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.
प्रचण्डः पातु गण्डं मे मार्तण्डः कर्णमेव च
May Pracaṇḍa protect my cheeks, and Mārtaṇḍa always my ears.
वक्षः पातु रविः शश्वन्नाभिं सूर्य्यः स्वयं सदा
May Ravi always protect my chest, and Sūrya himself my navel at all times.
करौ पातु सदा ब्रध्नः पातु पादौ प्रभाकरः
May Brahma always protect my hands; may the radiant one protect my feet.
इति ते कथितं वत्स कवचं सुमनोहरम्
Thus, O child, I have told you this most delightful armor.
पुरा दत्तं च मनवे पुलस्त्येन तु पुष्करे
Long ago, Pulastya gave it to Manu at Puṣkara.
व्याधितो मुच्यसे त्वं च कवचस्य प्रसादतः
You will be freed from illness by the grace of this armor.
लक्षवर्षहविष्येण यत्फलं लभते नरः
The fruit that a man obtains by offering a hundred thousand years of oblations.
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा यो मूढो भास्करं यजेत्
He who, ignorant of this armor, foolishly worships Bhāskara.
ब्रह्मोवाच युवां व्याधिविनिर्मुक्तौ निश्चितं तु भविष्यथः
Brahma said: You both will certainly be free from disease.
स्तवनं सामवेदोक्तं सूर्य्यस्य व्याधिमोचनम्
The praise spoken in the Sāma Veda is the remover of disease for Sūrya.