श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं गोपा गोप्यश्च जहसुर्मुदा
Hearing those words, the cowherds and the cowherd women laughed with joy.
शिशोः स्वस्त्ययनं कार्यं चक्रुर्ब्राह्मणपुंगवाः
The foremost of the Brahmins performed a rite of blessing for the child.
वदामि तत्ते विप्रेन्द्र कवचं सर्वरक्षणम्
O best of Brahmins, I will tell you that armor which protects from all harm.
निद्रिते जगतीनाथे जले च जलशायिनि
When the Lord of the worlds sleeps, lying upon the waters,
योगनिद्रोवाच स्थितायां मयि च ब्रह्मन्सुखी तिष्ठ जगत्पते
Yoganidra spoke: 'While I remain, O Brahmin, O Lord of the world, be at ease.'
श्रीहरिः पातु ते वक्त्रं मस्तकं मधुसूदनः
May Śrī Hari protect your mouth, and Madhusūdana your head.
कर्णयुग्मं च कण्ठं च कपालं पातु माधवः
May Mādhava protect both your ears, your throat, and your skull.
अधरोष्ठं हृषीकेशो दंतपंक्तिं गदाग्रजः 4.12.
May Hṛṣīkeśa protect your lower lip, and Gadāgraja your rows of teeth.
वक्षः पातु मुकुन्दश्च जठरं पातु दैत्यहा
May Mukunda protect your chest, and the slayer of demons your abdomen.
नितंबयुग्मं गुह्यं च पातु ते पुरुषोत्तमः
May Puruṣottama protect your hips and your private parts.
हस्तयुग्मं नृसिंहश्च पातु सर्वत्र संकटे
May Nṛsiṃha protect both your hands, and everywhere in danger.
ऊर्ध्वं नारायणः पातु ह्यधस्तात्कमलापतिः
May Nārāyaṇa protect above, and Kamalāpati below.
वनमाली पातु याम्यां वैकुंठः पातु नैर्ऋतौ
May Vanamālī protect in the south, and Vaikuṇṭha in the southwest.
पातु ते संततमजो वायव्यां विष्टरश्रवाः
May the unborn one always protect you in the northwest, and Viṣṭaraśravāḥ in the west.
ऐशान्यामीश्वरः पातु पातु सर्वत्र शत्रुजित्
May Īśvara protect in the northeast, and Śatrujit protect everywhere.
इत्येवं कथितं ब्रह्मन्कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
Thus, O Brahmin, this wondrous armor has been described.
शुंभेन सह संग्रामे निर्लक्ष्ये घोरदारुणे
In battle with Shumbha, in that fierce and terrible conflict,
कवचस्य प्रभावेण धरण्यां पतितो मृतः 4.12.
by the power of the armor, he fell dead upon the earth.
मृते शुंभे च गोविन्दः कृपालुर्गगनस्थितः
When Shumbha was slain, Govinda, compassionate, stood in the sky.
कल्पांतरस्य वृत्तांतं कृपया कथितं मुने
Out of compassion, he told the sage the events of another kalpa.
कोटिशः कोटिशो नष्टा मया दृष्टाश्च वेधसः
Millions upon millions of worlds have perished; I have seen them, O Creator.
इत्युक्त्वा कवचं दत्त्वा साऽन्तर्धानं चकार ह
Having spoken thus and given the armor, he then disappeared.
सुवर्णगुटिकायां च कृत्वेदं कवचं परम्
Having made this supreme armor into a golden bead,
विषाग्निजलशत्रुभ्यो भयं तस्य न जायते
he has no fear from poison, fire, water, or enemies.
संग्रामे वज्रपाते च विपत्तौ प्राणसंकटे
In battle, under thunderbolts, in calamity, or at the crisis of life,
बद्ध्वेदं कवचं कण्ठे शंकरस्त्रिपुरं पुरा
having bound this armor on his neck, Shankara once destroyed Tripura.
बद्ध्वेदं कवचं काली रक्तबीजं चखाद सा
Having bound this armor, Kali once devoured Raktabija.
आवां सनत्कुमारश्च धर्मसाक्षी च कर्मणाम् 4.12.
We two, Sanatkumara and I, are witnesses of dharma and actions.
तस्य नन्दशिशोः कण्ठे चकार कवचं द्विजः
The twice-born placed the armor on the neck of Nanda's child.
प्रभावः कथितः सर्वः कवचस्य हरेस्तथा
The entire power of Hari's armor has thus been described.