ॐ ह्रीं विद्यास्वरूपायै स्वाहा मे पातु नाभिकाम्
Om hrīṃ, for the embodiment of knowledge, svāhā—may she protect my navel.
ॐ सर्ववर्णात्मिकायै पादयुग्मं सदाऽवतु
Om, for the one who is the essence of all sounds, may she always protect my pair of feet.
ॐ सर्वकण्ठवासिन्यै स्वाहा प्राच्यां सदाऽवतु 2.4.
Om, for the one who dwells in all throats, svāhā—may she always protect me in the east.
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं सरस्वत्यै बुधजनन्यै स्वाहा
Om aiṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ, for Sarasvatī, mother of the wise, svāhā.
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं त्र्यक्षरो मन्त्रो नैर्ऋत्यां मे सदाऽवतु
Om hrīṃ śrīṃ—the three-syllabled mantra—may it always protect me in the southwest.
ॐ सदम्बिकायै स्वाहा वायव्ये मां सदाऽवतु
Om, for Sadambikā, svāhā—may she always protect me in the northwest.
ॐ सर्वशास्त्रवासिन्यै स्वाहैशान्यां सदाऽवतु
Om, for the one who dwells in all scriptures, svāhā—may she always protect me in the northeast.
ऐं ह्रीं पुस्तकवासिन्यै स्वाहाऽधो मां सदाऽवतु
Aiṃ hrīṃ, for the one who dwells in books, svāhā—may she always protect me below.
इति ते कथितं विप्र सर्वमन्त्रौघविग्रहम्
Thus, O Brahmin, I have told you the entire collection of mantras.
पुरा श्रुतं धर्मवक्त्रात्पर्वते गन्धमादने
Once, this was heard from the mouth of Dharma on Gandhamādana mountain.
गुरुमभ्यर्च्य विधिवद्वस्त्रालङ्कार चन्दनैः
Having duly worshipped the guru with garments, ornaments, and sandalwood paste,
पञ्चलक्षजपेनैव सिद्धं तु कवचं भवेत्
By reciting five hundred thousand times, the protective charm becomes perfected.
महावाग्मी कवीन्द्रश्च त्रैलोक्यविजयी भवेत् 2.4.
He becomes a great orator, foremost among poets, and victorious over the three worlds.
इदं ते काण्वशाखोक्तं कथितं कवचं मुने
O sage, this protective charm as taught in the Kāṇva branch has been explained to you.
नारायण उवाच गङ्गाशापेन कलया कलहाद्भारते सरित्
Nārāyaṇa said: By the curse of Gaṅgā, through a portion of herself, the river of Bhārata arose from conflict.
पुण्यदा पुण्यजननी पुण्यतीर्थस्वरूपिणी
She is the giver of merit, the mother of virtue, and the embodiment of holy pilgrimage sites.
तपस्विनां तपोरूपा तपस्याकाररूपिणी
For ascetics, she is the form of austerity, taking the shape of penance itself.
ज्ञाने सरस्वतीतोये गतं यैर्मानवैर्भुवि
In the waters of Sarasvatī, the knowledge attained by those humans on earth,
भारते कृतपापश्च स्नात्वा तत्रैव लीलया
In Bhārata, one who has committed sin, by bathing there in play,
चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यामक्षयायां दिनक्षये
On the fourteenth day, on the imperishable full moon, at the end of the day,
अनुषङ्गेण यः स्नाति हेलया श्रद्धयाऽपि वा
Whoever bathes there, whether carelessly or with faith,
सरस्वतीमन्त्रकं च मासमेकं तु यो जपेत्
And whoever recites the Sarasvatī mantra for one month,
नित्यं सरस्वतीतोये यः स्नात्वा मुण्डयेन्नरः
Whoever daily, after bathing in the waters of Sarasvatī, shaves his head,
इत्येवं कथितं किंचिद्भारतीगुणकीर्त्तनम् 2.6.
Thus, a little has been told about the virtues of Bhārata.
सौतिरुवाच पुनः पप्रच्छ सन्देहच्छेदं शौनक सत्वरम्
Sauti said: Again, Śaunaka quickly asked to dispel his doubt.
नारद उवाच कलया कलहेनैव समभूत्पुण्यदा सरित्
Nārada said: By a portion of herself and through conflict, the meritorious river arose.
श्रवणे श्रुतिसाराणां वर्द्धते कौतुकं मम
As I hear the essence of these teachings, my curiosity increases.
कथं शशाप सा गङ्गा पूजितां तां सरस्वतीम्
How did Gaṅgā, though worshipped, curse Sarasvatī?
तेजस्विन्योर्द्वयोर्वादकारणं श्रुतिसुन्दरम्
The cause of the debate between these two radiant ones was most pleasing to hear.
नारायण उवाच यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण सर्वपापात्प्रमुच्यते
Nārāyaṇa said: By merely remembering her, one is freed from all sins.