सर्वेश्वरी सदैशान्यां पातु मां सर्वपूजिता
May the sovereign of all, ever in the northeast, protect me, honored by all.
महाविष्णोश्च जननी सर्वतः पातु सन्ततम्
May the mother of the great Vishnu always protect from every direction.
यस्मै कस्मै न दातव्यं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं परम्
This most secret and supreme should not be given to anyone, to anyone at all.
गुरुमभ्यर्च्य विधिवद्वस्त्रालङ्कारचन्दनैः
After properly worshipping the guru with garments, ornaments, and sandalwood,
शतलक्षजपेनैव सिद्धं च कवचं भवेत्
By reciting one hundred thousand times, the armor becomes perfected.
एतस्मात्कवचाद्दुर्गे राजा दुर्य्योधनः पुरा
From this armor, in ancient times, King Duryodhana was protected in danger.
मया सनत्कुमाराय पुरा दत्तं च पुष्करे
Long ago, I gave it to Sanatkumara at Pushkara.
बल्लाय तेन दत्तं च ददौ दुर्य्योधनाय सः
He gave it to Ballā, and Ballā then gave it to Duryodhana.
नित्यं पठति भक्त्येदं तन्मन्त्रोपासकश्च यः 2.56.
Whoever recites this daily with devotion and worships its mantra,
स्नानेन सर्वतीर्थानां सर्वदानेन यत्फलम्
The fruit gained from bathing in all sacred waters and giving all gifts,
सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षायां नित्यं वै सत्यरक्षणे
And from initiation in all sacrifices, and always upholding truth,
पाठे चतुर्णां वेदानां यत्फलं च लभेन्नरः
The result a man obtains from reciting all four Vedas,
राजद्वारे श्मशाने च सिंहव्याघ्रान्विते वने
At the palace gate, in the cremation ground, or in a forest filled with lions and tigers,
कारागारे विपद्ग्रस्ते घोरे च दृढबन्धने
In prison, beset by calamity, or in terrible, firm bondage,
इत्येतत्कथितं दुर्गे तवैवेदं महेश्वरि
Thus, O Durga, O great goddess, this has been spoken for you.
श्रीनारायण उवाच पुलकाङ्कितसर्वाङ्गः साश्रुनेत्रो बभूव सः
Sri Narayana spoke: His whole body became thrilled, and his eyes filled with tears.
न कृष्णसदृशो देवो न गङ्गासदृशी सरित्
There is no deity equal to Krishna, nor is there a river equal to the Ganges.
परमाणोः परं सूक्ष्मं महाविष्णोः परो महान्
Finer than the atom, greater than the great Vishnu.
यथा न वैष्णवाज्ज्ञानी योगीन्द्रः शङ्करात्परः 2.56.
Just as no knower among Vaishnavas is superior, nor is any yogi greater than Shankara.
स्वप्ने जागरणे शश्वत्कृष्णध्यानरतः शिवः
In dream and waking, Shiva is always absorbed in meditation on Krishna.
यथा शम्भुर्वैष्णवेषु यथा देवेषु माधवः
As Shambhu is among Vaishnavas, as Madhava is among the gods.
शिशब्दो मङ्गलार्थश्च वकारो दातृवाचकः
The syllable 'śi' signifies auspiciousness, and 'va' denotes the giver.
नराणां सन्ततं विश्वे शं कल्याणं करोति यः
He who always brings welfare and auspiciousness to all people in the world.
ब्रह्मादीनां सुराणां च मुनीनां वेदवादिनाम्
Among Brahma and other gods, among sages and Veda-knowers.
महती पूजिता विश्वे मूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी
The great, worshipped by all, is the primal nature, the sovereign goddess.
विश्वस्थानां च सर्वेषां महतामीश्वरः स्वयम्
He himself is the lord of all great beings and of all who sustain the universe.
हे ब्रह्मपुत्र धन्योऽसि यद्गुरुश्च महेश्वरः
O son of Brahma, you are blessed, for your teacher is Maheshvara.
नारद उवाच अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि दुर्गोपाख्यानमुत्तमम्
Narada said: Now I wish to hear the supreme account of Durga.
दुर्गा नारायणीशाना विष्णुमाया शिवा सती
Durga, Narayani, Ishana, Vishnumaya, Shiva, Sati.
अम्बिका वैष्णवी गौरी पार्वती च सनातनी
Ambika, Vaishnavi, Gauri, Parvati, the eternal one.