देवैश्च प्रेरितो ब्रह्मा समागत्य ससम्भ्रमः
Prompted by the gods, Brahma came there, filled with concern.
तस्मै दत्त्वाऽऽशिषश्शम्भुर्ब्रह्मा च स्वालयं मुदा
Having given blessings to him, Shambhu and Brahma joyfully returned to their own abodes.
अथ माली सुमाली च व्याधिग्रस्तौ बभूवतुः
Then Mālī and Sumālī both became afflicted with disease.
तावुवाच स्वयं ब्रह्मा युवां च भजतां रविम्
Brahma himself spoke to them: 'You both should worship Ravi (the Sun).'
सूर्य्यस्य कवचं स्तोत्रं सर्वपूजाविधिं विधिः
The procedure for all worship, the hymn, and the protective formula of the Sun was prescribed.
ततस्तौ पुष्करं गत्वा सिषेवाते रविं मुने
Then those two went to Pushkara and served Ravi, O sage.
ततः सूर्य्याद्वरं प्राप्य निजरूपौ बभूवतुः
Then, having obtained a boon from the Sun, they regained their own forms.
नारद उवाच दानवाभ्यां पुरा दत्तं सूर्यस्य परमात्मनः
Narada said: 'Formerly, by the two Danavas, worship was offered to Surya, the Supreme Self.'
किं वा पूजाविधानं वा किं मन्त्रं व्याधिनाशनम्
What was the method of worship, or what mantra destroys disease?
सूत उवाच स्तोत्रं च कवचं मन्त्रमूचे तत्पूजनक्रमम्
Suta said: 'He spoke the hymn, the protective formula, and the procedure for that worship.'
नारायण उवाच स्तोत्रं च कवचं सर्वं पापव्याधिविमोचकम्
Narayana said: 'The hymn and the protective formula, all of it, frees from all sin and disease.'
सुमालिमालिनौ दैत्यौ व्याधिग्रस्तौ बभूवतुः
Sumali and Mali, the Daityas, both became afflicted with disease.
ब्रह्मा गत्वा च वैकुण्ठं पप्रच्छ कमलापतिम्
Brahma, having gone to Vaikuntha, questioned the Lord of Lakshmi.
ब्रह्मोवाच क उपायो वद हरे तयोर्व्याधिविनाशने
Brahma said: 'O Hari, tell me what means there are for the destruction of their disease.'
विष्णुरुवाच व्याधिहन्तुर्मदंशस्य तौ च मुक्तौ भविष्यतः
Viṣṇu said: The arrogance of the disease-causing demon will be destroyed, and both of them will be liberated.
तयोस्तु मन्त्रं संप्राप्य ययौ दैत्यगृहं विधिः
Having obtained the mantra from them, Viṣṇu went to the house of the demon.
तावुवाच स्वयं ब्रह्मा रोगग्रस्तौ दयानिधिः
Brahmā himself, the ocean of compassion, spoke to those two who were afflicted by disease.
ब्रह्मोवाच गत्वा हि पुष्करं वत्सौ भजथः प्रणतौ रविम्
Brahmā said: Go to Puṣkara, my children, and with reverence worship the Sun.
तावूचतुः किं स्तोत्रं कवचं किं वा तदावाभ्यां वदाधुना
They said: What is the hymn, what is the protective charm, or what else should we do? Please tell us now.
ब्रह्मोवाच संसेव्य भास्करं भक्त्या नीरुजौ च भविष्यथ
Brahmā said: By devotedly serving Bhāskara, you will become free from disease.
ॐ ह्रीं नमो भगवते सूर्य्याय परमात्मने स्वाहा संपूज्य भक्त्या दत्त्वा वै चोपहारांस्तु षोडश
Recite: 'Oṃ hrīṃ, obeisance to the blessed Sūrya, the Supreme Self, svāhā.' Worship him with devotion, offering sixteen kinds of gifts.
अपूर्वं कवचं तस्य युवाभ्यां प्रददाम्यहम्
I will give you both an unprecedented protective charm of his.
तत्सहस्रभगाङ्गाय शापेन गौतमस्य च
This is due to the curse of Gautama and the thousandfold division of the Ganges.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच यद्धृत्वा मुनयः पूता जीवन्मुक्ताश्च भारते
Bṛhaspati said: By holding this, sages in Bhārata have become purified and liberated while living.
कवचं बिभ्रतो व्याधिर्न भिया याति सन्निधिम्
Disease does not approach those who wear the protective charm, out of fear.
शुद्धाय गुरुभक्ताय स्वशिष्याय प्रकाशयेत्
It should be revealed to one's own pure disciple who is devoted to the teacher.
जगद्विलक्षणस्यास्य कवचस्य प्रजापतिः व्याधिप्रणाशे सौन्दर्य्ये विनियोगः प्रकीर्त्तितः
Prajāpati has declared the use of this unique protective charm for the destruction of disease and for beauty.
सद्योरोगहरं सारं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
It instantly removes disease, is the essence, and destroys all sins.
अष्टादशाक्षरो मन्त्रः कपालं मे सदाऽवतु
The mantra of eighteen syllables always protects my skull.
चक्षुर्मे पातु सूर्यश्च तारकां च विकर्तनः
May Sūrya protect my eyes, and Vikartana the stars.