यद्धृत्वा मुनयः सर्वे जीवन्मुक्ताश्च भारते
By holding this, all sages and those liberated while living in Bharata have attained freedom.
कवचं बिभ्रतां मृत्युर्न भिया याति सन्निधिम्
For those who wear the armor, death does not approach out of fear.
दश लक्षजपेनैव सिद्धं तु कवचं भवेत्
By reciting it one hundred thousand times, the armor becomes perfected.
सुसिद्धकवचो वाग्मी चिरंजीवी महीतले
One whose armor is well perfected becomes eloquent and long-lived upon the earth.
मालामन्त्रमिमं पुण्यं कवचं मङ्गलं शुभम्
This garland-mantra, this holy, auspicious armor, is a blessing.
भूतप्रेतपिशाचाश्च कूष्माण्डा ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
Spirits, ghosts, fiends, goblins, and Brahma-rakshasas,
बालग्रहा ग्रहाश्चैव क्षेत्रपालादयस्तथा
Child-seizing demons, planets, and also guardians of fields and the like,
आधयो व्याधयश्चैव शोकाश्चैव भयावहाः
Afflictions, diseases, sorrows, and terrifying fears,
ऋजवे गुरुभक्ताय स्वशिष्याय प्रकाशयेत्
It should be revealed to a straightforward disciple devoted to the guru.
संसारमोहकस्यास्य कवचस्य प्रजापतिः धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु विनियोगः प्रकीर्त्तितः
Of this armor that removes the delusion of worldly existence, the Lord of creatures has declared its application in righteousness, wealth, desire, and liberation.
सर्वेषां कवचानां च सारभूतमिदं मुने द्वात्रिंशदक्षरो मन्त्रो ललाटं मे सदाऽवतु
O sage, among all armors, this is the very essence; the thirty-two-syllabled mantra should always protect my forehead.
ॐ ह्रीं क्लीं श्रीं गमिति वै सततं पातु लोचनम्
Om hrīṃ klīṃ śrīṃ ga—may this ever protect my eyes.
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीमिति परं सन्ततं पातु नासिकाम् दन्तांश्च तालुकां जिह्वां पातु मे षोडशाक्षरः
Om hrīṃ śrīṃ klīṃ—may this supreme mantra always protect my nose, and the sixteen-syllabled mantra protect my teeth, palate, and tongue.
ॐ लं श्रीं लम्बोदरायेति स्वाहा गण्डं सदा ऽवतु
Om laṃ śrīṃ lambodarāya svāhā—may this always protect my cheeks.
ॐ श्रीं गं गजाननायेति स्वाहा स्कन्धं सदाऽवतु
Om śrīṃ gaṃ gajānānāya svāhā—may this always protect my shoulders.
ॐ क्लीं ह्रीमिति कङ्कालं पातु वक्षःस्थलं परम्
Om klīṃ hrīṃ—may this protect my skeleton and the supreme chest.
प्राच्यां लम्बोदरः पातु चाग्नेय्यां विघ्ननायकः
In the east, may Lambodara protect; in the southeast, Vighnanāyaka.
पश्चिमे पार्वतीपुत्रो वायव्यां शंकरात्मजः
In the west, the son of Pārvatī; in the northwest, the son of Śaṃkara.
ऐशान्यामेकदन्तश्च हेरम्बः पातु चोर्ध्वतः स्वप्ने जागरणे चैव पातु मां योगिनां गुरुः
In the northeast, Ekadanta; above, may Heramba protect. In dream and in waking, may the guru of yogis guard me.
इति ते कथितं वत्स सर्वमन्त्रौघविग्रहम्
Thus, O child, I have told you the embodiment of all collections of mantras.
श्रीकृष्णेन पुरा दत्तं गोलोके रासमण्डले
Once, this was given by Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Goloka, within the circle of the rāsa.
मया दत्तं च तुभ्यं च यस्मै कस्मै न दास्यसि
I have given it to you, but you must not give it to just anyone.
गुरुमभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्कवचं धारयेत्तु यः
Whoever, having duly worshipped the guru, wears this armor—
अश्वमेधसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च
—gains the merit of a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices and hundreds of Vājapeya rites.
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा यो भजेच्छंकरात्मजम्
Whoever worships the son of Śaṃkara without knowing this armor—
इति संसारमोहनं नाम कवचम् परमानन्दसंयुक्ता देवास्तस्थुः समीपतः
Thus is the armor named 'Delusion of the World.' The gods, filled with supreme bliss, stood nearby.
नारायण उवाच गन्धर्वा मुनयः शैलाः पश्यन्तः सुमहोत्सवम्
Nārāyaṇa said: Gandharvas, sages, and mountains beheld the great festival.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दुर्गा स्मेराननसरोरुहा
At that moment, Durgā, her face like a smiling lotus, appeared.
पार्वत्युवाच कथं मत्स्वामिनो वीर्य्यममोघं रक्षितं प्रभो
Pārvatī said: How was the unfailing potency of my lord protected, O master?
रतिभङ्गे कृते देवैर्ब्रह्मणा प्रेरितैस्त्वया
When the gods, prompted by Brahmā and by you, caused the disruption of pleasure—