ब्रह्मणे च पुरा दत्तं विष्टपे च जलप्लुते
Formerly, it was given to Brahmā during the deluge of the world.
बभूवुर्मनवः सर्वे सर्वैश्वर्ययुता यतः
All the Manus became endowed with all prosperity because of it.
पङ्क्तिश्छन्दश्च सा देवी स्वयं पद्मालया वरा यद्धृत्वा कवचं लोकः सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत्
That goddess, the bestower of boons, whose meter is Paṅkti, herself dwells in the lotus; whoever wears this armor becomes victorious everywhere.
मस्तकं पातु मे पद्मा कण्ठं पातु हरिप्रिया
May Padmā protect my head, and may the beloved of Hari protect my throat.
केशान्केशवकान्ता च कपालं कमलालया
May Keśava's beloved protect my hair, and Kamalālayā protect my skull.
ॐ श्रीं कमलवासिन्यै स्वाहा पृष्ठं सदाऽवतु पातु श्रीर्मम कङ्कालं बाहुयुग्मं च ते नमः
Om, Śrīṃ, Svāhā to Kamalavāsinī—may she always protect my back; may Śrī protect my skeleton; obeisance to you, may you protect both my arms.
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं लक्ष्म्यै नमः पादौ पातु मे संततं चिरम्
Om, Hrīṃ, Śrīṃ, obeisance to Lakṣmī—may she always protect my feet for a long time.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै स्वाहा सर्वाङ्गं पातु मे सदा
Om, Śrīṃ, Svāhā to Mahālakṣmī—may she always protect all my limbs.
इति ते कथितं वत्स सर्वसम्पत्करं परम्
Thus, O dear one, the supreme bestower of all prosperity has been told to you.
गुरुमभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्कवचं धारयेत्तु यः
Whoever, having duly worshipped the guru, wears this armor,
महालक्ष्मीर्गृहं तस्य न जहाति कदाचन
Mahālakṣmī never abandons his household at any time.
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा भजेल्लक्ष्मीं स मन्दधीः
He who worships Lakṣmī without knowing this armor is of dull intellect.
नारायण उवाच सन्तुष्टश्च जगन्नाथो जगतां हितकारणम्
Nārāyaṇa said: The Lord of the universe, being pleased, acts for the welfare of the worlds.
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं नमो महालक्ष्म्यै स्वाहा
Om, Hrīṃ, Śrīṃ, Klīṃ, obeisance to Mahālakṣmī, Svāhā.
ध्यानं च सामवेदोक्तं गोपनीयं सुदुर्लभम्
The meditation described in the Sāma Veda is to be kept secret and is very rare.
श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां शतचन्द्रसमप्रभाम्
Her radiance is like white campaka flowers, and she shines like a hundred moons.
ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यां भक्तानुग्रहकारिकाम्
Her face is slightly smiling and gracious, and she acts for the blessing of devotees.
शान्तां च श्रीहरेः कान्तां तां भजेज्जगतां प्रसूम्
She is peaceful, the beloved of Śrī Hari, the mother of the worlds—her I worship.
ध्यानेनानेन देवेन्द्रो ध्यात्वा लक्ष्मीं मनोहराम्
By this meditation, O Indra, he meditated upon Lakshmi, the enchanting one.
स्तुत्वाऽनेन स्तवेनैव वक्ष्यमाणेन वासव
Having praised her with this very hymn, which I shall now speak, O Vasava,
स्तवनं शृणु देवेन्द्र महालक्ष्म्याः सुखप्रदम्
Hear, O Lord of the gods, the hymn to Mahalakshmi that bestows happiness.
नारायण उवाच बुद्धेरगोचरां सूक्ष्मां तेजोरूपां सनातनीम्
Narayana said: Beyond the grasp of intellect, subtle, of the form of light, eternal,
स्वेच्छामयीं निराकारां भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहाम्
Self-willed, formless, whose very form is the grace shown to devotees,
परां चतुर्णां वेदानां पारबीजं भवार्णवे
The supreme one of the four Vedas, the supreme seed in the ocean of existence,
योगिनां चैव योगानां ज्ञानानां ज्ञानिनां तथा
Of yogis and of yogas, of knowledges and of the knowers as well,
यया विना जगत्सर्वमबीजं निष्फलं ध्रुवम्
Without whom, all the worlds are certainly seedless and fruitless.
प्रसीद जगतां माता रक्षास्मानतिकातरान्
Be gracious, Mother of the worlds; protect us who are greatly afflicted.
नमः शक्तिस्वरूपायै जगन्मात्रे नमो नमः
Salutations to her who is the embodiment of power, repeated salutations to the Mother of the universe.
हरिभक्तिप्रदायिन्यै मुक्तिदायै नमो नमः
Repeated salutations to her who bestows devotion to Hari and grants liberation.
कुपुत्राः कुत्रचित्सन्ति न कुत्रापि कुमातरः
There may be bad sons in some places, but never is there a bad mother anywhere.