स्वस्तिकं शर्करां शुक्लधान्यस्याक्षतमक्षतम् 2.4.
Swastika, sugar, unbroken grains of white rice,
घृतसैन्धवसंस्कारैर्हविष्यैर्व्यञ्जनैस्तथा
Clarified butter, salt-seasoned oblations, and various dishes,
पिष्टकं स्वस्तिकस्यापि पक्वरम्भाफलस्य च
Cakes, swastika, and ripe mango fruit,
नारिकेलं तदुदकं केशरं मूलमार्द्रकम् कालदेशोद्भवं पक्वफलं शुक्लं सुसंस्कृतम्
Coconut, its water, saffron, ginger root, ripe fruit produced according to time and place, white and well-prepared,
सुगन्धि शुक्लपुष्पं च गन्धाढ्यं शुक्लचन्दनम् माल्यं च शुक्लपुष्पाणां मुक्ताहीरादिभूषणम्
Fragrant white flowers, richly scented white sandalwood, garlands of white flowers, ornaments of pearls and gems,
यद्दृष्टं च श्रुतौ ध्यानं प्रशस्तं श्रुतिसुन्दरम्
Whatever is seen or heard in the scriptures, meditation that is praised and beautiful in the Vedas,
सरस्वतीं शुक्लवर्णां सस्मितां सुमनोहराम्
Sarasvati, radiant in white, smiling, exceedingly charming,
वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानां सस्मितां सुमनोहराम्
Clad in garments purified by fire, smiling, exceedingly charming,
सुपूजितां सुरगणैर्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादिभिः
Worshipped with devotion by the hosts of gods, by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others,
एवं ध्यात्वा च मूलेन सर्वं दत्त्वा विचक्षणः
Thus meditating from the root, the wise one gives everything,
येषां स्यादिष्टदेवीयं तेषां नित्यं शुभं मुने 2.4.
For those whose chosen goddess is this, O sage, auspiciousness is always theirs.
सर्वोपयुक्तमूलं च वैदिकाष्टाक्षरः परः सरस्वती चतुर्थ्यन्तो वह्निजायान्त एव च
The root used for all offerings is the supreme Vedic eight-syllable mantra, ending with Sarasvati in the fourth case and with the wife of fire.
श्रीं ह्रीं सरस्वत्यै स्वाहा
"Śrīṃ Hrīṃ Sarasvatyai Svāhā."
पुरा नारायणश्चेमं वाल्मीकाय कृपानिधिः
Long ago, Narayana, the ocean of mercy, gave this to Valmiki,
भृगुर्ददौ च शुक्राय पुष्करे सूर्य्यपर्वणि
Bhrigu gave it to Shukra at Pushkara during the solar festival,
भृगवे च ददौ तुष्टो ब्रह्मा बदरिकाश्रमे विभाण्डको ददौ मेरावृष्यशृङ्गाय धीमते
Brahma, pleased, gave it to Bhrigu at the Badarika hermitage; Vibhāṇḍaka gave it to the wise Ṛṣyaśṛṅga on Mount Meru.
शिवः कणादमुनये गौतमाय ददौ मुने
Śiva gave to the sage Kaṇāda, and to Gautama, O sage.
शेषः पाणिनये चैव भरद्वाजाय धीमते
Śeṣa gave to Pāṇini, and to the wise Bharadvāja.
चतुर्लक्षजपेनैव मन्त्रसिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्
By reciting it four hundred thousand times, the mantra's perfection is attained by people.
कवचं शृणु विप्रेन्द्र यद्दत्तं विधिना पुरा
Hear, O foremost of Brāhmins, the armor that was given by the Creator in ancient times.
भृगुरुवाच सर्वज्ञ सर्वजनक सर्वपूजकपूजित ।। 2.4.
Bhṛgu said: All-knowing, progenitor of all, worshipped by all worshippers.
सरस्वत्याश्च कवचं ब्रूहि विश्वजयं प्रभो
Tell me, O Lord, the armor of Sarasvatī that conquers the universe.
ब्रह्मोवाच श्रुतिसारं श्रुतिसुखं श्रुत्युक्तं श्रुतिपूजितम्
Brahmā said: It is the essence of the Vedas, delightful to hear, spoken of in the Vedas, and honored by the Vedas.
उक्तं कृष्णेन गोलोके मह्यं वृन्दावने वने
It was spoken by Kṛṣṇa in Goloka to me in the forest of Vṛndāvana.
अतीव गोपनीयं च कल्पवृक्षसमं परम्
It is exceedingly secret and supreme, like the wish-fulfilling tree.
यद्धृत्वा पठनाद्ब्रह्मन्बुद्धिमांश्च बृहस्पतिः
By taking and reciting it, O Brāhmin, Bṛhaspati became wise.
पठनाद्धारणाद्वाग्ग्मी कवीन्द्रो वाल्मिकी मुनिः
By reciting and retaining it, the eloquent sage Vālmīki became the foremost of poets.
कणादो गौतमः कण्वः पाणिनिः शाकटायनः
Kaṇāda, Gautama, Kaṇva, Pāṇini, and Śākaṭāyana,
धृत्वा वेदविभागं च पुराणान्यखिलानि च
Having taken it, divided the Vedas and all the Purāṇas.
शातातपश्च संवर्त्तो वसिष्ठश्च पराशरः
Śātātapa, Saṃvarta, Vasiṣṭha, and Parāśara,