Guest guest Posted April 23, 2004 Report Share Posted April 23, 2004 NARAYANA KAVACA (SB 6.7.39 - 6.8.42) TRANSLATION .... The oppulence of the demons, who were generally known as enemies of the demigods, was protected by the talents and tactics of Sukracarya, but Visvarupa, who was most powerful, composed a protective prayer known as the Narayana-kavaca. By this intelligent mantra, he took away the oppulence of the demons and gave it to Mahendra, the King of heaven. .. TRANSLATION .. Visvarupa, who was most liberal, spoke to King Indra [sahasraka] the secret hymn that protected Indra and conquered the military power of the demons. ~ S.B. 6.7.40 .. THE NARAYANA KAVACA SHIELD Srimad Bhavatam 6th Canto Chapter Eight ... This chapter describes how Indra, the King of heaven, was victorious over the soldiers of the demons, and it also describes the shield of the Visnu mantra. ... To take protection from this shield, one must first touch kusa grass and wash one's mouth with acamana-mantras. One should observe silence and then place the eight-syllable Visnu mantra on the parts of his body and place the twelve-syllable mantra on his hands. The eight-syllable mantra is om namo narayanaya. This mantra should be distributed all over the front and back of the body. The twelve-syllable mantra, which begins with the pranava, omkara, is om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. One syllable should be placed on each of the fingers and should be preceded by the pranava, omkara. Thereafter, one must chant om visnave namah, which is a six-syllable mantra. One must progressively place the syllables of the mantra on the heart, the head, between the two eyebrows, on the sikha and between the eyes, and then one should chant mah astraya phat and with this mantra protect himself from all directions. Nadevo devam arcayet: one who has not risen to the level of a deva cannot chant this mantra. According to this direction of the sastra, one must think himself qualitatively nondifferent from the Supreme. .. After finishing this dedication, one must offer a prayer to the eight-armed Lord Visnu, who sits on the shoulders of Garudadeva. One also has to think of the fish incarnation, Vamana, Kurma, Nrsimha, Varaha. Parasurama, Ramacandra (the elder brother of Laksmana). Nara-Narayana, Dattatreya (an empowered incarnation), Kapila, Sanat-kumara, Hayagriva, Naradadeva (the incarnation of a devotee). Dhanvantari, Rsabhadeva, Yajna, Balarama, Vyasadeva, Buddhadeva and Kesava. One should also think of Govinda, the master of Vrndavana. and one should think of Narayana, the master of the spiritual sky. One should think of Madhusudana, Tridhama, Madhava, Hrsikesa, Padmanabha, Janardana, Damodara and Visvesvara, as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna Himself. After offering prayers to the Lord's personal expansions known as the svamsa and saktyavesa-avataras, one should pray to the weapons of Lord Narayana, such as the Sudarsana, gada, sankha, khadga and bow. ... After explaining this process, Sukadeva Gosvami told Maharaja Pariksit how Visvarupa, the brother of Vrtrasura, described the glories of the Narayana-kavaca to Indra.. ... .. TEXTS 1-2 ... sri-rajovaca yaya guptah sahasraksah savahan ripu-sainikan kridann iva vinirjitya tri-lokya bubhuje sriyam .. bhagavams tan mamakhyahi varma narayanatmakam yathatatayinah satrun yena gupto 'jayan mrdhe ... TRANSLATION .. King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: My lord, kindly explain the Visnu mantra armor that protected King Indra and enabled him to conquer his enemies, along with their carriers, and enjoy the opulence of the three worlds. Please explain to me that Narayana armor, by which King Indra achieved success in battle, conquering the enemies who were endeavoring to kill him. .. TEXT 3 .. sri-badarayanir uvaca vrtah purohitas tvastro mahendrayanuprcchate narayanakhyam varmaha tad ihaika-manah srnu .. TRANSLATION .. Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: King Indra, the leader of the demigods, inquired about the armor known as Narayana-kavaca from Visvarupa, who was engaged by the demigods as their priest. Please hear Visvarupa's reply with great attention. .. TEXTS 4-6 ... sri-visvarupa uvaca dhautanghri-panir acamya sapavitra udan-mukhah krta-svanga-kara-nyaso mantrabhyam vag-yatah sucih .. narayana-param varma sannahyed bhaya agate padayor janunor urvor udare hrdy athorasi .. mukhe sirasy anupurvyad omkaradini vinyaset om namo narayanayeti viparyayam athapi va .. TRANSLATION .. Visvarupa said: If some form of fear arrives, one should first wash his hands and legs clean and then perform acamana by chanting this mantra: om apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato 'pi va. yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantarah sucih. sri-visnu sri-visnu sri-visnu. Then one should touch kusa 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 Narayana coat of armor. First, while chanting the mantra composed of eight syllables [om namo narayanaya], beginning with the pranava, the syllable om, 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-nyasa and samhara-nyasa respectively. .. .. TEXT 7 .. kara-nyasam tatah kuryad dvadasaksara-vidyaya pranavadi-ya-karantam anguly-angustha-parvasu .. TRANSLATION .. Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve syllables [om namo bhagavate vasudevaya]. Preceding each syllable by the omkara, 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 dhrdaya omkaram vi-karam anu murdhani sa-karam tu bhruvor madhye na-karam sikhaya nyaset .. ve-karam netrayor yunjyan na-karam sarva-sandhisu ma-karam astram uddisya mantra-murtir bhaved budhah .. savisargam phad-antam tat sarva-diksu vinirdiset om visnave nama iti .... TRANSLATION .. One must then chant the mantra of six syllables [om visnave namah]. One should place the syllable "om" on his heart, the syllable "vi" on the top of his head, the syllable "sa" between his eyebrows, the syllable "na" on his tuft of hair [sikha], 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 "mah astraya phat" in all directions, beginning from the east. In this way, all directions will be bound by the protective armor of the mantra. .. .. TEXT 11 .. atmanam paramam dhyayed dhyeyam sat-saktibhir yutam vidya-tejas-tapo-murtim imam mantram udaharet .. 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 Narayana, the Narayana-kavaca. .. TEXT 12 ... om harir vidadhyan mama sarva-raksam nyastanghri-padmah patagendra-prsthe darari-carmasi-gadesu-capa- pasan dadhano 'sta-guno 'sta-bahuh .... TRANSLATION . The Supreme Lord, who sits on the back of the bird Garuda, 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 [anima, laghima, etc.]. .. PURPORT .. Thinking oneself one with the Supreme is called ahangrahopasana. Through ahangrahopasana one does not become God, but he thinks of himself as qualitatively one with the Supreme. Understanding that as a spirit soul he is equal in quality to the supreme soul the way the water of a river is of the same nature as the water of the sea, one should meditate upon the Supreme Lord, as described in this verse, and seek His protection. The living entities are always subordinate to the Supreme. Consequently their duty is to always seek the mercy of the Lord in order to be protected by Him in all circumstances. .. TEXT 13 .. jalesu mam raksatu matsya-murtir yado-ganebhyo varunasya pasat sthalesu mayavatu-vamano 'vyat trivikramah khe 'vatu visvarupah .. 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 Varuna. By expanding His illusory energy, the Lord assumed the form of the dwarf Vamana. May Vamana protect me on the land. Since the gigantic form of the Lord, Visvarupa, conquers the three worlds, may He protect me in the sky. .. PURPORT .... This mantra seeks the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the water, land and sky in His incarnations as the fish, Vamanadeva and the Visvarupa. ... TEXT 14 .. durgesv atavy-aji-mukhadisu prabhuh payan nrsimho 'sura-yuthaparih vimuncato yasya mahatta-hasam diso vinedur nyapatams ca garbhah .. TRANSLATION .. May Lord Nrsimhadeva, who appeared as the enemy of Hiranyakasipu, 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 ... raksatv asau madhvani yajna-kalpah sva-damstrayonnita-dharo varahah ramo 'dri-kutesv atha vipravase salaksmano 'vyad bharatagrajo 'sman ... TRANSLATION .. The Supreme indestructible Lord is ascertained through the performance of ritualistic sacrifices and is therefore known as Yajnesvara. 