इत्युक्त्वा च नमस्कारं कृत्वा दत्त्वा च दक्षिणाम्
Having spoken thus, performing obeisance and giving the offering,
श्रीनारायण उवाच भक्त्या गोपाङ्गनाः सर्वाः सर्वाभीष्टफलप्रदाम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: With devotion, all the cowherd women received the giver of all desired fruits.
जगत्येकार्णवे घोरे रुद्रसूर्यविवर्जिते
In the world, in the dreadful single ocean, devoid of Rudra and the Sun,
दत्तं पुरा ब्रह्मणे च हरिणा जलशायिना
Long ago, it was given to Brahmā by Hari, who lies upon the waters.
नाभिपद्मे जगत्स्रष्टा मधुना कैटभेन च
In the lotus of the navel, the creator of the world, along with Madhu and Kaiṭabha.
ब्रह्मोवाच जये मे मङ्गलं देहि नमस्ते सर्वमङ्गले
Brahmā said: Grant me victory, grant me auspiciousness; I bow to you, O all-auspicious one.
दैत्यनाशार्थवचनो दकारः परिकीर्तितः
The syllable 'da' is said to signify the destruction of demons.
रेफो रोगघ्नवचनो गश्च पापघ्नवाचकः
'Ra' is said to signify the destruction of disease, and 'ga' the destruction of sin.
स्मृत्युक्ति स्मरणाद्यस्या एते नश्यन्ति निश्चितम् 4.27.
By remembering and uttering her name, all these certainly perish.
विपत्तिवाचको दुर्गश्चाकारो नाशवाचकः
'Du' signifies misfortune, 'rga' signifies the destruction of obstacles.
दुर्गो दैत्येन्द्रवचनोऽप्याकारो नाशवाचकः
'Durga' is said to mean the lord of demons, and 'ā' signifies destruction.
शश्च कल्याणवचन इकारोत्कृष्टवाचकः
'Śa' is said to signify auspiciousness, and 'ī' to signify excellence.
श्रेयःसङ्घोत्कृष्टदात्री शिवा तेन प्रकीर्तिता
She is called Śivā because she grants the highest collection of blessings.
शिवो हि मोक्षवचनश्चाकारो दातृवाचकः
'Śiva' indeed signifies liberation, and 'ā' signifies the giver.
अभयो भयनाशोक्तश्चाकारो दातृवाचकः
Abhaya means 'fearlessness,' bhayanāśa means 'remover of fear,' and ākāra indicates the giver.
राज्यश्रीवचनो माश्च याश्च प्रापणवाचकः
Rājyaśrī signifies 'royal fortune,' mā means 'not,' and yā denotes the bestower.
माश्च मोक्षार्थवचनो याश्च प्रापणवाचकः
Mā also means 'for the sake of liberation,' and yā again denotes the bestower.
नारायणार्धाङ्गभूता तेन तुल्या च तेजसा
She became the half-body of Nārāyaṇa and is equal to him in splendor.
निर्गुणस्य च नित्यस्य वाचकश्च सनातनः 4.27.
She is the eternal expression of the attributeless and everlasting one.
जयः कल्याणवचनो याकारो दातृवाचकः
Jaya means 'auspiciousness,' and yā indicates the giver.
सर्व मङ्गलशब्दश्च संपूणैश्वर्यवाचकः
She is the word of all good fortune and the signifier of complete sovereignty.
नामाष्टकमिदं सारं नामार्थसहसंयुतम्
This eightfold name is the essence, endowed with the meanings of the names.
तस्मै दत्त्वा निद्रितश्च बभूव जगतां पतिः
Having given it to him, the Lord of the worlds fell asleep.
स्तोत्रेणानेन स ब्रह्मा स्तुतिं नत्वा चकार ह
With this hymn, Brahmā offered praise, bowing in adoration.
श्रीकृष्णकवचं दिव्यं सर्वरक्षणनामकम्
The divine shield of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is named the protector of all.
स्तोत्रं कुर्वन्ति निद्रां च संरक्ष्य कवचेन वै
They recite the hymn and, protected by the shield, enter into sleep.
तत्राजगाम भगवान्वृषरूपी जनार्दनः
There appeared the blessed Janārdana in the form of a bull.
सरथं शंकरं मूर्ध्नि कृत्वा च निर्भयं ददौ
He placed Śaṃkara, along with his chariot, upon his head and granted him fearlessness.
स्तोत्रस्यैव प्रभावेण संप्राप्य कवचं विधिः 4.27.
By the power of this hymn, Vidhi obtained the shield.
ब्रह्मा ददौ महेशाय स्तोत्रं च कवचं वरम्
Brahmā gave to Maheśa the hymn, the shield, and the boon.