Śrī Nṛsiṃha Kavaca Stotram
The Śrī Nṛsiṃha Kavaca Stotram is a potent prayer for protection found in the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, spoken by the great devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja. This kavaca (armor) invokes the fierce yet protective form of Lord Nṛsiṃha to guard the devotee from all sides, within and without. It is a heartfelt plea for safety against physical dangers, subtle impediments, and the obstacles on the path of spiritual practice. Reciting this hymn not only destroys sins and bestows material well-being but also grants the ultimate protection of the Lord's fearless lotus feet, guiding the soul toward liberation.
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नृसिंहकवचं वक्ष्ये प्रह्लादेनोदितं पुरा
सर्वरक्षाकरं पुण्यं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम्
nṛsiṃha-kavacaṃ vakṣye prahlādenoditaṃ purā
sarva-rakṣā-karaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvopadrava-nāśanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I shall now recite the Narasimha-kavaca, formerly spoken by Prahlada Maharaja. It is most pious, vanquishes all kinds of impediments, and provides one all protection.
सर्वसम्पत्करं चैव स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकम्
ध्यात्वा नृसिंहं देवेशं हेमसिंहासनस्थितम्
sarva-sampat-karaṃ caiva svarga-mokṣa-pradāyakam
dhyātvā nṛsiṃhaṃ deveśaṃ hema-siṃhāsana-sthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
It bestows upon one all opulences and can give one elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation. One should meditate on Lord Narasimha, Lord of the universe, seated upon a golden throne.
विवृतास्यं त्रिनयनं शरदिन्दुसमप्रभम्
लक्ष्म्यालिङ्गितवामाङ्गं विभूतिभिर् उपाश्रितम्
vivṛtāsyaṃ tri-nayanaṃ śarad-indu-sama-prabham
lakṣmyāliṅgita-vāmāṅgaṃ vibhūtibhir upāśritam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
His mouth is wide open, He has three eyes, and He is as radiant as the autumn moon. He is embraced by Lakshmidevi on his left side, and His form is the shelter of all opulences, both material and spiritual.
चतुर्भुजं कोमलाङ्गं स्वर्णकुण्डलशोभितम्
सरोजशोभितोरस्कं रत्नकेयूरमुद्रितम्
catur-bhujaṃ komalāṅgaṃ svarṇa-kuṇḍala-śobhitam
saroja-śobhitoraskaṃ ratna-keyūra-mudritam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The Lord has four arms, and His limbs are very soft. He is decorated with golden earrings. His chest is resplendent like the lotus flower, and His arms are decorated with jewel-studded ornaments.
तप्तकाञ्चनसङ्काशं पीतनिर्मलवाससम्
इन्द्रादिसुरमौलिष्ठः स्फुरन् माणिक्यदीप्तिभिः
tapta-kāñcana-saṅkāśaṃ pīta-nirmala-vāsasam
indrādi-sura-mauliṣṭhaḥ sphuran māṇikya-dīptibhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He is dressed in a spotless yellow garment, which exactly resembles molten gold. He is the original cause of existence, beyond the mundane sphere, for the great demigods headed by Indra. He appears bedecked with rubies which are blazingly effulgent.
विराजितपदद्वन्द्वं शङ्खचक्रादिहेतिभिः
गरुत्मता च विनयात् स्तूयमानं मुदान्वितम्
virājita-pada-dvandvaṃ śaṅkha-cakrādi-hetibhiḥ
garutmatā ca vinayāt stūyamānaṃ mudānvitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
His two feet are very attractive, and He is armed with various weapons such as the conch, disc, etc. Garuda joyfully offers prayers with great reverence.
स्वहृत्कमलसंवासं कृत्वा तु कवचं पठेत्
नृसिंहो मे शिरः पातु लोकरक्षार्थसम्भवः
sva-hṛt-kamala-saṃvāsaṃ kṛtvā tu kavacaṃ paṭhet
nṛsiṃho me śiraḥ pātu loka-rakṣārtha-sambhavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having seated Lord Narasimhadeva upon the lotus of one's heart, one should recite the following mantra: May Lord Narasimha, who protects all the planetary systems, protect my head.
