The Prayer and Armor of Lord Balarama
Verse 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 was given to the gopis by the wise Garga Muni, and
which gives all protection.”
Verse 2
shri-pradvipaka uvaca
snatva jale kshauma-dharah kushasanah
pavitra-paniù 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 mat made out of kusha , purify his hands with mantras, bow
down, and focus on the meditation of Krshna’s elder brother, Lord Balarama.”
Verse 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!
Verse 4
senasu mam rakshatu sira-panir
yuddhe sada rakshatu mam hali cha
durgeshu chavyan musali sada mam
vaneshu sankarshana adi-devah
May Lord Balarama protect me when I am in the battlefield! May Lord Balarama,
who holds a plough always protect me from opponents’ armies! May Lord
Balarama, who holds a club, protect me in many fortresses! May Lord Balarama,
the Supreme Lord protect me in the forest!
Verse 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 from the fires! May Lord Balarama protect me in the wind! May
Lord Balarama protect me in the sky! May Lord Balarama, who is Lord Ananta
Himself, protect me from the waters!
Verse 6
shri-vasudevo ‘vatu parvateshu
sahasra-shirsha cha maha-vivade
rogeshu mam rakshatu rauhineyo
mam kama-palo ‘vatu va vipatsu
May Lord Balarama, who is Vasudeva’s son, protect me on the 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 all desires, protect me from catastrophes!
Verse 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!
Verse 8
pratah sada rakshatu vrishni-dhuryah
prahne sada mam mathura-purendrah
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 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!
Verse 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 sunrise!
Verse 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, and who is the enemy of
Pralamba protect me from all directions! 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 from far! May Lord Balarama
protect me everywhere!
Verse 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 outside! May Lord Balarama, who is the Supreme Lord,
the Supersoul residing in everyone’s heart, always protect me!
Verse 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.
