śrī-rājā uvāca — King Parīkṣit said; yayā — by which (the spiritual armor); guptaḥ — protected; sahasra-akṣaḥ — the thousand-eyed King Indra; sa-vāhān — with their carriers; ripu-sainikān — the soldiers and commanders of the enemies; krīḍan iva — just like playing; vinirjitya — conquering; tri-lokyāḥ — of the three worlds (the higher, middle and lower planetary systems); bubhuje — enjoyed; śriyam — the opulence; bhagavan — O great sage; tat — that; mama — unto me; ākhyāhi — please explain; varma — defensive armor made of a mantra; nārāyaṇa-ātmakam — consisting of the mercy of Nārāyaṇa; yathā — in which way; ātatāyinaḥ — who were endeavoring to kill him; śatrūn — enemies; yena — by which; guptaḥ — being protected; ajayat — conquered; mṛdhe — in the fight.

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; vṛtaḥ — the chosen; purohitaḥ — priest; tvāṣṭraḥ — the son of Tvaṣṭā; mahendrāya — unto King Indra; anupṛcchate — after he (Indra) inquired; nārāyaṇa-ākhyam — named Nārāyaṇa-kavaca; varma — defensive armor made of a mantra; āha — he said; tat — that; iha — this; eka-manāḥ — with great attention; śṛṇu — hear from me.

śrī-viśvarūpaḥ uvāca — Śrī Viśvarūpa said; dhauta — having completely washed; aṅghri — feet; pāṇiḥ — hands; ācamya — performing ācamana (sipping a little water three times after chanting the prescribed mantra); sa-pavitraḥ — wearing rings made of kuśa grass (on the ring finger of each hand); udak-mukhaḥ — sitting facing the north; kṛta — making; sva-aṅga-kara-nyāsaḥ — mental assignment of the eight parts of the body and twelve parts of the hands; mantrābhyām — with the two mantras (oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya and oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya); vāk-yataḥ — keeping oneself silent; śuciḥ — being purified; nārāyaṇa-param — fully intent on Lord Nārāyaṇa; varma — armor; sannahyet — put on oneself; bhaye — when fear; āgate — has come; pādayoḥ — on the two legs; jānunoḥ — on the two knees; ūrvoḥ — on the two thighs; udare — on the abdomen; hṛdi — on the heart; atha — thus; urasi — on the chest; mukhe — on the mouth; śirasi — on the head; ānupūrvyāt — one after another; oṁkāra-ādīni — beginning with oṁkāra; vinyaset — one should place; om — the praṇava; namaḥ — obeisances; nārāyaṇāya — unto Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; iti — thus; viparyayam — the reverse; atha api — moreover; vā — or.

kara-nyāsam — the ritual known as kara-nyāsa, which assigns the syllables of the mantra to the fingers; tataḥ — thereafter; kuryāt — should execute; dvādaśa-akṣara — composed of twelve syllables; vidyayā — with the mantra; praṇava-ādi — beginning with the oṁkāra; ya-kāra-antam — ending with the syllable ya; aṅguli — on the fingers, beginning with the index finger; aṅguṣṭha-parvasu — to the joints of the thumbs.

nyaset — should place; hṛdaye — on the heart; oṁkāram — the praṇava, oṁkāra; vi-kāram — the syllable vi of viṣṇave; anu — thereafter; mūrdhani — on the top of the head; ṣa-kāram — the syllable sa; tu — and; bhruvoḥ madhye — between the two eyebrows; ṇa-kāram — the syllable ṇa; śikhayā — on the śikhā on the head; nyaset — should place; vekāram — the syllable ve; netrayoḥ — between the two eyes; yuñjyāt — should be placed; na-kāram — the syllable na of the word namaḥ; sarva-sandhiṣu — on all the joints; ma-kāram — the syllable ma of the word namaḥ; astram — a weapon; uddiśya — thinking; mantra-mūrtiḥ — the form of the mantra; bhavet — should become; budhaḥ — an intelligent person; sa-visargam — with the visarga (ḥ); phaṭ-antam — ending with the sound phaṭ; tat — that; sarva-dikṣu — in all directions; vinirdiśet — should fix; om — praṇava; viṣṇave — unto Lord Viṣṇu; namaḥ — obeisances; iti — thus.

