पुत्रभेदे प्रजाभेदे पत्नीभेदे च दुर्गतः 2.66.
One suffering from the loss of children, family, wife, or who is destitute—
राजद्वारे श्मशाने च महारण्ये रणस्थले
At the king’s gate, in the cremation ground, in the great forest, or on the battlefield—
गृहदाहे च दावाग्नौ दस्युसैन्यसमन्विते
During a house fire, in a forest blaze, or surrounded by a band of robbers—
महादरिद्रो मूर्खश्च वर्षं स्तोत्रं पठेत्तु यः
Whoever is extremely poor or foolish and recites this hymn for a year—
इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्ते महापुराणे द्वितीये प्रकृतिखण्डे नारदनारायणसंवादे दुर्गोपाख्याने दुर्गास्तोत्रं नाम षट्षष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-sixth chapter, named 'The Hymn to Durgā,' in the section on Prakṛti, in the great Purāṇa Brahmavaivarta, in the dialogue between Nārada and Nārāyaṇa.
नारद उवाच ब्रह्माण्डमोहनं नाम प्रकृतेः कवचं वद
Nārada said: Tell me the armor of Prakṛti, called 'The Enchantment of the Universe.'
नारायण उवाच श्रीकृष्णेनैव कथितं कृपया ब्रह्मणे पुरा
Nārāyaṇa said: This was once compassionately spoken by Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Brahmā.
ब्रह्मणा कथितं सर्वं धर्मार्थं जाह्नवीतटे
All this, concerning righteousness and purpose, was told by Brahmā on the banks of the Jāhnavī.
त्रिपुरारिश्च यद्धृत्वा जघान त्रिपुरं पुरा जघान रक्तबीजं तं यत्कृत्वा भद्रकालिका
That by which Tripurāri once destroyed Tripura, and by which Bhadrakālikā slew Raktabīja—
यद्धृत्वा तु महेन्द्रश्च संप्राप कमलालयाम्
That by which even Mahendra attained the abode of Lakṣmī—
यद्धृत्वा च महाज्ञानी नन्दी सानन्दपूर्वकम्
That by which the great sage Nandī, filled with joy, attained supreme knowledge—
यद्धृत्वा शिवतुल्यश्च दुर्वासा ज्ञानिनां वरः
That by which Durvāsā, foremost among the wise, became equal to Śiva—
मन्त्रः षडक्षरोऽयं च भक्तानां कल्पपादपः
This six-syllabled mantra is a wish-fulfilling tree for devotees.
मन्त्रग्रहणमात्रेण विष्णुतुल्यो भवेन्नरः
By merely receiving the mantra, a person becomes equal to Viṣṇu.
ॐ दुर्गे रक्षयति च कण्ठं पातु सदा मम 2.67.
Om Durge—may she always protect my throat.
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीमिति पृष्ठं च पातु मे सर्वतः सदा
Om hrīṃ śrīṃ klīṃ—may she always protect my back on every side.
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं पातु सर्वाङ्गं स्वप्ने जागरणे तथा
Om śrīṃ hrīṃ klīṃ—may she protect my whole body, both in sleep and wakefulness.
दक्षिणे भद्रकाली च नैर्ऋत्यां च महेश्वरी
On the south, may Bhadrakālī protect; in the southwest, Maheśvarī.
उत्तरे वैष्णवी पातु तथैशान्यां शिवप्रिया
On the north, may Vaiṣṇavī protect; in the northeast, Śiva's beloved.
इति ते कथितं वत्स कवचं च सुदुर्लभम्
Thus, O child, I have told you this most rare armor.
गुरुमभ्यर्च्य विधिवद्वस्त्रालंकारचन्दनैः
Having duly worshipped the guru with garments, ornaments, and sandalwood—
भ्रमणे सर्वतीर्थानां पृथिव्याश्च प्रदक्षिणे
While journeying to all holy places, or circumambulating the earth—
पञ्चलक्षजपेनैव सिद्धमेतद्भवेद्ध्रुवम्
By reciting this five hundred thousand times, it is certainly accomplished.
न तस्य मृत्युर्भवति जले वह्नौ विशेद्ध्रुवम्
For him, there is no death—even if he enters water or fire, certainly not.
यदि स्यात्सिद्धकवचो विष्णुतुल्यो भवेद्ध्रुवम् 2.67.
If the protective mantra is perfected, one certainly becomes equal to Vishnu.
या चैव मूलप्रकृतिर्यस्याः पुत्रो गणेश्वरः
And she who is the root-prakriti, whose son is the lord of the ganas—
स्वांशेन कृष्णो भगवान्बभूव च गणेश्वरः
By his own portion, Krishna the Blessed One became the lord of the ganas.
भोजयित्वा च दध्यन्नं तस्मै दद्याच्च काञ्चनम्
After offering curd-rice as food, one should also give gold to him.
वासोऽलंकाररत्नैश्च तोषयेद्वाचकं मुने
One should please the reciter, O sage, with garments, ornaments, and jewels.
पुस्तकं पूजयेदेवं भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः
One should worship the book in this way, endowed with devotion and faith.