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.
विघ्ननिघ्नं पापहरं महापुण्यकरं परम्
It destroys obstacles, removes sin, and bestows great merit.
एकदा नन्दपत्नी च कृत्वा कृष्णं स्ववक्षसि
Once, Nanda's wife, having placed Krishna on her breast,
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र विप्रेंद्रैकः समागतः
at that moment, O best of Brahmins, a certain Brahmin arrived there.
प्रजपन्परमं ब्रह्म शुद्धस्फटिकमालया
Reciting the supreme Brahman, with a pure crystal garland,
ज्योतिर्ग्रंथो मूर्तिमांश्च वेदवेदांगपारगः
He was a master of astronomy, embodied in form, and thoroughly versed in the Vedas and their branches.
शरत्पार्वणचंद्रास्यो गौरांगः पद्मलोचनः
His face was like the autumn full moon, his complexion fair, and his eyes lotus-like.
व्याख्यामुद्राकरः श्रीमाञ्छिष्यानध्यापयन्मुदा
He made gestures of explanation, was adorned with prosperity, and joyfully instructed his disciples.
एकीभूय चतुर्वेदास्तेजसा मूर्तिमानिव
The four Vedas, united, seemed to have taken form as his radiant embodiment.
ध्यानैकनिष्ठः श्रीकृष्णपादांभोजे दिवानिशम्
He was solely devoted to meditation on the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, day and night.
तं दृष्ट्वा सा समुत्तस्थौ यशोदा प्रणनाम च 4.13.
Seeing him, Yaśodā rose up and bowed down to him.