Balarama Kavacha

[Paramananda das]

Balarama Kavacha

This Balarama Kavacha (armor) will ensure one full protection against the onslaught of Maya. One should chant this mantra after having taken bath and worn clean cloth. This Kavacha had previously bee given to the Vraja Gopis by Garga Muni. It is being repeated here to Duryodhana.

 

goloka-dhama-adhipatihparesvarah
paresu-mampatupavitrakirtanah
bhu-mandalam-sarsa-pava-dvilaksate
yan-murdhnimampatu-sa bhumi mandale (1)
O Master of Goloka who is always glorified by kirtan, kindly protect me from my enemies. O you who carries Bhumandala on His head like a mustard seed (Sesa), kindly protect me in Bhumandala.

sena-su-mam-raksa-tu-sir-panir
yuddhe-sada raksa-tu mam halich
durgesu chavyan-musali sada-mam
vanesu sankarsanaadi-devah (2 )
O Sir-Pani kindly protect me amongst the military forces. O Halich, kindly protect me in battle, O Musalidhara, kindly protect me in the fortress . O Sankarsana, kindly protect me in the forest.

kalinda ja vega haro jalesu
nilambaro raksa tu mam asda gnau
vayau ca ramo vatukhe balascha
maharnave anata vapu asda mam (3)
O controller of the Yamuna kindly protect me in the water. O Nilambar kindly protect me against fire. O Rama kindly protect me from the wind. O Balarama kindly protect me in the sky. O Anant Vapu kindly be my only protector in the ocean.

kamat sada raksa tu dhenukarin
krodhat sada mam devivida prahari
lobhat sada raksa tu balvalarir
mohat sada mam kil magadharih (5)
O Dhenukari kindly protect me from lust. O Dvivida Prahari kindly protect me against anger. O Balvalari kindly protect me from greed. O Magadhari kindly protect me against illusion.

pratah sada raksa tu vrsni dhuryah
prahne sada mam mathura purendrah
madhyam dine gopa sakhah prapatu
svarat parahne vatu mam sadaiva (6)
O Vrsni Dhurya kindly protect me in the morning . O Mathura Purendra kindly protect me in the eight periods of the day. O Gopa Sakhah kindly protect me in the middle of the day. O Svarat kindly protect me in the afternoon.

sayam phanindro vatu mam sadaiva
paratparo raksa tu mam pradose
purne nisithe ca duranata-viryah
pratyusa kale vatu mam sadaiva (7)
O Phanindra, kindly protect me in the evening. O Paratpara, kindly protect me in the frist part of of night. O Duranta-virya, kindly protect me the middle of the night. O Balarama, kindly protect me in the last part of the night.

vidiksu mam raksa tu revati-patir
diksu pralambari radha yadu-dvahah
urddhvam sada mam balabhadra arat
tatah samantad baladeva eva hi (8)
O Ravati-pati, kindly protect me from the four intermediate directions. O Parlambari, kindly protect me from the four directions. O Balabhadra, kindly protect me from above, O Baladeva, kindly protect me from below and on every side.

antah sada vyat purusottamo
bahir nagendra lilo vatu mam mahabalah
sada antaratmaja vasam harih avayam
prapatu purnah paramesvaro mahan (9)
O Pursottam kindly protect me from within. O Nagendra kindly protect me from outside. O Hari, you are the supreme Personality of Godhead please kindly be my only protector always.
This Balarama kavacha drives away all fears of both the demigods and the demons and burns up all sinful reactions.

[Paramananda das]

Balarama Kavacha is not meant to replace the holy name, but help us chant better and more

[Paramananda das]

Text 3

devädi-deva bhagavan
käma-päla namo 'stu te
namo 'nantäya sheshäya
säkshäd-rämäya te namah

O master of the demigods, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O fulfiller of desires, obeisances to You! O Lord Ananta Shesha, obeisances to You! O Lord Balaräma, obeisances to You!

Text 4

dharä-dharäya purnäya
sva-dhämne sira-pänaye
sahasra-shirase nityam
namah sankarshanäya te

O Lord who maintains the earth, O glorious Lord, O perfect and complete Lord, O Lord who holds a plow in Your hand, O Lord who has a thousand heads, O Lord Sankarshana, eternal obeisances to You!

Text 5

revati-ramana tvam vai
baladeväcyutägraja
haläyudha pralamba-ghna
pähi mäm purushottama

O husband of Revati, O Lord Balaräma, O elder brother of Lord Krishna, O Lord who holds a plow-weapon, O killer of Pralambäsura, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, please protect me!

Text 6

baläya balabhadräya
tälänkäya namo namah
nilämbaräya gauräya
rauhineyäya te namah

O Lord Balaräma, who carries a palm-tree flag, obeisances to You! O son of Rohini, O fair-complexioned Lord dressed in blue garments, obeisances to You!

