Sri Balarama Kavaca Stotra

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. Balabhadra(Balarama ) Kavacham

Balabhadra(Balarama ) Kavacham

(Armour of Balarama)

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Balarama was the elder brother of Lord Krishna , born to his father Vasudeva
and step mother Rohini. He is considered as the incarnation of Adhisesha. In
south , he is rarely worshipped but in east India he is worshipped along with
Lord Krishna and his sister Subhadra. Here is an armour dedicated to him ,.
You can find the transliteration and meaning of the Kavacha in

http://www.scribd.com/doc/36350712/Balabhadra-Kavacha and
https://www.folknet.in/forum/showthread.php?t=1611. This is an independent
translation. Readers may also be interested to read The BalaBhadra Sahasra
Nama with meaning in

http://www.stephen-knapp.com/thousand_names_of_lord_balarama.htm .
Balarama was a guru of Duryodhana and fittingly this armour is being taught
to him.)

Duryodhana Uvacha:-

Duryodhana said:-

1.Gopibhyam kavacham datham,

Gargacharyena Dheematha ,

Sarva Rakshakaram divyam,

Dehi mahyam , Maha Mune

Oh Great sage , please give me,

The armour given by the great sage Garga ,

To the Gopis which provides all round protection.

Sri Pradvipaka Uvacha

Sage Pradvipaka said:-

2. Snathvaa jale , kshauma daraa, kusha asana,

Pavithra pani krita mantra marjanam,

Smrithvathaa nathwa Balam Achythagrajam,

Sandhrayed dharma samhitho bhaveth.

After taking bath in water , wearing cotton cloths and sitting on a seat of
grass,

One should purify his hands by the chants for cleaning ,

Meditate on the strength of the elder brother of Krishna,

And become completely full of Dharma.

3. Goloka dhama adhipathi , para Easwara,

Pareshu maam pathu pavithra keerthana,

Bhoomandalam saraspavad vilakshyathe ,

Yan moordhni maam pathu sa bhoomi mandale.

The master of Goloka*, who is the divine god,

Who has a spotless fame and who carries ,

The earth on his head like a mustard ,

May protect me who is in this world.

*Goloka is the land of heaven where devotes of Vishnu live.

4.Seneshu maam rakshathu sira panir ,

Yudhe sada rakshathu maam hali cha,

Durgeshu cha avyaan musali sada maam,

Vaneshu sankarshana aadhi deva.

Let him who carries on his head protect me from army,

Let the plough holder always protect me from war,

Let me protected from the fort by the holder of the mace,

Let the primeval God Sankarshana protect me from forests.

5.Kalindaja vega haro Jaleshu,

Nilambaro rakshathu maam sada agnou,

Vayo cha Ramo avathu , khe Bala cha,

Maharnave Anantha vapu sadaa maam.

Let him who slowed down the Yamuna protect me from water,

Let him who wears blue cloths protect me always from fire,

Lat Balarama protect me from wind,

Let Balarama protect me from sky,

And let him who is the incarnation of Adhisesha protect me from sea.

6.Sri Vasudevo aavathu Paravatheshu,

SAhasra seersha cha Maha vivadhe ,

Rogeshu maam rakshathu Rohinyo,

Maam Kama phalo aavathu vipathsu.

Let Son of Vasudeva protect me from mountains,

Let the thousand headed one protect me from great debates,

Let the son of Rohini protect me from diseases,

And let the fulfiller of desires protect me from dangers.

7.Kamath sada rakshathu dhenukari,

Krodhat sada maam dvividha prahari,

Lobhaath sada rakshathu Balavalari,

Mohath sada maam kila Magadhaari

Let the enemy of Dhenuka protect me from passion,

Let him who beat Dvividha protect me from anger,

Let the enemy of Balavala protect me from greed,

Let the enemy of king of Magadha protect me from illusion

8.Pratha sada rakshathu Vrushni duryah,

Prahne sada maam Madura purendra,

.Madhyandine gopa saka prapatu,

Svarat parahne aavathu maam sadaiva

Let the best of Vrushnis always protect me at sun rise,

Let the king Of Mathura always protect me in the morning,

Let the friend of Gopas protect me at noon,

Let the king of himself protect me in the afternoon.

9.Sayam Phanendro aavathu maam sadaiva,

Parathparo rakshathu maam pradhoshe,

Purna nishte cha durantha veeryah,

Prathyusha kale aavathu maam sadaiva.

Let the king of serpents protect me in the evening,

Let the greatly divine one protect me at dusk,

Let the greatly invincible one protect me at mid night,

And let Lord Balarama protect me at dawn.

10.Vidikshu maam rakshathu Revathi pathi,

Dhikshu pralambari adho Yadu dwaha,

Oordhwam sada maam Balabhadra arat,

Thatha samanthad Baladeva eva hi.

Let the consort of Revathi protect me in all directions,

Let in every direction , may I be protected by enemy of Pralamba,

Lat Balabadhra protect me when I am above ,

Let Baladeva protect me when I am nearby or far away and everywhere.

11. Antha sadavyaat purushothamo , bahir,

Nagendra leelo aavathu maam Maha bala,

Sadantharathma cha vasan hari swayam,

Prapthu purna parameswaro mahan.

Let me be protected by the best of men from inside ,

Let the playful King of serpents protect me from outside,

Let the very strong one who is residing always within me as Hari,

Himself protect me as the complete great God.

12.Devasuranam Bhaya nasanam cha ,

Huthasanaam papa chaye indhanam,

Vinasanam vighna ghatasya vidhi,

Sidhasanam varma varam Balasya.

This armour destroys the fear of devas and asuras,

And is the fire that grows by burning away sins ,

And it completely removes obstacles on the way ,

For it is the best of armours dedicated to Balarama.