ātmānam — the self; paramam — the supreme; dhyāyet — one should meditate on; dhyeyam — worthy to be meditated on; ṣaṭ-śaktibhiḥ — the six opulences; yutam — possessed of; vidyā — learning; tejaḥ — influence; tapaḥ — austerity; mūrtim — personified; imam — this; mantram — mantra; udāharet — should chant.

om — O Lord; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vidadhyāt — may He bestow; mama — my; sarva-rakṣām — protection from all sides; nyasta — placed; aṅghri-padmaḥ — whose lotus feet; patagendra-pṛṣṭhe — on the back of Garuḍa, the king of all birds; dara — conchshell; ari — disc; carma — shield; asi — sword; gadā — club; iṣu — arrows; cāpa — bow; pāśān — ropes; dadhānaḥ — holding; aṣṭa — possessing eight; guṇaḥ — perfections; aṣṭa — eight; bāhuḥ — arms.

jaleṣu — in the water; mām — me; rakṣatu — protect; matsya-mūrtiḥ — the Supreme Lord in the form of a great fish; yādaḥ-gaṇebhyaḥ — from fierce aquatic animals; varuṇasya — of the demigod known as Varuṇa; pāśāt — from the arresting rope; sthaleṣu — on the land; māyā-vaṭu — the merciful form of the Lord as a dwarf; vāmanaḥ — named Vāmanadeva; avyāt — may He protect; trivikramaḥ — Trivikrama, whose three gigantic steps took the three worlds from Bali; khe — in the sky; avatu — may the Lord protect; viśvarūpaḥ — the gigantic universal form.

durgeṣu — in places where travel is very difficult; aṭavi — in the dense forest; āji-mukha-ādiṣu — on the war front and so on; prabhuḥ — the Supreme Lord; pāyāt — may He protect; nṛsiṁhaḥ — Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva; asura-yūthapa — of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the leader of the demons; ariḥ — the enemy; vimuñcataḥ — releasing; yasya — of whom; mahā-aṭṭa-hāsam — great and fearful laughing; diśaḥ — all the directions; vineduḥ — resounded through; nyapatan — fell down; ca — and; garbhāḥ — the embryos of the wives of the demons.

rakṣatu — may the Lord protect; asau — that; mā — me; adhvani — on the street; yajña-kalpaḥ — who is ascertained by performance of ritualistic ceremonies; sva-daṁṣṭrayā — by His own tusk; unnīta — raising; dharaḥ — the planet earth; varāhaḥ — Lord Boar; rāmaḥ — Lord Rāma; adri-kūṭeṣu — on the summits of the mountains; atha — then; vipravāse — in foreign countries; sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ — with His brother Lakṣmaṇa; avyāt — may He protect; bharata-agrajaḥ — the elder brother of Mahārāja Bharata; asmān — us.

mām — me; ugra-dharmāt — from unnecessary religious principles; akhilāt — from all kinds of activities; pramādāt — which are enacted in madness; nārāyaṇaḥ — Lord Nārāyaṇa; pātu — may He protect; naraḥ ca — and Nara; hāsāt — from unnecessary pride; dattaḥ — Dattātreya; tu — of course; ayogāt — from the path of false yoga; atha — indeed; yoga-nāthaḥ — the master of all mystic powers; pāyāt — may He protect; guṇa-īśaḥ — the master of all spiritual qualities; kapilaḥ — Lord Kapila; karma-bandhāt — from the bondage of fruitive activities.

sanat-kumāraḥ — the great brahmacārī named Sanat-kumāra; avatu — may he protect; kāma-devāt — from the hands of Cupid or lusty desire; haya-śīrṣā — Lord Hayagrīva, the incarnation of the Lord whose head is like that of a horse; mām — me; pathi — on the path; deva-helanāt — from neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to brāhmaṇas, Vaiṣṇavas and the Supreme Lord; devarṣi-varyaḥ — the best of the saintly sages, Nārada; puruṣa-arcana-antarāt — from the offenses in worshiping the Deity; kūrmaḥ — Lord Kūrma, the tortoise; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mām — me; nirayāt — from hell; aśeṣāt — unlimited.