Text 7

dhenukärir mushtikärih
kutärir balvaläntakah
rukmy-arih kupakarnärih
kumbhandäris tvam eva hi

You are the enemy of Dhenuka, the enemy of Mushtika, the enemy of Kuta, the killer of Balvala, the enemy of Rukmi, the enemy of Kupakarna, and the enemy of Kumbhanda.

Text 8

kälindi-bhedano 'si tvam
hastinäpura-karshakah
dvividärir yädavendro
vraja-mandala-mandanah

You are the Lord who broke the Yamuna' and dragged Hastinäpura. You are the enemy of Dvivida. You are the king of the Yädavas. You are the ornament of Vraja's circle.

Text 9

kamsa-bhrätri-prahantäsi
tirtha-yäträ-karah prabhuh
duryodhana-guruh säkshät
pähi pähi prabho tö atah

You are the killer of Kamsa's brothers. You are the supreme master, the Lord who went on pilgrimage, and Duryodhana's guru. O master, please protect me! Please protect me!

Text 10

jaya jayäcyuta-deva parät para
svayam ananta-dig-anta-gata-shruta
sura-munindra-phanindra-caräya te
musaline baline haline namah

O infallible Lord, greater than the greatest, O Lord whose glories are heard in all directions without limit, glory to You! Glory to You! O Lord served by the demigods, the kings of the sages, and the kings of the serpents, O powerful Lord who holds a plow and a club, obeisances to You!

Text 11

yah pathet satatam stavanam narah
sa tu hareh paramam padam ävrajet
jagati sarva-balam to ari-mardanam
bhavati tasya dhanam sva-janam dhanam

A person who regularly recites this prayer attains Lord Hari's transcendental abode. All the strength in the universe is his. He crushes his enemies. He attains great wealth and a great dynasty.

[Paramananda das]

Lord Krishna and His elder brother, Lord Balarama (left).

(Painting reprinted from the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust)
.
Text 1

duryodhana uvaca
gopibhyam kavacam dattam
gargacaryena dhimata
sarva-raksha-karam divyam
dehi mahyam maha-mune

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

Text 2

shri-pradvipaka uvaca
snatva jale kshauma-dharah kushasanah
pavitra-paniu krita-mantra-marjanah
smritvatha natva balam acyutagrajam
sandharayed dharma-samahito bhavet

Shri Pradvipaka Muni said: After bathing and dressing in clean cotton garments, a person should sit on a kusha-grass mat, purify his hands with mantras, bow down, and with fixed intelligence meditate on Lord Krishna's elder brother, Lord Balarama.

Text 3

goloka-dhamadhipatih pareshvarah
pareshu mam patu pavitra-kirtanahbhu-mandalam sarshapavad vilakshyate
yan-murdhni mam patu sa bhumi-mandale

May Lord Balarama, who is the master of Goloka, who is the supreme controller of all controllers, and whose fame is spotless, protect me. May Lord Balarama, who on His head holds the earth as if it were a single mustard seed, protect me in this world.

Text 4

senasu mam rakshatu sira-panir
yuddhe sada rakshatu mam hali cha
durgeshu chayavann musali sada mam
vaneshu sankarshana adi-devah

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

Text 5

kalindaja-vega-haro jaleshu
nilambaro rakshatu mam sadagnau
vayau cha ramo 'vatu khe balash cha
maharnave 'nanta-vapuh sada mam

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

Text 6

shri-vasudevo 'vatu parvateshu
sahasra-shirshä cha maha-vivade
rogeshu mam rakshatu rauhineyo
mam kama-palo 'vatu va vipatsu

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

Text 7

kamat sada rakshatu dhenukarih
krodhat sada mam dvivida-prahari
lobhat sada rakshatu balvalarir
mohat sada mam kila magadharih

May Lord Balarama, who is the enemy of Dhenukasura, always protect me from lust. May Lord Balarama, who killed Dvivida, always protect me from anger. May Lord Balarama, who is the enemy of Balvala, always protect me from greed. May Lord Balarama, who is the enemy of Jarasandha, always protect me from illusion.

Text 8

pratah sada rakshatu vrishni-dhuryah
prahne sada mam mathura-purendra
madhyandine gopa-sakhah prapatu
svarat parahne 'vatu mam sadaiva

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

Text 9

sayam phanindro 'vatu mam sadaiva
parat paro rakshatu mam pradoshe
purne nishithe cha duranta-viryah
pratyusha-kale 'vatu mam sadaiva

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

Text 10

vidikshu mam rakshatu revati-patir
dikshu pralambarir adho yadudvahah
urdhvam sada mam balabhadra arat
tatha samantad baladeva eva hi

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

Text 11

antah sadavyat purushottamo bahir
nagendra-lilo 'vatu mam maha-balah
sadantaratma cha vasan harih svayam
prapatu purnah parameshvaro mahan

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

Text 12

devasuranam bhaya-nashanam cha
hutashanam papa-chayendhananam
vinashanam vighna-ghatasya viddhi
siddhasanam varma-varam balasya

Please know that this kavacha of Lord Balarama 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.

