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.'
कण्ठं पातु चन्द्रचूडः स्कन्धौ वृषभवाहनः 1.19.
'May Chandrachuda protect my throat, and the Bull-bannered One protect my shoulders.'
सर्वाङ्गं पातु विश्वेशः सर्वदिक्षु च सर्वदा
'May the Lord of the Universe protect all my limbs, and in all directions, at all times.'
इति ते कथितं बाण कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
'Thus, the wondrous Bana armor has been described to you.'
यत्फलं सर्वतीर्थानां स्नानेन लभते नरः
'The fruit that a man obtains by bathing at all sacred fords—'
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा भजेन्मां यः सुमन्दधीः
'He who, not knowing this armor, worships me, being of very dull intellect—'
सौतिरुवाच मन्त्रराजः कल्पतरुर्वसिष्ठो दत्तवान्पुरा
Sauti said: 'The king of mantras, the wish-fulfilling tree, was formerly given by Vasishta.'
ॐ नमः शिवाय वन्दे सुराणां सारं च सुरेशं नीललोहितम्
'Om, obeisance to Shiva; I bow to the essence of the gods and to the lord of the gods, blue and red in hue.'
ज्ञानानन्दं ज्ञानरूपं ज्ञानबीजं सनातनम्
'The embodiment of knowledge and bliss, the form of knowledge, the seed of knowledge, eternal.'
तपोरूपं तपोबीजं तपोधनधनं वरम्
The form of austerity, the seed of austerity, the wealth and treasure of asceticism, the best.
कारणं भुक्तिमुक्तीनां नरकार्णवतारणम्
The cause of enjoyment and liberation, the means to cross the ocean of hell.
हिमचन्दनकुन्देन्दुकुमुदाम्भोजसन्निभम् 1.19.
Resembling snow, sandalwood, jasmine, the moon, the water-lily, and the lotus.
विषयाणां विभेदेन बिभ्रतं बहुरूपकम्
Assuming many forms according to the diversity of objects.
वायुरूपं चन्द्ररूपं सूर्य्यरूपं महत्प्रभुम्
Of the form of wind, of the form of the moon, of the form of the sun, the great and mighty Lord.
भक्तजीवनमीशं च भक्तानुग्रहकातरम्
The Lord who is the life of devotees, eager to bestow grace upon the devoted.
अपरिच्छिन्नमीशानमहो वाङ्मनसोः परम् त्रिशूलपट्टिशधरं सस्मितं चन्द्रशेखरम्
The Lord, unlimited, beyond speech and mind—wielding trident and spear, smiling, adorned with the crescent moon.
इत्युक्त्वा स्तवराजेन नित्यं बाणः सुसंयतः
Having thus spoken this king of hymns, Bāṇa, ever self-controlled, daily recited it.
इदं दत्तं वसिष्ठेन गन्धर्वाय पुरा मुने
This was once given by Vasiṣṭha to a Gandharva, O sage.
इदं स्तोत्रं महापुण्यं पठेद्भक्त्या च यो नरः
Whoever, with devotion, recites this great and meritorious hymn—
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं वर्षमेकं शृणोति यः
A man without a son obtains a son if he listens for one year.
गलत्कुष्ठी महाशूली वर्षमेकं शृणोति यः
He who suffers from leprosy or great pain is cured if he listens for one year.