Chapter Twelve Śrī Balabhadra-stotra-kavaca The Prayer and Armor of Lord Balarāma

GS 8.12.1

Verse text

duryodhana uvāca

gopībhyāṁ kavacaṁ dattaṁ

gargācāryena dhīmatā

sarva-rakṣā-karaṁ divyaṁ

dehi mahyaṁ mahā-mune

Synonyms

duryodhana uvāca — Duryodhana said ; gopībhyām — to the gopīs ; kavacam — the armor ; dattam — given ; gargācāryena — by Garga Muni ; dhīmatā — intelligent ; sarva-rakṣa-karam — giving all protection ; divyam — transcendental ; dehi — please give ; mahyam — to me ; mahā-mune — O great sage.

Translation

Duryodhana said: O great sage, please give me the transcendental Balarāma-kavaca, which wise Garga Muni gave to the gopīs, and which gives all protection.

GS 8.12.2

Verse text

śrī-prāḍvipāka uvāca

snātvā jale kṣauma-dharah kuśāsanah

pavitra-pāṇih kṛta-mantra-marjanah

smṛtvātha natvā balam acyutāgrajaṁ

sandhārayed dharma-samāhito bhavet

Synonyms

śrī-prāḍvipāka uvāca — Śrī Prāḍvipāka Muni said ; snātvā — bathing ; jale — in water ; kṣauma-dharah — wearing clean cotton garments ; kuśāsanah — sitting on a kuśa grass mat ; pavitra-pāṇih — clean hands ; kṛta-mantra-marjanah — purified by mantra ; smṛtvā — meditating ; atha — then ; natvā — bowing ; balam — to Lord Balarāma ; acyutāgrajam — the elder brother of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; sandhārayet — should meditate ; dharma-samāhitah — concentrating ; bhavet — should be.

Translation

Śrī Prāḍvipāka Muni said: After bathing and dressing in clean cotton garments, a person should sit on a kuśa-grass mat, purify his hands with mantras, bow down, and with fixed intelligence meditate on Lord Kṛṣṇa's elder brother, Lord Balarāma.

GS 8.12.3

Verse text

goloka-dhāmādhipatih pareśvarah

pareṣu māṁ pātu pavitra-kīrtanaḥ

Translation

bhū-maṇḍalaṁ sarṣapavad vilakṣyate yan-mūrdhni māṁ pātu sa bhūmi-maṇḍale goloka-dhāmādhipatih—the master of the realm of Goloka; pareśvarah—the supreme controller; pareṣu—among all controllers; mām—me; pātu—may protect; pavitra—pure; kīrtanah—glories; bhū-maṇḍalam—the circle of the earth; sarṣapavat—like a mustard seed; vilakṣyate—is characterized; yan-mūrdhni—on whose head; mām—me; pātu—may protect; sa—he; bhūmi-maṇḍale—in the circle of the earth. May Lord Balarāma, who is the master of Goloka, who is the supreme controller of all controllers, and whose fame is spotless, protect me. May Lord Balarāma, who on His head holds the earth as if it were a single mustard seed, protect me in this world.

GS 8.12.4

Verse text

senāsu māṁ rakṣatu sīra-pāṇir

yuddhe sadā rakṣatu māṁ halī ca

durgeṣu cāvyān musalī sadā māṁ

vaneṣu saṅkarṣaṇa ādi-devah

Synonyms

senāsu — among armies ; mām — me ; rakṣatu — may protect ; sīra-pāṇih — who holds a plow in His hand ; yuddhe — in battle ; sadā — always ; rakṣatu — may protect ; mām — me ; halī — holding a plow ; ca — and ; durgeṣu — in fortresses ; ca — and ; avyāt — may protect ; musalī — holding a club ; sadā — always ; mām — me ; vaneṣu — in forests ; saṅkarṣaṇa — Lord Balarāma ; ādi-devah — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation

May Lord Balarāma protect me when I am surrounded by many armies. May Lord Balarāma, who holds a plow, always protect me in battle. May Lord Balarāma, who holds a club, always protect me in many fortresses. May Lord Balarāma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect me in the forest.