dhanvantariḥ — the incarnation Dhanvantari, the physician; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pātu — may He protect me; apathyāt — from things injurious to the health, such as meat and intoxicants; dvandvāt — from duality; bhayāt — from fear; ṛṣabhaḥ — Lord Ṛṣabhadeva; nirjita-ātmā — who fully controlled his mind and self; yajñaḥ — Yajña; ca — and; lokāt — from the defamation of the populace; avatāt — may He protect; jana-antāt — from dangerous positions created by other people; balaḥ — Lord Balarāma; gaṇāt — from the hordes of; krodha-vaśāt — the angry serpents; ahīndraḥ — Lord Balarāma in the form of the serpent Śeṣa Nāga.

dvaipāyanaḥ — Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the giver of all Vedic knowledge; bhagavān — the most powerful incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aprabodhāt — from ignorance of the śāstra; buddhaḥ tu — also Lord Buddha; pāṣaṇḍa-gaṇa — of atheists creating disillusionment for innocent persons; pramādāt — from the madness; kalkiḥ — Lord Kalki, the incarnation of Keśava; kaleḥ — of this Kali-yuga; kāla-malāt — from the darkness of the age; prapātu — may He protect; dharma-avanāya — for the protection of religious principles; uru — very great; kṛta-avatāraḥ — who took an incarnation.

mām — me; keśavaḥ — Lord Keśava; gadayā — by His club; prātaḥ — in the morning hours; avyāt — may He protect; govindaḥ — Lord Govinda; āsaṅgavam — during the second part of the day; ātta-veṇuḥ — holding His flute; nārāyaṇaḥ — Lord Nārāyaṇa with four hands; prāhṇaḥ — during the third part of the day; udātta-śaktiḥ — controlling different types of potencies; madhyam-dine — during the fourth part of the day; viṣṇuḥ — Lord Viṣṇu; arīndra-pāṇiḥ — bearing the disc in His hand to kill the enemies.

devaḥ — the Lord; aparāhṇe — in the fifth part of the day; madhu-hā — named Madhusūdana; ugra-dhanvā — bearing the very fearful bow known as Śārṅga; sāyam — the sixth part of the day; tri-dhāmā — manifesting as the three deities Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara; avatu — may He protect; mādhavaḥ — named Mādhava; mām — me; doṣe — during the first portion of the night; hṛṣīkeśaḥ — Lord Hṛṣīkeśa; uta — also; ardha-rātre — during the second part of the night; niśīthe — during the third part of the night; ekaḥ — alone; avatu — may He protect; padmanābhaḥ — Lord Padmanābha.

śrīvatsa-dhāmā — the Lord, on whose chest the mark of Śrīvatsa is resting; apara-rātre — in the fourth part of the night; īśaḥ — the Supreme Lord; pratyūṣe — in the end of the night; īśaḥ — the Supreme Lord; asi-dharaḥ — carrying a sword in the hand; janārdanaḥ — Lord Janārdana; dāmodaraḥ — Lord Dāmodara; avyāt — may He protect; anusandhyam — during each junction or twilight; prabhāte — in the early morning (the sixth part of the night); viśva-īśvaraḥ — the Lord of the whole universe; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kāla-mūrtiḥ — the personification of time.

cakram — the disc of the Lord; yuga-anta — at the end of the millennium; anala — like the fire of devastation; tigma-nemi — with a sharp rim; bhramat — wandering; samantāt — on all sides; bhagavat-prayuktam — being engaged by the Lord; dandagdhi dandagdhi — please burn completely, please burn completely; ari-sainyam — the army of our enemies; āśu — immediately; kakṣam — dry grass; yathā — like; vāta-sakhaḥ — the friend of the wind; hutāśaḥ — blazing fire.