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 Parasurama protect me on the tops of mountains, and may the elder brother of Bharata, Lord Ramacandra, along with His brother Laksmana, protect me in foreign countries. .. PURPORT .. There are three Ramas. One Rama is Parasurama (Jamadagnya). another Rama is Lord Ramacandra, and a third Rama is Lord Balarama. In this verse the words ramo'dri-kutesv atha indicate Lord Parasurama. The brother of Bharata Maharaja and Laksmana is Lord Ramacandra. .. TEXT 16 .. mam ugra-dharmad akhilat pramadan narayanah patu naras ca hasat dattas tv ayogad atha yoga-nathah payad gunesah kapilah karma-bandhat .. TRANSLATION .. May Lord Narayana 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 Dattatreya, 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-kumaro 'vatu kamadevad dhayasirsa mam pathi deva-helanat devarsi-varyah purusarcanantarat kurmo harir mam nirayad asesat .. TRANSLATION .. May Sanat-kumara protect me from lusty desires. As I begin some auspicious activity, may Lord Hayagriva protect me from being an offender by neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord. May Devarsi Narada protect me from committing offenses in worshiping the Deity, and may Lord Kurma, the tortoise, protect me from falling to the unlimited hellish planets. .. PURPORT .. Lusty desires are very strong in everyone, and they are the greatest impediment to the discharge of devotional service. Therefore those who are very much influenced by lusty desires are advised to take shelter of Sanat-kumara, the great brahmacari devotee. Narada Muni, who is the guide for arcana, is the author of the Narada-pancaratra, which prescribes the regulative principles for worshiping the Deity. Everyone engaged in Deity worship, whether at home or in the temple, should always seek the mercy of Devarsi Narada in order to avoid the thirty-two offenses while worshiping the Deity. These offenses in Deity worship are mentioned in The Nectar of Devotion. .. TEXT 18 .. dhanvantarir bhagavan patv apathyad dvandvad bhayad rsabho nirjitatma yajnas ca lokad avataj janantad balo ganat krodha-vasad ahindrah .. 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 Rsabhadeva, who conquered His inner and outer senses, protect me from fear produced by the duality of heat and cold. May Yajna protect me from defamation and harm from the populace, and may Lord Balarama as Sesa protect me from envious serpents. .. PURPORT .. To live within this material world, one must face many dangers, as described herein. For example, undesirable food poses a danger to health, and therefore one must give up such food. The Dhanvantari incarnation can protect us in this regard. Since Lord Visnu is the Supersoul of all living entities, if He likes He can save us from adhibhautika disturbances, disturbances from other living entities. Lord Balarama is the Sesa incarnation, and therefore He can save us from angry serpents or envious persons, who are always ready to attack. .. TEXT 19 .. dvaipayano bhagavan aprabodhad buddhas tu pasanda-gana-pramadat kalkih kaleh kala-malat prapatu dharmavanayoru-krtavatarah .. TRANSLATION .. May the Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Vyasadeva 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. .. PURPORT .. This verse mentions various incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appear for various purposes. Srila Vyasadeva, Mahamuni, compiled the Vedic literature for the benefit of all human society. If one wants to be protected from the reactions of ignorance even in this age of Kali, one may consult the books left by Srila Vyasadeva, Upanisads, Vedanta-sutra (Brahma-sutra), Mahabharata, Srimad-Bhagavatam Maha-purana (Vyasadeva's commentary on the Brahma-sutra) and the other seventeen Puranas. Only by the mercy of Srila Vyasadeva do we have so many volumes of transcendental knowledge to save us from the clutches of ignorance. .. As described by Srila Jayadeva Gosvami in his Dasavatara-stotra, Lord Buddha apparently decried the Vedic knowledge: .. nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam sadaya-hrdaya-darsita-pasu-ghatam kesava dhrta-buddha-sarira jaya jagad-isa hare .. The mission of Lord Buddha was to save people from the abominable activity of animal killing and to save the poor animals from being unnecessarily killed. When pasandis were cheating by killing animals on the plea of sacrificing them in Vedic yajnas, the Lord said, "If the Vedic injunctions allow animal killing, I do not accept the Vedic principles." Thus he actually saved people who acted according to Vedic principles. One should therefore