Sri Balabhadra-stotra-kavaca

                        (The Prayer and Armor of Lord Balarama)

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.

.

(From: www.stephen-knapp.com)