[Paramananda das]

The Kavacha Stotra of Lord Balabhadra
From the Garga Samhita translation of Kushakratha dasa prabhu.

Chapter Twelve

Shri Balabhadra-stotra-kavaca
The Prayer and Armor of Lord Balaraama

Text 1

duryodhana uvaaca

gopibhyaam kavacam dattam
gargaacaaryena dhimataa
sarva-rakshaa-karam divyam
dehi mahyam mahaa-mune

duryodhana uvaaca-Duryodhana said; gopibhyaam-to the gopis; kavacam-the armor; dattam-given; gargaacaaryena-by Garga Muni; dhimataa-intelligent; sarva-raksha-karam-giving all protection; divyam-transcendental; dehi-please give; mahyam-to me; mahaa-mune-O great sage.

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

Text 2

shri-praadvipaaka uvaaca

snaatvaa jale kshauma-dharah kushaasanah
pavitra-paanih krita-mantra-marjanah
smritvaatha natvaa balam acyutaagrajam
sandhaarayed dharma-samaahito bhavet

shri-praadvipaaka uvaaca-Shri Praadvipaaka Muni said; snaatvaa-bathing; jale-in water; kshauma-dharah-wearing clean cotton garments; kushaasanah-sitting on a kusha grass mat; pavitra-paanih-clean hands; krita-mantra-marjanah-purified by mantra; smritvaa-meditating; atha-then; natvaa-bowing; balam-to Lord Balaraama; acyutaagrajam-the elder brother of Lord Krishna; sandhaarayet-should meditate; dharma-samaahitah-concentrating; bhavet-should be.

Shri Praadvipaaka Muni said: After bathing and dressing in clean cotton garments, a person should sit on a kusha-grass mat, purify his hands with mantras, bow down, and with fixed intelligence meditate on Lord Krishna's elder brother, Lord Balaraama.

Text 3

goloka-dhaamaadhipatih pareshvarah
pareshu maam paatu pavitra-kirtanahbhu-mandalam sarshapavad vilakshyate
yan-murdhni maam paatu sa bhumi-mandale

goloka-dhaamaadhipatih-the master of the realm of Goloka; pareshvarah-the supreme controller; pareshu-among all controllers; maam-me; paatu-may protect; pavitra-pure; kirtanah-glories; bhu-mandalam-the circle of the earth; sarshapavat-like a mustard seed; vilakshyate-is characterized; yan-murdhni-on whose head; maam-me; paatu-may protect; sa-he; bhumi-mandale-in the circle of the earth.

May Lord Balaraama, who is the master of Goloka, who is the supreme controller of all controllers, and whose fame is spotless, protect me. May Lord Balaraama, who on His head holds the earth as if it were a single mustard seed, protect me in this world.

Text 4

senaasu maam rakshatu sira-paanir
yuddhe sadaa rakshatu maam hali ca
durgeshu caavyaan musali sadaa maam
vaneshu sankarshana aadi-devah

senaasu-among armies; maam-me; rakshatu-may protect; sira-paanih-who holds a plow in His hand; yuddhe-in battle; sadaa-always; rakshatu'may protect; maam-me; hali-holding a plow; ca-and; durgeshu-in fortresses; ca-and; avyaat-may protect; musali-holding a club; sadaa-always; maam-me; vaneshu-in forests; sankarshana-Lord Balaraama; aadi-devah-the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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

Text 5

kalindajaa-vega-haro jaleshu
nilaambaro rakshatu maam sadaagnau
vaayau ca raamo 'vatu khe balash ca
mahaarnave 'nanta-vapuh sadaa maam

kalindajaa-of the Yamunaa; vega-the power; harah-removing; jaleshu-in water; nilaambarah-dressed in blue garments; rakshatu-may protect; maam-me; sadaa-always; agnau-in fire; vaayau-in wind; ca-and; raamah-Lord Balaraama; avatu-may protect; khe-in the sky; balah-Lord Balaraama; ca-and; mahaarnave-in the great ocean; ananta-vapuh-whose form has no end; sadaa-always; maam-me.

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

Text 6

shri-vaasudevo 'vatu parvateshu
sahasra-shirshaa ca mahaa-vivaade
rogeshu maam rakshatu rauhineyo
maam kaama-paalo 'vatu va vipatsu

shri-vaasudevah-the son of Vasudeva; avatu-may protect; parvateshu-in the mountains; sahasra-shirshaa-who has a thousand heads; ca-and; mahaa-vivaade-in great disputes; rogeshu-in diseases; maam-me; rakshatu-may protect; rauhineyah-the son of Rohini; maam-me; kaama-paalah-the fulfiller of desires; avatu-may protect; vaa-or; vipatsu-in calamities.