gade — O club in the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aśani — like thunderbolts; sparśana — whose touch; visphuliṅge — giving off sparks of fire; niṣpiṇḍhi niṣpiṇḍhi — pound to pieces, pound to pieces; ajita-priyā — very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asi — you are; kuṣmāṇḍa — imps named Kuṣmāṇḍas; vaināyaka — ghosts named Vaināyakas; yakṣa — ghosts named Yakṣas; rakṣaḥ — ghosts named Rākṣasas; bhūta — ghosts named Bhūtas; grahān — and evil demons named Grahas; cūrṇaya — pulverize; cūrṇaya — pulverize; arīn — my enemies.

tvam — you; yātudhāna — Rākṣasas; pramatha — Pramathas; preta — Pretas; mātṛ — Mātās; piśāca — Piśācas; vipra-graha — brāhmaṇa ghosts; ghora-dṛṣṭīn — who have very fearful eyes; darendra — O Pāñcajanya, the conchshell in the hands of the Lord; vidrāvaya — drive away; kṛṣṇa-pūritaḥ — being filled with air from the mouth of Kṛṣṇa; bhīma-svanaḥ — sounding extremely fearful; areḥ — of the enemy; hṛdayāni — the cores of the hearts; kampayan — causing to tremble.

tvam — you; tigma-dhāra-asi-vara — O best of swords possessing very sharp blades; ari-sainyam — the soldiers of the enemy; īśa-prayuktaḥ — being engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mama — my; chindhi chindhi — chop to pieces, chop to pieces; cakṣūṁṣi — the eyes; carman — O shield; śata-candra — possessing brilliant circles like a hundred moons; chādaya — please cover; dviṣām — of those who are envious of me; aghonām — who are completely sinful; hara — please take away; pāpa-cakṣuṣām — of those whose eyes are very sinful.

yat — which; naḥ — our; bhayam — fear; grahebhyaḥ — from the Graha demons; abhūt — was; ketubhyaḥ — from meteors, or falling stars; nṛbhyaḥ — from envious human beings; eva ca — also; sarīsṛpebhyaḥ — from snakes or scorpions; daṁṣṭribhyaḥ — from animals with fierce teeth like tigers, wolves and boars; bhūtebhyaḥ — from ghosts or the material elements (earth, water, fire, etc.); aṁhobhyaḥ — from sinful activities; eva ca — as well as; sarvāṇi etāni — all these; bhagavat-nāma-rūpa-anukīrtanāt — by glorifying the transcendental form, name, attributes and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prayāntu — let them go; saṅkṣayam — to complete destruction; sadyaḥ — immediately; ye — which; naḥ — our; śreyaḥ-pratīpakāḥ — hindrances to well-being.

garuḍaḥ — His Holiness Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu; bhagavān — as powerful as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stotra-stobhaḥ — who is glorified by selected verses and songs; chandaḥ-mayaḥ — the personified Vedas; prabhuḥ — the lord; rakṣatu — may He protect; aśeṣa-kṛcchrebhyaḥ — from unlimited miseries; viṣvaksenaḥ — Lord Viṣvaksena; sva-nāmabhiḥ — by His holy names.

sarva-āpadbhyaḥ — from all kinds of danger; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nāma — the holy name; rūpa — the transcendental form; yāna — the carriers; āyudhāni — and all the weapons; naḥ — our; buddhi — intelligence; indriya — senses; manaḥ — mind; prāṇān — life air; pāntu — may they protect and maintain; pārṣada-bhūṣaṇāḥ — the decorations who are personal associates.

yathā — just as; hi — indeed; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva — undoubtedly; vastutaḥ — at the ultimate issue; sat — manifested; asat — unmanifested; ca — and; yat — whatever; satyena — by the truth; anena — this; naḥ — our; sarve — all; yāntu — let them go; nāśam — to annihilation; upadravāḥ — disturbances.

