भृगुः शक्तिं च मुसलं तोमरं पट्टिशं तथा
Bhṛgu took up the spear, the mace, the javelin, and also the paṭṭiśa.
जग्राह काली तान्सर्वान्सुचन्द्रस्यन्दनस्थिता
Kālī, standing on Sucandra’s chariot, seized all those weapons.
ददर्श पुरतो रामो भद्रकालीं जगत्प्रसूम्
Rāma saw Bhadrakālī, the mother of the world, before him.
विहाय शस्त्रमस्त्रं च पिनाकं च भृगुस्तदा
Then Bhṛgu abandoned his weapons, missiles, and the bow Pināka.
परशुराम उवाच नमो दुर्गतिनाशिन्यै मायायै ते नमो नमः
Paraśurāma said: Salutations to you, destroyer of misfortune, to your Māyā I bow again and again.
नमो नमो जगद्धात्र्यै जगत्कर्त्र्यै नमोनमः 3.36.
Salutations, salutations to the supporter of the world, to the creator of the world, salutations again and again.
प्रसीद जगतां मातः सृष्टिसंहारकारिणि
Be gracious, O mother of the worlds, performer of creation and destruction.
त्वयि मे विमुखायां च को मां रक्षितुमीश्वरः
If you turn away from me, O goddess, who is able to protect me?
युष्माभिः शिवलोके च मह्यं दत्तो वरः पुरा
By you all, a boon was formerly granted to me in the realm of Śiva.
रेणुकेयस्तवं श्रुत्वा प्रसन्नाऽभवदम्बिका
Hearing this hymn of yours from Reṇukā, Ambikā became pleased.
एतद्भृगुकृतं स्तोत्रं भक्तियुक्तश्च यः पठेत्
Whoever recites this hymn composed by Bhṛgu with devotion,
स पूजितश्च त्रैलोक्ये तत्रैव विजयी भवेत्
He, being worshipped in the three worlds, will be victorious there.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे ब्रह्मा भृगुं धर्मभृतां वरम्
Meanwhile, Brahmā, the best of upholders of dharma, addressed Bhṛgu.
ब्रह्मोवाच सुचन्द्रजयहेतुं च प्रतिज्ञाफलमेव च
Brahmā said: The reason for Sucandra’s victory and the fulfillment of the vow—
दशाक्षरी महाविद्या दत्ता दुर्वाससा पुरा
The great ten-syllable mantra was given long ago by Durvāsas.
कवचं भद्रकाल्याश्च देवानां च सुदुर्लभम् 3.36.
The protective armor of Bhadrakālī, exceedingly rare even among the gods.
अतीव पूज्यं शस्तं च त्रैलोक्यजयकारणम्
It is highly venerable and excellent, the cause of victory over the three worlds.
भृगो गच्छतु भिक्षार्थं करोतु प्रार्थनां नृपम्
Let Bhṛgu go for alms and make a request to the king.
प्राणांश्च कवचं मन्त्रं सर्वं दास्यति निश्चितम्
He will surely give his life, the armor, and the mantra—all of it.
भृगुः संन्यासिवेषेण गत्वा राजान्तिकं मुने
Bhