गोविन्दः पातु मां शश्वद्वायव्यां दिशि नित्यशः
May Govinda eternally protect me in the western direction.
ऐशान्यां मां सदा पातु वृन्दावनविहारकृत्
May He who delights in Vrindavan always protect me in the northeastern direction.
सदैव माधवः पातु बलिहारी महाबलः
May Madhava, the mighty and destroyer of Bali, always protect me.
स्वप्ने जागरणे शश्वत्पातु मां माधवः सदा
May Madhava always protect me, both in sleep and in waking, at all times.
इति ते कथितं वत्स सर्वमन्त्रौघविग्रहम्
Thus, O child, I have told you the entire collection of mantras.
| मया श्रुतं कृष्णवक्त्रात्प्रवक्तव्यं न कस्यचित्
I have heard this from Krishna's own mouth; it must not be spoken to anyone.
कण्ठे वा दक्षिणे बाहौ सोऽपि विष्णुर्न संशयः
Whether worn on the neck or on the right arm, it is Vishnu himself—there is no doubt.
यदि स्यात्सिद्धकवचो जीवन्मुक्तो भवेत्तु सः
If the protective mantra is perfected, one becomes liberated while living.
राजसूयसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च 3.31.
A thousand Rājasūya sacrifices and hundreds of Vājapeya rituals,
महादानानि यान्येव प्रादक्षिण्यं भुवस्तथा
And all the great gifts, as well as circumambulating the earth,
व्रतोपवासनियमं स्वाध्यायाध्ययनं तपः
Observances of vows, fasts, discipline, self-study, recitation, and austerity—
यदि स्यात्सिद्धकवचः सर्वं प्राप्नोति निश्चितम् यो भवेत्सिद्धकवचः सर्वज्ञः स भवेद्ध्रुवम्
If one possesses the perfected armor, he certainly attains all; whoever has the perfected armor surely becomes all-knowing.
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा भजेत्कृष्णं सुमन्दधीः
He who worships Krishna without knowing this armor is truly of very dull intellect.
गृहीत्वा कवचं वत्स महीं निःक्षत्रियां कुरु
Take up the armor, dear one, and make the earth free of kṣatriyas.
राज्यं देयं शिरो देयं प्राणा देयाश्च पुत्रक
The kingdom may be given, the head may be given, even life itself may be given, O son.
भृगुरुवाच सुखदं मोक्षदं सारं शत्रुसंहारकारणम्
Bhrigu said: That which brings happiness, grants liberation, is the essence, and the cause of the destruction of enemies—
अधुना भगवन्मन्त्रं स्तोत्रं पूजाविधिं प्रभो
Now, O Lord, please teach the mantra, the hymn, and the method of worship, O Master.
महादेव उवाच मन्त्रेषु मन्त्रराजोऽयं महान्सप्तदशाक्षरः
Mahadeva said: Among mantras, this is the king of mantras, the great seventeen-syllabled one.
सिद्धोऽयं पञ्चलक्षेण जपेन मुनिपुंगवः तर्पणं तद्दशांशं च तद्दशांशं च मार्जनम्
This is perfected by reciting it five hundred thousand times, O best of sages; then one should offer libations, and purify with one-tenth of that.
मन्त्रसिद्धस्य पुंसश्च विश्वं करतले मुने
For the person perfected in mantra, O sage, the whole universe is in the palm of his hand.
पाञ्चभौतिकदेहेन वैकुण्ठं गन्तुमीश्वरः पूतानि सर्वतीर्थानि सद्यः पूता वसुन्धरा
With a body made of the five elements, the Lord can go to Vaikuṇṭha; all the sacred waters become pure at once, and so does the earth.
| ध्यानं च सामवेदोक्तं शृणु मन्मुखतो मुने
Now hear from my mouth, O sage, the meditation as stated in the Sāma Veda.
नवीनजलदश्यामं नीलेन्दीवरलोचनम्
He is dark like a fresh raincloud, with eyes like blue lotuses.
चन्दनोक्षितसर्वांगं पीताम्बरधरं वरम् 3.32.
His entire body is anointed with sandalwood, he wears yellow garments, and is excellent.
प्रफुल्लमालतीमालावनमाला विभूषितम्
He is adorned with garlands of blossoming jasmine and forest flowers.
प्रभां क्षिपन्तीं नभसश्चन्द्रतारान्वितस्य च
He radiates a light that surpasses the moon and stars in the sky.
सिद्धेन्द्रैश्च मुनीन्द्रैश्च देवेन्द्रैः परिसेवितम्
Attended by the foremost of Siddhas, the greatest sages, and the lord of the gods.
ध्यानेनानेन तं ध्यात्वा चोपचारांस्तु षोडश
Meditating upon him with this contemplation, one should offer the sixteen forms of worship.
अर्घ्यं पाद्यं चासनं च वसनं भूषणं तथा
These are: water for washing the feet, water for sipping, a seat, clothing, and ornaments.
धूपदीपौ च नैवेद्यं पुनराचमनीयकम्
Incense, lamps, food offerings, and again water for rinsing the mouth.