yathā — just as; aikātmya — in terms of oneness manifested in varieties; anubhāvānām — of those thinking; vikalpa-rahitaḥ — the absence of difference; svayam — Himself; bhūṣaṇa — decorations; āyudha — weapons; liṅga-ākhyāḥ — characteristics and different names; dhatte — possesses; śaktīḥ — potencies like wealth, influence, power, knowledge, beauty and renunciation; sva-māyayā — by expanding His spiritual energy; tena eva — by that; satya-mānena — true understanding; sarva-jñaḥ — omniscient; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ — who can take away all the illusion of the living entities; pātu — may He protect; sarvaiḥ — with all; sva-rūpaiḥ — His forms; naḥ — us; sadā — always; sarvatra — everywhere; sarva-gaḥ — who is all-pervasive.

vidikṣu — in all corners; dikṣu — in all directions (east, west, north and south); ūrdhvam — above; adhaḥ — below; samantāt — on all sides; antaḥ — internally; bahiḥ — externally; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nārasiṁhaḥ — in the form of Nṛsiṁhadeva (half-lion and half-man); prahāpayan — completely destroying; loka-bhayam — fear created by animals, poison, weapons, water, air, fire and so on; svanena — by His roar or the vibration of His name by His devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja; sva-tejasā — by His personal effulgence; grasta — covered; samasta — all other; tejāḥ — influences.

maghavan — O King Indra; idam — this; ākhyātam — described; varma — mystic armor; nārāyaṇa-ātmakam — related to Nārāyaṇa; vijeṣyase — you will conquer; añjasā — very easily; yena — by which; daṁśitaḥ — being protected; asura-yūthapān — the chief leaders of the demons.

etat — this; dhārayamāṇaḥ — a person employing; tu — but; yam yam — whomever; paśyati — he sees; cakṣuṣā — by his eyes; padā — by his feet; vā — or; saṁspṛśet — may touch; sadyaḥ — immediately; sādhvasāt — from all fear; saḥ — he; vimucyate — is freed.

na — not; kutaścit — from anywhere; bhayam — fear; tasya — of him; vidyām — this mystical prayer; dhārayataḥ — employing; bhavet — may appear; rāja — from the government; dasyu — from rogues and thieves; graha-ādibhyaḥ — from demons and so on; vyādhi-ādibhyaḥ — from diseases and so on; ca — also; karhicit — at any time.

imām — this; vidyām — prayer; purā — formerly; kaścit — someone; kauśikaḥ — Kauśika; dhārayan — using; dvijaḥ — a brāhmaṇa; yoga-dhāraṇayā — by mystic power; sva-aṅgam — his own body; jahau — gave up; saḥ — he; maru-dhanvani — in the desert.

tasya — his dead body; upari — above; vimānena — by airplane; gandharva-patiḥ — the King of Gandharvaloka, Citraratha; ekadā — once upon a time; yayau — went; citrarathaḥ — Citraratha; strībhiḥ — by many beautiful women; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; yatra — where; dvija-kṣayaḥ — the brāhmaṇa Kauśika had died.

gaganāt — from the sky; nyapatat — fell; sadyaḥ — suddenly; sa-vimānaḥ — with his airplane; hi — certainly; avāk-śirāḥ — with his head downward; saḥ — he; vālikhilya — of the great sages named the Vālikhilyas; vacanāt — by the instructions; asthīni — all the bones; ādāya — taking; vismitaḥ — struck with wonder; prāsya — throwing; prācī-sarasvatyām — in the river Sarasvatī, which flows to the east; snātvā — bathing in that river; dhāma — to the abode; svam — his own; anvagāt — returned.

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; yaḥ — anyone who; idam — this; śṛṇuyāt — may hear; kāle — at a time of fear; yaḥ — anyone who; dhārayati — employs this prayer; ca — also; ādṛtaḥ — with faith and adoration; tam — unto him; namasyanti — offer respectful obeisances; bhūtāni — all living beings; mucyate — is released; sarvataḥ — from all; bhayāt — fearful conditions.

etām — this; vidyām — prayer; adhigataḥ — received; viśvarūpāt — from the brāhmaṇa Viśvarūpa; śata-kratuḥ — Indra, the King of heaven; trailokya-lakṣmīm — all the opulence of the three worlds; bubhuje — enjoyed; vinirjitya — conquering; mṛdhe — in battle; asurān — all the demons.