...
Verse 35
...they all vanish from a distance upon seeing this supreme armor. Where there is Dharma, there is victory; where there is Krishna, there is victory.
Verse 36
Thus ends the Shri Narayana Kavacham, as narrated by Vishwarupa, from the Shri Vishnu Purana (often attributed to Bhagavata Purana Skandha 6, Adhyaya 8).
✨Spiritual Benefits
The Shri Vishnu Kavach, also known as Narayana Kavacham, is an exceptionally powerful hymn for divine protection and spiritual upliftment. Chanting it regularly invokes the supreme protective energy of Lord Vishnu. The primary benefit is all-encompassing divine protection from all forms of harm, including physical dangers, enemies, evil spirits, black magic, accidents, and diseases. It instills immense courage, eradicates fear, and brings mental peace and stability. Devotees find strength to overcome obstacles, achieve success in their endeavors, and attain both material prosperity and spiritual growth. It is believed to grant all desires, bless barren couples with progeny, and bestow knowledge upon students. Furthermore, it purifies the mind, fosters unwavering devotion, and ensures the grace of Lord Vishnu in all aspects of a devotee's life, leading to ultimate well-being and liberation.
Frequently Asked Questions
vishnu kavach meaning
The Vishnu Kavach, also known as Narayan Kavacham, literally translates to 'Vishnu's Shield' or 'Narayan's Armor'. It is a powerful prayer from the Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 6, Chapter 8, where Lord Vishwarupa imparts this divine mantra-shield to Indra for protection against demons. Each verse invokes a specific form of Lord Vishnu to protect different parts of the body and various aspects of life, acting as a spiritual armor against all forms of harm, fear, and negativity.
vishnu kavach benefits
Chanting the Vishnu Kavach offers immense spiritual and material benefits. It is believed to provide complete divine protection from enemies, evil spirits, diseases, natural calamities, and all forms of danger. Devotees experience fearlessness, increased courage, mental peace, and spiritual strength. It helps in overcoming obstacles, achieving success in endeavors, and promotes overall well-being, prosperity, and liberation from worldly afflictions. It strengthens faith and connects the chanter directly with Lord Vishnu's protective energy.
vishnu kavacham benefits
The benefits of chanting the Vishnu Kavacham (Narayan Kavacham) are profound and multifaceted. It acts as an impenetrable shield, safeguarding the devotee from all physical and spiritual threats, including black magic, negative energies, accidents, and illnesses. Regular recitation bestows courage, confidence, and eliminates all forms of fear. It helps in purifying the mind, fostering devotion, and attracting positive energies, leading to success, harmony, and ultimate spiritual upliftment. It ensures the grace and protection of Lord Vishnu in all aspects of life.