surrender to Lord Buddha so that he can help one avoid misusing the injunctions of the Vedas. .. The Kalki avatara is the fierce incarnation who vanquishes the class of the atheists born in this age of Kali. Now, in the beginning of Kali-yuga, many irreligious principles are in effect, and as Kali-yuga advances, many pseudo religious principles will certainly be introduced, and people will forget the real religious principles enunciated by Lord Krsna before the beginning of Kali-yuga, namely principles of surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord. Unfortunately, because of Kali-yuga, foolish people do not surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna. Even most people who claim to belong to the Vedic system of religion are actually opposed to the Vedic principles. Every day they manufacture a new type of dharma on the plea that whatever one manufactures is also a path of liberation. Atheistic men generally say, yata mata tata patha. According to this view, there are hundreds and thousands of different opinions in human society, and each opinion is a valid religious principle. This philosophy of rascals has killed the religious principles mentioned in the Vedas, and such philosophies will become increasingly influential as Kali-yuga progresses. In the last stage of Kali-yuga, Kalkideva, the fierce incarnation of Kesava, will descend to kill all the atheists and will save only the devotees of the Lord. .. TEXT 20 .. mam kesavo gadaya pratar avyad govinda asangavam atta-venuh narayanah prahna udatta-saktir madhyan-dine visnur arindra-panih .. TRANSLATION .. May Lord Kesava 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 Narayana, who is equipped with all potencies, protect me in the third part of the day, and may Lord Visnu, who carries a disc to kill His enemies, protect me in the fourth part of the day. .. PURPORT According to Vedic astronomical calculations, day and night are each divided into thirty ghatikas (twenty-four minutes), instead of twelve hours. Generally, each day and each night is divided into six parts consisting of five ghatikas. In each of these six portions of the day and night, the Lord may be addressed for protection according to different names. Lord Kesava, the proprietor of the holy place of Mathura, is the Lord of the first portion of the day, and Govinda, the Lord of Vrndavana. is the master of the second portion. .. TEXT 21 .. devo 'parahne madhu-hogradhanva sayam tri-dhamavatu madhavo mam dose hrsikesa utardha-ratre nisitha eko 'vatu padmanabhah .. TRANSLATION .. May Lord Madhusudana, who carries a bow very fearful for the demons, protect me during the fifth part of the day. In the evening, may Lord Madhava, appearing as Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara, protect me, and in the beginning of night may Lord Hrsikesa protect me. At the dead of night [in the second and third parts of night] may Lord Padmanabha alone protect me. TEXT 22 ... srivatsa-dhamapara-ratra isah pratyusa iso 'si-dharo janardanah damodaro 'vyad anusandhyam prabhate visvesvaro bhagavan kala-murtih .. TRANSLATION .. May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who bears the Srivatsa on His chest, protect me after midnight until the sky becomes pinkish. May Lord Janardana, who carries a sword in His hand, protect me at the end of night [during the last four ghatikas of night]. May Lord Damodara protect me in the early morning, and may Lord Visvesvara protect me during the junctions of day and night. .. TEXT 23 .. cakram yugantanala-tigma-nemi bhramat samantad bhagavat-prayuktam dandagdhi dandagdhy ari-sainyam asu kaksam yatha vata-sakho hutasah .. 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 Sudarsana cakra burn our enemies to ashes. .. TEXT 24 .. gade 'sani-sparsana-visphulinge nispindhi nispindhy ajita-priyasi kusmanda-vainayaka-yaksa-rakso- bhuta-grahams curnaya curnayarin .. 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 Kusmandas, Vainayakas, Yaksas, Raksasas, Bhutas and Grahas. Please pulverize them. .. TEXT 25 .. tvam yatudhana-pramatha-preta-matr- pisaca-vipragraha-ghora-drstin darendra vidravaya krsna-purito bhima-svano 'rer hrdayani kampayan .. TRANSLATION .. O best of conchshells, O Pancajanya in the hands of the Lord, you are always filled with the breath of Lord Krsna. Therefore you create a fearful sound vibration that causes trembling in the hearts of enemies like the Raksasas, pramatha ghosts, Pretas, Matas, Pisacas and brahmana ghosts with fearful eyes. .. TEXT 26 .. tvam tigma-dharasi-varari-sainyam isa-prayukto mama chindhi chindhi caksumsi carman chata-candra chadaya dvisam aghonam hara papa-caksusam .. 