सर्वगोऽपि स्तम्भवासः फलं मे रक्षतु ध्वनिम्
नृसिंहो मे दृशौ पातु सोमसूर्याग्निलोचनः
sarvago ’pi stambha-vāsaḥ phalaṃ me rakṣatu dhvanim
nṛsiṃho me dṛśau pātu soma-sūryāgni-locanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Although the Lord is all-pervading, He hid Himself within a pillar. May He protect my speech and the results of my activities. May Lord Narasimha, whose eyes are the sun, and fire, protect my eyes.
स्मृतिं मे पातु नरहरिः मुनिवर्यस्तुतिप्रियः
नासं मे सिंहनासस् तु मुखं लक्ष्मीमुखप्रियः
smṛtiṃ me pātu narahariḥ muni-varya-stuti-priyaḥ
nāsaṃ me siṃha-nāsas tu mukhaṃ lakṣmī-mukha-priyaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May Lord Nrhari, who is pleased by the prayers offered by the best of sages, protect my memory. May He who has the nose of a lion protect my nose, and may He whose face is very dear to the goddess of fortune protect my mouth.
सर्वविद्याधिपः पातु नृसिंहो रसनां मम
वक्त्रं पात्व् इन्दुवदनं सदा प्रह्लादवन्दितः
sarva-vidyādhipaḥ pātu nṛsiṃho rasanāṃ mama
vaktraṃ pātv indu-vadanaṃ sadā prahlāda-vanditaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May Lord Narasimha, who is the knower of all sciences, protect my sense of taste. May He whose face is beautiful as the full moon and who is offered prayers by Prahlada Maharaja protect my face.
नृसिंहः पातु मे कण्ठं स्कन्धौ भूभृद् अनन्तकृत्
दिव्यास्त्रशोभितभुजः नृसिंहः पातु मे भुजौ
nṛsiṃhaḥ pātu me kaṇṭhaṃ skandhau bhū-bhṛd ananta-kṛt
divyāstra-śobhita-bhujaḥ nṛsiṃhaḥ pātu me bhujau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May Lord Narasimha protect my throat. He is the sustainer of the earth and the performer of unlimitedly wonderful activities. May He protect my shoulders. His arms are resplendent with transcendental weapons. May He protect my shoulders.
करौ मे देववरदो नृसिंहः पातु सर्वतः
हृदयं योगिसाध्यश् च निवासं पातु मे हरिः
karau me deva-varado nṛsiṃhaḥ pātu sarvataḥ
hṛdayaṃ yogi-sādhyaś ca nivāsaṃ pātu me hariḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May the Lord, who bestows benedictions upon the demigods, protect my hands, and may He protect me from all sides. May He who is achieved by the perfect yogis protect my heart, and may Lord Hari protect my dwelling place.
मध्यं पातु हिरण्याक्षवक्षःकुक्षिविदारणः
नाभिं मे पातु नरहरिः स्वनाभिब्रह्मसंस्तुतः
madhyaṃ pātu hiraṇyākṣa-vakṣaḥ-kukṣi-vidāraṇaḥ
nābhiṃ me pātu narahariḥ sva-nābhi-brahma-saṃstutaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May He who ripped apart the chest and abdomen of the great demon Hiranyaksha protect my waist, and may Lord Nrhari protect my navel. He is offered prayers by Lord Brahma, who has sprung from his own navel.
ब्रह्माण्डकोटयः कट्यां यस्यासौ पातु मे कटिम्
गुह्यं मे पातु गुह्यानां मन्त्राणां गुह्यरूपदृक्
brahmāṇḍa-koṭayaḥ kaṭyāṃ yasyāsau pātu me kaṭim
guhyaṃ me pātu guhyānāṃ mantrāṇāṃ guhya-rūpa-dṛk
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May He on whose hips rest all the universes protect my hips. May the Lord protect my private parts. He is the knower of all mantras and all mysteries, but He Himself is not visible.
ऊरू मनोभवः पातु जानुनी नररूपदृक्
जङ्घे पातु धराभारहर्ता योऽसौ नृकेशरी
ūrū manobhavaḥ pātu jānunī nara-rūpa-dṛk
jaṅghe pātu dharā-bhāra-hartā yo ’sau nṛ-keśarī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May He who is the original Cupid protect my thighs. May He who exhibits a human-like form protect my knees. May the remover of the burden of the earth, who appears in a form which is half-man and half-lion, protect my calves.