GS 8.12.5

Verse text

kalindajā-vega-haro jaleṣu

nīlāmbaro rakṣatu māṁ sadāgnau

vāyau ca rāmo 'vatu khe balaś ca

mahārṇave 'nanta-vapuh sadā mām

Synonyms

kalindajā — of the Yamunā ; vega — the power ; harah — removing ; jaleṣu — in water ; nīlāmbarah — dressed in blue garments ; rakṣatu — may protect ; mām — me ; sadā — always ; agnau — in fire ; vāyau — in wind ; ca — and ; rāmah — Lord Balarāma ; avatu — may protect ; khe — in the sky ; balah — Lord Balarāma ; ca — and ; mahārṇave — in the great ocean ; ananta-vapuh — whose form has no end ; sadā — always ; mām — me.

Translation

May Lord Balarāma, who wears blue garments and who stopped the Yamunā, always protect me in fire. May Lord Balarāma protect me in the wind. May Lord Balarāma protect me in the sky. May Lord Balarāma, who is Lord Ananta Himself, always protect me in the great ocean.

GS 8.12.6

Verse text

śrī-vāsudevo 'vatu parvateṣu

sahasra-śīrṣā ca mahā-vivāde

rogeṣu māṁ rakṣatu rauhiṇeyo

māṁ kāma-pālo 'vatu va vipatsu

Synonyms

śrī-vāsudevah — the son of Vasudeva ; avatu — may protect ; parvateṣu — in the mountains ; sahasra-śīrṣā — who has a thousand heads ; ca — and ; mahā-vivāde — in great disputes ; rogeṣu — in diseases ; mām — me ; rakṣatu — may protect ; rauhiṇeyah — the son of Rohiṇī ; mām — me ; kāma-pālah — the fulfiller of desires ; avatu — may protect ; vā — or ; vipatsu — in calamities.

Translation

May Lord Balarāma, who is Vasudeva's son, protect me on mountains. May Lord Balarāma, who has a thousand heads, protect me in great disputes. May Lord Balarāma, who is Rohiṇī's son, protect me from diseases. May Lord Balarāma, who fulfills desires, protect me from catastrophes.

GS 8.12.7

Verse text

kāmāt sadā rakṣatu dhenukārih

krodhāt sadā māṁ dvivida-prahārī

lobhāt sadā rakṣatu balvalārir

mohāt sadā māṁ kila māgadhārih

Synonyms

kāmāt — from lust ; sadā — always ; rakṣatu — may protect ; dhenukārih — the enemy of Dhenuka ; krodhāt — from anger ; sadā — always ; mām — me ; dvivida-prahārī — the killer of Dvivida ; lobhāt — from greed ; sadā — always ; rakṣatu — may protect ; balvalārih — the enemy of Balvala ; mohāt — from illusion ; sadā — always ; mām — me ; kila — indeed ; māgadhārih — the enemy of Jarāsandha.

Translation

May Lord Balarāma, who is the enemy of Dhenukāsura, always protect me from lust. May Lord Balarāma, who killed Dvivida, always protect me from anger. May Lord Balarāma, who is the enemy of Balvala, always protect me from greed. May Lord Balarāma, who is the enemy of Jarāsandha, always protect me from illusion.

GS 8.12.8

Verse text

prātah sadā rakṣatu vṛṣṇi-dhuryah

prāhne sadā māṁ mathurā-purendrah

madhyandine gopa-sakhah prapātu

svarāt parāhne 'vatu māṁ sadaiva

Synonyms

prātah — at sunrise ; sadā — always ; rakṣatu — may protect ; vṛṣṇi-dhuryah — the greatst of the Vṛṣṇis ; prāhne — in the morning ; sadā — always ; mām — me ; mathurā-purendrah — the king of Mathurā City ; madhyandine — at noon ; gopa-sakhah — the friend of the gopas ; prapātu — may protect ; svarāṭ — independent ; parāhne — in the afternoon ; avatu — may protect ; mām — me ; sadā — always ; eva — indeed.

Translation

May Lord Balarāma, who is the best of the Vṛṣṇis, always protect me at sunrise. May Lord Balarāma, who is the king of Mathurā City, always protect me in the morning. May Lord Balarāma, who is the friend of the gopas, always protect me at midday. May Lord Balarāma, who is supremely independent, always protect me in the afternoon.