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 bhayam grahebhyo 'bhut ketubhyo nrbhya eva ca sarisrpebhyo damstribhyo bhutebhyo 'mhobhya eva ca ... sarvany etani bhagavan- nama-rupanukirtanat prayantu sanksayam sadyo ye nah sreyah-pratipakah .. 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 Krsna maha-mantra. .. TEXT 29 ... garudo bhagavan stotra- stobhas chandomayah prabhuh raksatv asesa-krcchrebhyo visvaksenah sva-namabhih .. TRANSLATION .. Lord Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu, 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 Visvaksena, the Personality of Godhead, also protect us from all dangers by His holy names. .. .. TEXT 30 .. sarvapadbhyo harer nama- rupa-yanayudhani nah buddhindriya-manah-pranan pantu parsada-bhusanah 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. PURPORT .. There are various associates of the transcendental Personality of Godhead, and His weapons and carrier are among them. In the spiritual world, nothing is material. The sword, bow, club, disc and everything decorating the personal body of the Lord are spiritual living force. Therefore the Lord is called advaya jnana, indicating that there is no difference between Him and His names, forms, qualities, weapons and so on. Anything pertaining to Him is in the same category of spiritual existence. They are all engaged in the service of the Lord in varieties of spiritual forms. .. TEXT 31 .. yatha hi bhagavan eva vastutah sad asac ca yat satyenanena nah sarve yantu nasam upadravah .. 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 .. yathaikatmyanubhavanam vikalpa-rahitah svayam bhusanayudha-lingakhya dhatte saktih sva-mayaya ... tenaiva satya-manena sarva-jno bhagavan harih patu sarvaih svarupair nah sada sarvatra sarva-gah .. 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. ... PURPORT ... A person highly elevated in spiritual knowledge knows that nothing exists but the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (9.4) where Lord Krsna says, maya tatam idam sarvam, indicating that everything we see is an expansion of His energy. This is confirmed in the Visnu Purana (1.22.52): .. ekadesa-sthitasyagner jyotsna vistarini yatha parasya brahmanah saktis tathedam akhilam jagat .. As a fire, although existing in one place, can expand its light and heat everywhere, so the omnipotent Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although situated in His spiritual abode, expands Himself everywhere, in both the material and spiritual worlds, by His various energies. Since both cause and effect are the Supreme Lord, there is no difference between cause and effect. Consequently the ornaments and weapons of the Lord, being expansions of His spiritual energy, are not different from Him. There is no difference between the Lord and His variously presented energies. This is also confirmed in the Padma Purana: .. nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya-rasa-vigrahah purnah suddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh .. The holy name of the Lord is fully identical with the Lord, not partially. The word purna means "complete." The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient, and similarly, His name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and everything pertaining to Him are complete, pure, eternal and free from material contamination. The prayer to the ornaments and carriers of the Lord is not false, for they are as good as the Lord. Since the Lord is all-pervasive, He exists in everything, and everything exists in Him. Therefore even worship of the Lord's weapons or ornaments has the same potency as worship of the Lord. Mayavadis refuse to accept the form of the Lord, or they say that the form of the Lord is maya, or false, but one should note very carefully that this is not acceptable. Although the Lord's original form and His impersonal expansion are one, the Lord maintains His form, qualities and abode eternally. Therefore this prayer says, patu sarvaih svarupair nah sada sarvatra sama-gah: "May the Lord, who is all-pervasive in His various