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.
कारागारेऽपि बद्धो यो नैव प्राप्नोति निर्वृतिम् 1.19.
Even one bound in prison does not attain contentment.
भ्रष्टराज्यो लभेद्राज्यं भक्त्या मासं शृणोति यः
He whose kingdom is lost regains his kingdom if he listens with devotion for a month.
यक्ष्मग्रस्तो वर्षमेकमास्तिको यः शृणोति चेत्
If a faithful person afflicted with consumption listens for one year—
यः शृणोति सदा भक्त्या स्तवराजमिमं द्विज
O twice-born, whoever always listens with devotion to this king of hymns—
कदाचिद्बन्धुविच्छेदो न भवेत्तस्य भारते
Separation from relatives never occurs for him, O descendant of Bharata.
सुसंयतोऽतिभक्त्या च मासमेकं शृणोति यः
He who is well-disciplined and listens with great devotion for one month—
महामूर्खश्च दुर्मेधा मासमेकं शृणोति यः
Even a great fool, lacking intelligence, who listens for one month—
कर्मदुःखी दरिद्रश्च मासं भक्त्या शृणोति यः
One who is afflicted by the pain of actions, or poor, who listens with devotion for a month—
इह लोके सुखं भुक्त्वा कृत्वा कीर्तिं सुदुर्लभाम्
Enjoys happiness in this world and attains fame that is most difficult to obtain.
पार्षदप्रवरो भूत्वा सेवते तत्र शङ्करम्
Becoming an exalted attendant, he serves Śaṅkara there.