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

Text 7

kaamaat sadaa rakshatu dhenukaarih
krodhaat sadaa maam dvivida-prahaari
lobhaat sadaa rakshatu balvalaarir
mohaat sadaa maam kila maagadhaarih

kaamaat-from lust; sadaa-always; rakshatu-may protect; dhenukaarih-the enemy of Dhenuka; krodhaat-from anger; sadaa-always; maam-me; dvivida-prahaari-the killer of Dvivida; lobhaat-from greed; sadaa-always; rakshatu-may protect; balvalaarih-the enemy of Balvala; mohaat-from illusion; sadaa-always; maam-me; kila-indeed; maagadhaarih-the enemy of Jaraasandha.

May Lord Balaraama, who is the enemy of Dhenukaasura, always protect me from lust. May Lord Balaraama, who killed Dvivida, always protect me from anger. May Lord Balaraama, who is the enemy of Balvala, always protect me from greed. May Lord Balaraama, who is the enemy of Jaraasandha, always protect me from illusion.

Text 8

praatah sadaa rakshatu vrishni-dhuryah
praahne sadaa maam mathuraa-purendrah
madhyandine gopa-sakhah prapaatu
svaraat paraahne 'vatu maam sadaiva

praatah-at sunrise; sadaa-always; rakshatu-may protect; vrishni-dhuryah-the greatst of the Vrishnis; praahne-in the morning; sadaa-always; maam-me; mathuraa-purendrah-the king of Mathura' City; madhyandine-at noon; gopa-sakhah-the friend of the gopas; prapaatu-may protect; svaraat-independent; paraahne-in the afternoon; avatu-may protect; maam-me; sadaa-always; eva-indeed.

May Lord Balaraama, who is the best of the Vrishnis, always protect me at sunrise. May Lord Balaraama, who is the king of Mathura' City, always protect me in the morning. May Lord Balaraama, who is the friend of the gopas, always protect me at midday. May Lord Balaraama, who is supremely independent, always protect me in the afternoon.

Text 9

saayam phanindro 'vatu maam sadaiva
paraat paro rakshatu maam pradoshe
purne nishithe ca duranta-viryah
pratyusha-kaale 'vatu maam sadaiva

saayam-at sunset; phanindrah-the king of serpents; avatu-may protect; maam-me; sadaa-always; eva-indeed; paraat-than the greatest; parah-greater; rakshatu-may protect; maam-me; pradoshe-in the evening; purne-full; nishithe-in the middle of the night; ca-and; duranta-viryah-whose power is invicible; pratyusha-kaale-at the next sunrise; avatu-may protect; maam-me; sadaa-always; eva-indeed.

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

Text 10

vidikshu maam rakshatu revati-patir
dikshu pralambaarir adho yadudvahah
urdhvam sadaa maam balabhadra aaraat
tathaa samantaad baladeva eva hi

vidikshu-in the directions; maam-me; rakshatu-may protect; revati-patih-the husband of Revati; dikshu-in the directions; pralambaarih-the enemy of Pralamba; adhah-below; yadudvahah-the best of the Yaadavas; urdhvam-above; sadaa-alwys; maam-me; balabhadra-Balaraama; aaraat-near and far; tathaa-so; samantaat-everywhere; baladeva-Lord Balaraama; eva-indeed; hi-indeed.

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

Text 11

antah sadaavyaat purushottamo bahir
naagendra-lilo 'vatu maam mahaa-balah
sadaantaraatmaa ca vasan harih svayam
prapaatu purnah parameshvaro mahaan
antah-within; sadaa-always; avyaat-may protect; purushottamah-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bahih-without; naagendra-lilah-who enjoys pastimes as the king of serpents; avatu-may protect; maam-me; mahaa-balah-very powerful; sadaa-always; antaraatmaa-within the heart; ca-and; vasan-residing; harih-Lord Hari; svayam-personally; prapaatu-may protect; purnah-perfect and complete; parameshvarah-the supreme controller; mahaan-great.

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

Text 12

devaasuraanaam bhaya-naashanam ca
hutaashanam paapa-cayendhanaanaam
vinaashanam vighna-ghatasya viddhi
siddhaasanam varma-varam balasya

devaasuraanaam-of the demigods and demons; bhaya-of fear; naashanam-the destruction; ca-and; hutaashanam-the fire; paapa-cayendhanaanaam'of the fuel of a host sins; vinaashanam-destruction; vighna-ghatasya-of a host of obstacles; viddhi-please know; siddhaasanam-the abode of perfection; varma-varam-the best of armors; balasya-of Lord Balaraama.

Please know that this kavaca of Lord Balaraama 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.