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.
ॐ नमो भगवते रासमण्डलेशाय स्वाहा 1.19.
Om, salutations to the Lord of the rāsa circle, svāhā.
ऐं कृष्णाय स्वाहेति च कर्णयुग्मं सदाऽवतु
Let the mantra 'aiṃ kṛṣṇāya svāha' always protect both my ears.
ॐ हरये नम इति पृष्ठं पादं सदा ऽवतु
Let 'om haraye namaḥ' always protect my back and feet.
प्राच्यां मां पातु श्रीकृष्ण आग्नेय्यां पातु माधवः
May Śrī Kṛṣṇa protect me in the east, and Mādhava in the southeast.
वारुण्यां पातु गोविन्दो वायव्यां राधिकेश्वरः
Let Govinda protect me in the west, and Rādhikeśvara in the northwest.
सततं सर्वतः पातु परो नारायणः स्वयम्
May the supreme Nārāyaṇa himself always protect me everywhere.
मम जीवनतुल्यं च युष्मभ्यं दत्तमेव च कलां नार्हन्ति तान्येव कवचस्यैव धारणात्
I have given you something equal to my own life; by wearing this protective mantra, they do not deserve even a fraction of it.
गुरुमभ्यर्च्य विधिवद्वस्त्रालङ्कारचन्दनैः
After properly worshipping the guru with garments, ornaments, and sandalwood,
कवचस्य प्रसादेन जीवन्मुक्तो भवेन्नरः
By the grace of the protective mantra, a person becomes liberated while living.
सौतिरुवाच वशिष्ठेन च यद्दत्तं गन्धर्वाय च यो मनुः
Sauti said: The mantra given by Vasiṣṭha to the Gandharva, and the one given to Manu—
ॐ नमो भगवते शिवाय स्वाहेति च मनुः 1.19.
The mantra is: 'Om, obeisance to the Blessed Shiva, svaha.'
अयं मन्त्रो रावणाय प्रदत्तो ब्रह्मणा पुरा
This mantra was formerly given to Ravana by Brahma.
मूलेन सर्वं देयं च नैवेद्यादिकमुत्तमम्
With its root, all offerings and the finest food should be given.
ॐ नमो महादेवाय महेश्वर महाभाग कवचं यत्प्रकाशितम्
'Om, obeisance to the great god; O Maheshvara, greatly fortunate one, the armor that has been revealed—'
महेश्वर उवाच अहं तुम्यं प्रदास्यामि गोपनीयं सुदुर्लभम्
Maheshvara said: 'I shall give you this, which is to be kept secret and is extremely rare.'
पुरा दुर्वाससे दत्तं त्रैलोक्यविजयाय च
'Long ago, it was given to Durvasa for the conquest of the three worlds.'
ममैवेदं च कवचं भक्त्या यो धारयेत्सुधीः
'Whoever, with devotion, wears this armor of mine, being wise—'
संसारपावनस्यास्य कवचस्य प्रजापतिः धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु विनियोगः प्रकीर्तितः
'For this armor, which purifies worldly existence, the application is declared for righteousness, wealth, desire, and liberation.'
पंचलक्षजपेनैव सिद्धिदं कवचं भवेत् तेजसा सिद्धि योगेन तपसा विक्रमेण च
'By reciting it five hundred thousand times, the armor grants success—by brilliance, by accomplishment, by yoga, by austerity, and by valor.'
शम्भुर्मे मस्तकं पातु मुखं पातु महेश्वरः
'May Shambhu protect my head, may Maheshvara protect my face.'