forms, protect us everywhere." The Lord is always present everywhere by His name, form, qualities, attributes and paraphernalia, and they all have equal power to protect the devotees. Srila Madhvacarya explains this as follows: .. eka eva paro visnur bhusaheti dhvajesv ajah tat-tac-chakti-pradatvena svayam eva vyavasthitah satyenanena mam devah patu sarvesvaro harih .. .. TEXT 34 ... vidiksu diksurdhvam adhah samantad antar bahir bhagavan narasimhah prahapayal loka-bhayam svanena sva-tejasa grasta-samasta-tejah .. TRANSLATION .. .. Prahlada Maharaja loudly chanted the holy name of Lord Nrsimhadeva. May Lord Nrsimhadeva, roaring for His devotee Prahlada Maharaja, 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 Nrsimhadeva protect us in all directions and in all corners, above, below, within and without. .. TEXT 35 .. maghavann idam akhyatam varma narayanatmakam vijesyase 'njasa yena damsito 'sura-yuthapan .. TRANSLATION .. Visvarupa continued: O Indra, this mystic armor related to Lord Narayana 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 dharayamanas tu yam yam pasyati caksusa pada va samsprset sadyah sadhvasat 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 kutascid bhayam tasya vidyam dharayato bhavet raja-dasyu-grahadibhyo vyadhy-adibhyas ca karhicit .. TRANSLATION .. This prayer, Narayana-kavaca, constitutes subtle knowledge transcendentally connected with Narayana. 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 .. imam vidyam pura kascit kausiko dharayan dvijah yoga-dharanaya svangam jahau sa maru-dhanvani .. TRANSLATION .. O King of heaven, a brahmana named Kausika formerly used this armor when he purposely gave up his body in the desert by mystic power. .. TEXT 39 .. tasyopari vimanena gandharva-patir ekada yayau citrarathah stribhir vrto yatra dvija-ksayah .. TRANSLATION .. Surrounded by many beautiful women, Citraratha, the King of Gandharvaloka, was once passing in his airplane over the brahmana's body at the spot where the brahmana had died. .. TEXT 40 .. gaganan nyapatat sadyah savimano hy avak-sirah sa valikhilya-vacanad asthiny adaya vismitah prasya praci-sarasvatyam snatva dhama svam anvagat .. 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 Valikhilyas to throw the brahmana's bones in the nearby River Sarasvati. He had to do this and bathe in the river before returning to his own abode. .. TEXT 41 .. sri-suka uvaca ya idam srnuyat kale yo dharayati cadrtah tam namasyanti bhutani mucyate sarvato bhayat .. TRANSLATION .... Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear Maharaja Pariksit, 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 .. etam vidyam adhigato visvarupac chatakratuh trailokya-laksmim bubhuje vinirjitya mrdhe 'suran .. TRANSLATION ... King Indra, who performed one hundred sacrifices, received this prayer of protection from Visvarupa. After conquering the demons, he enjoyed all the opulences of the three worlds. .. PURPORT ... This mystical mantric armor given by Visvarupa 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, Madhvacarya points out: .. ..vidyah karmani ca sada guroh praptah phala-pradah anyatha naiva phaladah prasannoktah phala-pradah ... One must receive all kinds of mantras from a bona fide spiritual master; otherwise the mantras will not be fruitful. This is also indicated in Bhagavad-gita (4.34): .. ..tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah ... "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth." All mantras should be received through the authorized guru, and the disciple must satisfy the guru in all respects, after surrendering at his lotus feet. In the Padma Purana it is also said, sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah. There are four sampradayas, or disciplic successions, namely the Brahma-sampradaya, the Rudra-sampradaya, the Sri sampradaya and the Kumara-sampradaya. If one wants to advance in spiritual power, one must receive his mantras from one of these bona fide sampradayas; otherwise he will never successfully advance in spiritual life. .. ..Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Eighth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Narayana-kavaca Shield." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .. Photos: om/ph/print_splash">High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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