सुरराज्यप्रदः पातु पादौ मे नृहरीश्वरः
सहस्रशीर्षापुरुषः पातु मे सर्वशस् तनुम्
sura-rājya-pradaḥ pātu pādau me nṛharīśvaraḥ
sahasra-śīrṣā-puruṣaḥ pātu me sarvaśas tanum
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May the bestower of heavenly opulence protect my feet. He is the Supreme Controller in the form of a man and lion combined. May the thousand-headed Supreme enjoyer protect my body from all sides and in all respects.
मनोग्रः पूर्वतः पातु महावीराग्रजोऽग्नितः
महाविष्णुर् दक्षिणे तु महाज्वालस् तु नैरृतः
manograḥ pūrvataḥ pātu mahā-vīrāgrajo ’gnitaḥ
mahā-viṣṇur dakṣiṇe tu mahā-jvālas tu nairṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May that most ferocious personality protect me from the east. May He who is superior to the greatest heroes protect me from the southeast, which is presided over by Agni. May the Supreme Vishnu protect me from the south, and may that person of blazing luster protect me from the southwest.
पश्चिमे पातु सर्वेशो दिशि मे सर्वतोमुखः
नृसिंहः पातु वायव्यं सौम्यं भूषणविग्रहः
paścime pātu sarveśo diśi me sarvatomukhaḥ
nṛsiṃhaḥ pātu vāyavyaṃ saumyaṃ bhūṣaṇa-vigrahaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May the Lord of everything protect me from the west. His faces are everywhere, so please may He protect me from this direction. May Lord Narasimha protect me from the northwest, which is predominated by Vayu, and may He whose form is in itself the supreme ornament protect me from the north, where Soma resides.
ईशान्यां पातु भद्रो मे सर्वमङ्गलदायकः
संसारभयतः पातु मृत्योर् मृत्युर् नृकेशरी
īśānyāṃ pātu bhadro me sarva-maṅgala-dāyakaḥ
saṃsāra-bhayataḥ pātu mṛtyor mṛtyur nṛ-keśarī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
May the all-auspicious Lord, who Himself bestows all-auspiciousness, protect from the northeast, the direction of the sun-god, and may He who is death personified protect me from fear of death and rotation in this material world.
इदं नृसिंहकवचं प्रह्लादमुखमण्डितम्
भक्तिमान् यः पठेन् नित्यं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
idaṃ nṛsiṃha-kavacaṃ prahlāda-mukha-maṇḍitam
bhaktimān yaḥ paṭhen nityaṃ sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
This Narasimha-kavaca has been ornamented by issuing from the mouth of Prahlada Maharaja. A devotee who reads this becomes freed from all sins.
पुत्रवान् धनवान् लोके दीर्घायुर् उपजायते
यं यं कामयते कामं तं तं प्राप्नोत्य् असंशयम्
putravān dhanavān loke dīrghāyur upajāyate
yaṃ yaṃ kāmayate kāmaṃ taṃ taṃ prāpnoty asaṃśayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Whatever one desires in this world he can attain without doubt. One can have wealth, many sons, and a long life.
सर्वत्र जयम् आप्नोति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत्
भूम्यन्तरीक्षदिव्यानां ग्रहाणां विनिवारणम्
sarvatra jayam āpnoti sarvatra vijayī bhavet
bhūmy-antarīkṣa-divyānāṃ grahāṇāṃ vinivāraṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He becomes victorious who desires victory, and indeed becomes a conqueror. He wards off the influence of all planets, earthly, heavenly, and everything in between.
वृश्चिकोरगसम्भूतविषापहरणं परम्
ब्रह्मराक्षसयक्षाणां दूरोत्सारणकारणम्
vṛścikoraga-sambhūta-viṣāpaharaṇaṃ param
brahma-rākṣasa-yakṣāṇāṃ dūrotsāraṇa-kāraṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
This is the supreme remedy for the poisonous effects of serpents and scorpions, and Brahma-rakshasa ghosts and Yakshas are driven away.
भुजे वा तालपत्रे वा कवचं लिखितं शुभम्
करमूले धृतं येन सिध्येयुः कर्मसिद्धयः
bhuje vā tāla-patre vā kavacaṃ likhitaṃ śubham
kara-mūle dhṛtaṃ yena sidhyeyuḥ karma-siddhayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
One may write this most auspicious prayer on his arm, or inscribe it on a palm-leaf and attach it to his wrist, and all his activities will become perfect.
