नृसिंह कवचम वक्ष्येऽ प्रह्लादनोदितं पुरा ।सर्वरक्षाकरं पुण्यं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनं ॥

Narasimha-kavacham vakshye prahladenoditam pura sarva-raksha-karam punyam sarvopadrava-nashanam

Meaning – 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

सर्वसंपत्करं चैव स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकम । ध्यात्वा नृसिंहं देवेशं हेमसिंहासनस्थितं॥

sarva-sampat-karam chaiva svarga-moksha-pradayakam dhyatva narasimham devesham hema-simhasana-sthitam

Meaning – 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 शरदिंदुसमप्रभं । लक्ष्म्यालिंगितवामांगम विभूतिभिरुपाश्रितं ॥

vivrtasyam tri-nayanam

sharad-indu-sama-prabham lakshmyalingita-vamangam vibhutibhir upashritam

Meaning – His mouth is wide open, He has three eyes, and He is as radiant as the autumn moon. He is embraced by Lakshmi devi on his left side, and His form is the shelter of all opulences, both material and spiritual.

चतुर्भुजं कोमलांगम स्वर्णकुण्डलशोभितं । ऊरोजशोभितोरस्कं रत्नकेयूरमुद्रितं ॥

chatur-bhujam komalangam svarna-kundala-shobhitam saroja-shobitoraskam ratna-keyura-mudritam

Meaning -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.

तप्तकांचनसंकाशं पीतनिर्मलवासनं ।इंद्रादिसुरमौलिस्थस्फुरन्माणिक्यदीप्तिभि: ॥

tapta-kancana-sankasham pita-nirmala-vasasam indradi-sura-maulishthah sphuran manikya-diptibhih

Meaning – 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.

विराजितपदद्वंद्वं शंखचक्रादिहेतिभि:। गरुत्मता च विनयात स्तूयमानं मुदान्वितं ॥

virajita-pada-dvandvam shankha-chakradi-hetibhih garutmata cha vinayat stuyamanam mudanvitam

Meaning -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.

स्वहृतकमलसंवासम कृत्वा तु कवचम पठेतनृसिंहो मे शिर: पातु लोकरक्षात्मसंभव:।

sva-hrt-kamala-samvasam krtva tu kavacham pathet nrsimho me shirah patu loka-rakshartha-sambhavah

Meaning -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 स्तंभवास: फालं मे रक्षतु ध्वनन । नरसिंहो मे दृशौ पातु सोमसूर्याग्निलोचन: ॥

sarvago ’pi stambha-vasah phalam me rakshatu dhvanim nrsimho me drshau patu soma-suryagni-lochanah

Meaning -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.

शृती मे पातु नरहरिर्मुनिवर्यस्तुतिप्रिय: । नासां मे सिंहनासास्तु मुखं लक्ष्मिमुखप्रिय: ॥

smrtam me patu naraharih muni-varya-stuti-priyah nasam me simha-nashas tu mukham lakshmi-mukha-priyah

Meaning -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.

सर्वविद्याधिप: पातु नृसिंहो रसनां मम । वक्त्रं पात्विंदुवदन: सदा प्रह्लादवंदित:॥

sarva-vidyadhipah patu nrsimho rasanam mama vaktram patv indu-vadanam sada prahlada-vanditah

Meaning -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.

नृसिंह: पातु मे कण्ठं स्कंधौ भूभरणांतकृत । दिव्यास्त्रशोभितभुजो नृसिंह: पातु मे भुजौ ॥

narasimhah patu me kantham skandhau bhu-bhrd ananta-krt divyastra-shobhita-bhujah narasimhah patu me bhujau

Meaning -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 नृसिंह: पातु सर्वत: । हृदयं योगिसाध्यश्च निवासं पातु मे हरि: ॥

karau me deva-varado narasimhah patu sarvatah hrdayam yogi-sadhyash cha nivasam patu me harih

Meaning -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 हिरण्याक्षवक्ष:कुक्षिविदारण: । नाभिं मे पातु नृहरि: स्वनाभिब्रह्मसंस्तुत: ॥

madhyam patu hiranyaksha- vakshah-kukshi-vidaranah nabhim me patu naraharih sva-nabhi-brahma-samstutah

Meaning -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.

ब्रह्माण्डकोटय: कट्यां यस्यासौ पातु मे कटिं । गुह्यं मे पातु गुह्यानां मंत्राणां गुह्यरुपधृत ॥

brahmanda-kotayah katyam yasyasau patu me katim guhyam me patu guhyanam mantranam guhya-rupa-drk

Meaning -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.

ऊरु मनोभव: पातु जानुनी नररूपधृत । जंघे पातु धराभारहर्ता योऽसौ नृकेसरी ॥

uru manobhavah patujanuni nara-rupa-drk janghe patu dhara-bhara- harta yo ’sau nr-keshari

Meaning -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.

सुरराज्यप्रद: पातु पादौ मे नृहरीश्वर: । सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुष: पातु मे सर्वशस्तनुं ॥

sura-rajya-pradah patu padau me nrharishvarah sahasra-shirsha-purushah patu me sarvashas tanum

Meaning -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.

