इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्त्ते महापुराणे द्वितीये प्रकृतिखण्डे नारदनारायणसंवादे दुर्गोपाख्याने प्रकृतिसुरथसंवादे ज्ञानकथनं नाम पञ्चषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-fifth chapter, named 'The Teaching of Knowledge,' in the dialogue between Prakriti and Suratha, within the narration of Durga, in the conversation between Narada and Narayana, in the Prakriti Khanda of the great Brahmavaivarta Purana.
नारद उवाच प्रकृतेः कवचं स्तोत्रं ब्रूहि मे मुनिसत्तम
Narada said: O best of sages, tell me the hymn and protective mantra (kavaca) of Prakriti.
नारायण उवाच संपूज्य मधुमासे च संप्रीते रासमण्डले
Narayana said: Having worshipped in the month of Madhu, with devotion, in the circle of the rasa dance,
तत्रैव काले सा दुर्गा ब्रह्मणा प्राणसङ्कटे
At that very time, O sage, when Brahma was in mortal danger,
पुरा त्रिपुरयुद्धे च महाघोरतरे मुने
And formerly, in the exceedingly terrible battle of Tripura,
शक्रेण सर्वदेवैश्च घोरे च प्राणसङ्कटे
When Indra and all the gods were in dire peril of life,
संस्तुता पूजिता सा च कल्पे कल्पे परात्परा सुखदं मोक्षदं सारं भवसन्तारकारणम्
She, the supreme among the supreme, was praised and worshipped in every age; she is the giver of happiness and liberation, the essence, and the cause of crossing over worldly existence.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच त्वमेवाद्या सृष्टिविधौ स्वेच्छया त्रिगुणात्मिका
Sri Krishna said: You alone are the first, the origin of creation, by your own will, embodying the three gunas.
कार्य्यार्थे सगुणा त्वं च वस्तुतो निर्गुणा स्वयम्
For the sake of action, you possess qualities, but in truth, you are inherently without qualities.
तेजस्स्वरूपा परमा भक्तानुग्रविग्रहा
You are of the nature of radiance, supreme, and the embodiment of grace toward devotees.
सर्वबीजस्वरूपा च सर्वपूज्या निराश्रया 2.66.
You are the essence of all seeds, worthy of all worship, and independent of any support.
सर्वबुद्धिस्वरूपा च सर्वशक्तिस्वरूपिणी
You are the form of all intelligence and the embodiment of all powers.
त्वं स्वाहा देवदाने च पितृदाने स्वधा स्वयम्
You are Svaha in offerings to the gods, and you are Svadha in offerings to the ancestors.
निद्रा त्वं च दया त्वं च तृष्णा त्वं चात्मनः प्रिया
You are sleep, you are compassion, you are thirst, and you are the beloved of the self.
श्रद्धा पुष्टिश्च तन्द्रा च लज्जा शोभा दया तथा
You are faith, nourishment, drowsiness, modesty, beauty, and also kindness.
प्रीतिरूपा पुण्यवतां पापिनां कलहाङ्कुरा
You are affection among the virtuous and the seed of conflict among the wicked.
देवेभ्यः स्वपदो दात्री धातुर्धात्री कृपामयी
You are the giver of your own abode to the gods, the sustainer of the elements, and full of compassion.
योगिनिद्रा योगरूपा योगदात्री च योगिनाम्
You are yogic sleep, the form of yoga, and the bestower of yoga to yogis.
ब्रह्माणी माहेश्वरी च विष्णुमाया च वैष्णवी
You are Brahmāṇī, Māheśvarī, Viṣṇumāyā, and Vaiṣṇavī.
ग्रामे ग्रामे ग्रामदेवी गृहदेवी गृहे गृहे
In every village you are the village goddess, in every house you are the household deity.
महायुद्धे महामारी दुष्टसंहाररूपिणी 2.66.
In great battles and deadly plagues, you appear as the destroyer of the wicked.
वन्द्या पूज्या स्तुता त्वं च ब्रह्मादीनां च सर्वदा
You are always to be praised, worshipped, and honored by Brahmā and the others.
विद्या विद्यावतां त्वं च बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतां सताम्
You are knowledge among the learned, and wisdom among the wise and the virtuous.
राज्ञां प्रतापरूपा च विशां वाणिज्यरूपिणी
You are valor among kings, and the form of commerce among people.
तथाऽन्ते त्वं महामारी विश्वे विश्वैश्च पूजिते
At the end, you are the great plague, worshipped by the world and all beings.
दुरत्यया मे माया त्वं यया संमोहितं जगत्
You are my unfathomable māyā, by whom the world is deluded.
इत्यात्मना कृतं स्तोत्रं दुर्गाया दुर्गनाशनम्
Thus, this hymn to Durgā, destroyer of difficulties, was composed by myself.
वन्ध्या च काकवन्ध्या च मृतवत्सा च दुर्भगा
A barren woman, one whose children die, or one who is unfortunate—
कारागारे महाघोरे यो बद्धो दृढबन्धने
Or one bound in prison, in terrible confinement—
यक्ष्मग्रस्तो गलत्कुष्ठी महाशूली महाज्वरी
One afflicted by consumption, with decaying leprosy, severe pain, or high fever—