GS 8.12.9

Verse text

sāyaṁ phaṇīndro 'vatu māṁ sadaiva

parāt paro rakṣatu māṁ pradoṣe

pūrṇe niśīthe ca duranta-vīryah

pratyūṣa-kāle 'vatu māṁ sadaiva

Synonyms

sāyam — at sunset ; phaṇīndrah — the king of serpents ; avatu — may protect ; mām — me ; sadā — always ; eva — indeed ; parāt — than the greatest ; parah — greater ; rakṣatu — may protect ; mām — me ; pradoṣe — in the evening ; pūrṇe — full ; niśīthe — in the middle of the night ; ca — and ; duranta-vīryah — whose power is invicible ; pratyūṣa-kāle — at the next sunrise ; avatu — may protect ; mām — me ; sadā — always ; eva — indeed.

Translation

May Lord Balarāma, who is the king of serpents, always protect me at sunset. May Lord Balarāma, who is greater than the greatest, always protect me in the evening. May Lord Balarāma, whose power is invicible, always protect me in the middle of the night. May Lord Balarāma always protect me at every sunrise.

GS 8.12.10

Verse text

vidikṣu māṁ rakṣatu revatī-patir

dīkṣu pralambārir adho yadūdvahah

ūrdhvaṁ sadā māṁ balabhadra ārāt

tathā samantād baladeva eva hi

Synonyms

vidikṣu — in the directions ; mām — me ; rakṣatu — may protect ; revatī-patih — the husband of Revatī ; dīkṣu — in the directions ; pralambārih — the enemy of Pralamba ; adhah — below ; yadūdvahah — the best of the Yādavas ; ūrdhvam — above ; sadā — alwys ; mām — me ; balabhadra — Balarāma ; ārāt — near and far ; tathā — so ; samantāt — everywhere ; baladeva — Lord Balarāma ; eva — indeed ; hi — indeed.

Translation

May Lord Balarāma, who is the master of Revatī, protect me from every direction. May Lord Balarāma, who is the enemy of Pralamba, protect me from every direction. May Lord Balarāma, who is the best of the Yādavas, protect me from below. May Lord Balarāma always protect me from above. May Lord Balarāma protect me from near and far. May Lord Balarāma protect me everywhere.

GS 8.12.11

Verse text

antah sadāvyāt puruṣottamo bahir

nāgendra-līlo 'vatu māṁ mahā-balah

sadāntarātmā ca vasan harih svayaṁ

prapātu pūrṇah parameśvaro mahān

Synonyms

antah — within ; sadā — always ; avyāt — may protect ; puruṣottamah — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; bahih — without ; nāgendra-līlah — who enjoys pastimes as the king of serpents ; avatu — may protect ; mām — me ; mahā-balah — very powerful ; sadā — always ; antarātmā — within the heart ; ca — and ; vasan — residing ; harih — Lord Hari ; svayam — personally ; prapātu — may protect ; pūrṇah — perfect and complete ; parameśvarah — the supreme controller ; mahān — great.

Translation

May Lord Balarāma, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always protect me from within. May powerful Lord Balarāma, who enjoys pastimes as the king of serpents, protect me from without. May Lord Balarāma, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul residing in everyone's heart, always protect me.

GS 8.12.12

Verse text

devāsurāṇāṁ bhaya-nāśanaṁ ca

hutāśanaṁ pāpa-cayendhanānām

vināśanaṁ vighna-ghatasya viddhi

siddhāsanaṁ varma-varaṁ balasya

Synonyms

devāsurāṇām — of the demigods and demons ; bhaya — of fear ; nāśanam — the destruction ; ca — and ; hutāśanam — the fire ; pāpa-cayendhanānām — of the fuel of a host sins ; vināśanam — destruction ; vighna-ghatasya — of a host of obstacles ; viddhi — please know ; siddhāsanam — the abode of perfection ; varma-varam — the best of armors ; balasya — of Lord Balarāma.

Translation

Please know that this kavaca of Lord Balarāma is the best of armors. It destroys the fears of the demigods and demons. It is a blazing fire that burns up the fuel of a host of sins. It is the death of a host of obstacles. It is the abode of spiritual perfection. .pa