महोग्र: पूर्वत: पातु महावीराग्रजोऽग्नित:। महाविष्णुर्दक्षिणे तु महाज्वालस्तु निर्रुतौ ॥

manograh purvatah patu maha-viragrajo ’gnitah maha-vishnur dakshine tu maha-jvalas tu nairrtah

Meaning -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 सर्वतोमुख: । नृसिंह: पातु वायव्यां सौम्यां भूषणविग्रह: ॥

pashchime patu sarvesho dishi me sarvatomukhah narasimhah patu vayavyam saumyam bhushana-vigrahah

Meaning -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 सर्वमंगलदायक: । संसारभयद: पातु मृत्यूर्मृत्युर्नृकेसरी ॥

ishanyam patu bhadro me sarva-mangala-dayakah samsara-bhayatah patu mrtyor mrtyur nr-keshari

Meaning -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 प्रह्लादमुखमंडितं । भक्तिमान्य: पठेन्नित्यं सर्वपापै: प्रमुच्यते ॥

idam narasimha-kavacham prahlada-mukha-manditam bhaktiman yah pathenaityam sarva-papaih pramucyate

Meaning -This Narasimha-kavaca has been ornamented by issuing from the mouth of Prahlada Maharaja. A devotee who reads this becomes freed from all sins.

पुत्रवान धनवान लोके दीर्घायुर्उपजायते । यंयं कामयते कामं तंतं प्रप्नोत्यसंशयं॥

putravan dhanavan loke dirghayur upajayate yam yam kamayate kamam tam tam prapnoty asamshayam

Meaning -Whatever one desires in this world he can attain without doubt. One can have wealth, many sons, and a long life.

सर्वत्र जयवाप्नोति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत । भुम्यंतरिक्षदिवानां ग्रहाणां विनिवारणं ॥

sarvatra jayam apnoti sarvatra vijayi bhavet bhumy antariksha-divyanam grahanam vinivaranam

Meaning -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.

वृश्चिकोरगसंभूतविषापहरणं परं । ब्रह्मराक्षसयक्षाणां दूरोत्सारणकारणं ॥

vrshchikoraga-sambhuta- vishapaharanam param brahma-rakshasa-yakshanam durotsarana-karanam

Meaning -This is the supreme remedy for the poisonous effects of serpents and scorpions, and Brahma-rakshasa ghosts and Yakshas are driven away.

भूर्जे वा तालपत्रे वा कवचं लिखितं शुभं । करमूले धृतं येन सिद्ध्येयु: कर्मसिद्धय: ॥

bhuje va tala-patre va kavacam likhitam shubham kara-mule dhrtam yena sidhyeyuh karma-siddhayah

Meaning -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.

देवासुरमनुष्येशु स्वं स्वमेव जयं लभेत । एकसंध्यं त्रिसंध्यं वा य: पठेन्नियतो नर: ॥

devasura-manushyeshu svam svam eva jayam labhet eka-sandhyam tri-sandhyam va yah pathen niyato narah

Meaning -One who regularly chants this prayer, whether once or thrice (daily), he becomes victorious whether among demigods, demons, or human beings.

सर्वमंगलमांगल्यंभुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विंदति ।द्वात्रिंशतिसहस्राणि पाठाच्छुद्धात्मभिर्नृभि: । 

sarva-mangala-mangalyam bhuktim muktim cha vindati dva-trimshati-sahasrani pathet shuddhatmanam nrnam

Meaning -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 मंत्रस्य मंत्रसिद्धि: प्रजायते। आनेन मंत्रराजेन कृत्वा भस्माभिमंत्रणम ॥

kavachasyasya mantrasya mantra-siddhih prajayate anena mantra-rajena krtva bhasmabhir mantranam

Meaning -This Kavacha 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 बिभृयाद्यस्तु तस्य गृहभयं हरेत।त्रिवारं जपमानस्तु दत्तं वार्यभिमंत्र्य च ॥

tilakam bibhriyad yas tu tasya graha-bhayam haret tri-varam japamanas tu dattam varyabhimantrya ca

Meaning -Having marked one’s 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.

प्राशयेद्यं नरं मंत्रं नृसिंहध्यानमाचरेत ।तस्य रोगा: प्रणश्यंति ये च स्यु: कुक्षिसंभवा: ॥

prasayed yo naro mantram narasimha-dhyanam acharet tasya rogah pranashyanti ye cha syuh kukshi-sambhavah

Meaning -That person who recites this mantra, meditating upon Lord Narasimha Deva, has all of his diseases vanquished, including those of the abdomen.

किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन नृसिंहसदृशो भवेत । मनसा चिंतितं यस्तु स तच्चाऽप्नोत्यसंशयं ॥

kimatra bahunoktena narasimha sadrsho bhavet manasa chintitam yattu sa tacchapnotya samshayam

Meaning -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.

गर्जंतं गर्जयंतं निजभुजपटलं स्फोटयंतं हरंतं दीप्यंतं तापयंतं दिवि भुवि दितिजं क्षेपयंतं रसंतं ।कृंदंतं रोषयंतं दिशिदिशि सततं संभरंतं हरंतं । विक्षंतं घूर्णयंतं करनिकरशतैर्दिव्यसिंहं नमामि ॥

garjantam garjayantam nija-bhuja-patalam sphotayantam hatantam dipyantam tapayantam divi bhuvi ditijam kshepayantam kshipantam krandantam roshayantam dishi dishi satatam samharantam bharantam vikshantam purnayantam kara-nikara-shatair divya-simham namami

Meaning -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.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

॥इति प्रह्लादप्रोक्तं नरसिंहकवचं संपूर्णंम ॥

iti shri-brahmanda-purane prahladoktam shri-narasimha-kavacam sampurnam

Thus ends the Narasimha-kavaca as it is described by Prahlada Maharaja in the Brahmanda Purana.