भयान्मुच्येत भीतस्तु धनं नष्टधनो लभेत् दावाग्निदग्धो मुच्येत निमग्नश्च जलार्णवे
One who is afraid is freed from fear; one who has lost wealth regains wealth; one burned by forest fire is freed; and one submerged in the ocean is saved.
सौतिरुवाच चकार विविधं वेशं स्वात्मनः स्वामिनः कृते
Sauti said: She assumed various appearances for the sake of her lord.
भर्तुश्चकार शुश्रूषां पूजां च समयोचिताम्
She served her husband and worshipped him as appropriate to the time.
महापुरुषस्तोत्रं च पूजां च कवचं मनुम्
She performed the great hymn of praise to the Supreme Person, the worship, the protective charm, and the mantra.
पुरा दत्तं वसिष्ठेन स्तोत्रपूजादिकं हरेः
Long ago, Vasiṣṭha gave the worship, praise, and related rites of Hari.
विस्मृतं स्तोत्रकवचं वसिष्ठश्च कृपानिधिः
The hymn and protective charm were forgotten, yet Vasiṣṭha, the ocean of compassion,
एवं चकार राज्यं च कुबेरभवनोपमे
Thus he ruled the kingdom, which was comparable to the abode of Kubera.
यथातथा गताभिश्च स्त्रीभिरन्याभिरेव च
With women who had come and gone in various ways, and with others as well.
शौनक उवाच दत्तो विशिष्टस्ताभ्यां च तं भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Śaunaka said: The two of them gave something special to Datta; you are worthy to speak of that.
द्वादशाक्षरमन्त्रं च शूलिनः कवचादिकम्
The twelve-syllable mantra and the protective charm of the wielder of the trident—
तदपि ब्रूहि हे सौते श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम 1.19.
Tell me that also, O Sauti; I am eager to hear.
सौतिरुवाच तदेव स्तोत्रं दत्तं च मन्त्रं च कवचं शृणु
Sauti said: Hear now that very hymn, the mantra, and the protective charm that were given.
ॐ नमो भगवते रासमण्डलेशाय स्वाहा
Om, obeisance to the Lord of the circle of Rāsa, svāhā.
पुरा दत्तं कुमाराय ब्रह्मणा पुष्करे हरेः
Long ago, Brahmā gave this to Kumāra at Puṣkara, concerning Hari.
ध्यानं च विष्णोर्वेदोक्तं शाश्वतं सर्वदुर्लभम्
The meditation on Viṣṇu, as declared in the Vedas, is eternal and exceedingly rare.
अतीव गुप्तकवचं पितुर्वक्त्रान्मया श्रुतम्
The exceedingly secret protective charm I heard from my father's mouth.
शूलिने ब्रह्मणे दत्तं गोलोके रासमण्डले
It was given to the trident-bearer by Brahmā in Goloka, within the circle of Rāsa.
ब्रह्मोवाच ब्रह्माण्डपावनं नाम कृपया कथय प्रभो
Brahmā said: Out of compassion, O Lord, tell the one called Brahmāṇḍa-pāvana.
मां महेशं च धर्मं च भक्तं च भक्तवत्सल
Me, Maheśa, Dharma, and the devotee, O lover of devotees.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच अहं दास्यामि युष्मभ्यं गोपनीयं सुदुर्लमम्
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: I will give you that which is to be kept secret and is extremely rare.
यस्मै कस्मै न दातव्यं प्राणतुल्यं ममैव हि 1.19.
This must not be given to just anyone; it is as dear to me as life itself.
कुरु सृष्टिमिमं धृत्वा धाता त्रिजगतां भव
Having upheld this creation, become the creator of the three worlds.
हे धर्म त्वमिमं धृत्वा भव साक्षी च कर्मणाम्
O Dharma, holding this, be the witness of actions.
ब्रह्माण्डपावनस्यास्य कवचस्य हरिः स्वयम्
Hari himself is the purifier of this Brahmāṇḍa and of this protective mantra.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु विनियोगः प्रकीर्तितः
Its application is declared in matters of dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation.
यो भवेत्सिद्धकवचो मम तुल्यो भवेच्च सः
Whoever possesses this perfected protective mantra becomes equal to me.
प्रणवो मे शिरः पातु नमो रामेश्वराय च
Let the syllable 'praṇava' protect my head, and salutations to Rāmeśvara as well.
कृष्णः पायाच्छ्रोत्रयुग्मं हे हरे प्राणमेव च
May Kṛṣṇa protect both my ears, and O Hari, my very breath.
श्रीकृष्णाय स्वाहेति च कण्ठं पातु षडक्षरः
Let the six-syllabled mantra 'śrīkṛṣṇāya svāha' protect my throat.
नमो गोपाङ्गनेशाय स्कन्धावष्टाक्षरोऽवतु
Let the eight-syllabled mantra 'namo gopāṅganeśāya' protect my shoulders.