देवासुरमनुष्येषु स्वं स्वम् एव जयं लभेत्
एकसन्ध्यं त्रिसन्ध्यं वा यः पठेन् नियतो नरः
devāsura-manuṣyeṣu svaṃ svam eva jayaṃ labhet
eka-sandhyaṃ tri-sandhyaṃ vā yaḥ paṭhen niyato naraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
One who regularly chants this prayer, whether once or thrice (daily), he becomes victorious whether among demigods, demons, or human beings.
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विन्दति
द्वात्रिंशतिसहस्राणि पठेत् शुद्धात्मनां नृणाम्
sarva-maṅgala-māṅgalyaṃ bhuktiṃ muktiṃ ca vindati
dvā-triṃśati-sahasrāṇi paṭhet śuddhātmanāṃ nṛṇām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
One who with purified heart recites this prayer 32,000 times attains the most auspicious of all auspicious things, and material enjoyment and liberation are already understood to be available to such a person.
कवचस्यास्य मन्त्रस्य मन्त्रसिद्धिः प्रजायते
अनेन मन्त्रराजेन कृत्वा भस्माभिर् मन्त्रणम्
kavacasyāsya mantrasya mantra-siddhiḥ prajāyate
anena mantra-rājena kṛtvā bhasmābhir mantraṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
This Kavaca-mantra is the king of all mantras. One attains by it what would be attained by anointing oneself with ashes and chanting all other mantras.
तिलकं बिभृयाद् यस् तु तस्य ग्रहभयं हरेत्
त्रिवारं जपमानस् तु दत्तं वार्य् अभिमन्त्र्य च
tilakaṃ bibhṛyād yas tu tasya graha-bhayaṃ haret
tri-vāraṃ japamānas tu dattaṃ vāry abhimantrya ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having marked ones body with tilaka, taking acamana with water, and reciting this mantra three times, one will find that the fear of all inauspicious planets is removed.
प्राशयेद् यो नरो मन्त्रं नृसिंहध्यानम् आचरेत्
तस्य रोगाः प्रणश्यन्ति ये च स्युः कुक्षिसम्भवः
prāśayed yo naro mantraṃ nṛsiṃha-dhyānam ācaret
tasya rogāḥ praṇaśyanti ye ca syuḥ kukṣi-sambhavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That person who recites this mantra, meditating upon Lord Narasimhadeva, has all of his diseases vanquished, including those of the abdomen.
किम् अत्र बहुनोक्तेन नृसिंहसदृशो भवेत्
मनसा चिन्तितं यत् तु स तच् चाप्नोत्य् असंशयम्
kim atra bahunoktena nṛsiṃha-sadṛśo bhavet
manasā cintitaṃ yat tu sa tac cāpnoty asaṃśayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Why should more be said? One acquires qualitative oneness with Narasimha himself. There is no doubt that the desires in the mind of one who meditates will be granted.
गर्जन्तं गर्जयन्तं निजभुजपटलं स्फोटयन्तं हटन्तं
दीप्यन्तं तापयन्तं दिवि भुवि दितिजं क्षेपयन्तं क्षिपन्तम्
क्रन्दन्तं रोषयन्तं दिशि दिशि सततं संहरन्तं भरन्तं
वीक्षन्तं पूर्णयन्तं करनिकरशतैर् दिव्यसिंहं नमामि
garjantaṃ garjayantaṃ nija-bhuja-paṭalaṃ sphoṭayantaṃ haṭantaṃ
dīpyantaṃ tāpayantaṃ divi bhuvi ditijaṃ kṣepayantaṃ kṣipantam
krandantaṃ roṣayantaṃ diśi diśi satataṃ saṃharantaṃ bharantaṃ
vīkṣantaṃ pūrṇayantaṃ kara-nikara-śatair divya-siṃhaṃ namāmi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lord Narasimha roars loudly and causes others to roar. With His multitudes of arms He tears the demons asunder and kills them in this way. He is always seeking out and tormenting the demoniac descendants of Diti, both on this earth planet and in the higher planets, and He throws them down and scatters them. He cries with great anger as He destroys the demons in all directions, yet with His unlimited hands He sustains, protects, and nourishes the cosmic manifestation. I offer my respectful obeisances to the Lord, who has assumed the form of a transcendental lion.