Text 17] The Narayana-kavaca Shield 75
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sanat-kumdro ’vatu kamadevad
dhayasirsa mam pathi deva-helanat
devarsi-varyah purusarcanantarat
kirmo harir mam niraydd asesat

sanat-kumaérah—the great brahmacadri named Sanat-kumara:
avatu—may he protect; kama-devat—from the hands of Cupid or lusty
desire; haya-sirsa—Lord Hayagriva, the incarnation of the Lord whose
head is like that of a horse; mém—me; pathi—on the path: deva-
helanat—from neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to brahmanas,
Vaisnavas and the Supreme Lord; devarsi-varyah—the best of the
saintly sages, Narada; purusa-arcana-antarat—from the offenses in
worshiping the Deity; kirmah—Lord Karma, the tortoise; harih—the
Supreme Personality of Godhead; mém—me; niraydt—from hell:
asesét—unlimited.

TRANSLATION

May Sanat-kumara protect me from lusty desires. As I begin
some auspicious activity, may Lord Hayagriva protect me from
being an offender by neglecting to offer respectful obeisances to
the Supreme Lord. May Devarsi Narada protect me from commit-
ting offenses in worshiping the Deity, and may Lord Karma, the
tortoise, protect me from falling to the unlimited hellish planets.

PURPORT

Lusty desires are very strong in everyone, and they are the greatest
impediment to the discharge of devotional service. Therefore those who
are very much influenced by lusty desires are advised to take shelter of
Sanat-kumara, the great brahmacdri devotee. Narada Muni, who is the
guide for arcana, is the author of the Ndrada-pajicaratra, which
prescribes the regulative principles for worshiping the Deity. Everyone
engaged in Deity worship, whether at home or in the temple, should al-
ways seek the mercy of Devarsi Narada in order to avoid the thirty-two
offenses while worshiping the Deity. These offenses in Deity worship are
mentioned in The Nectar of Devotion.
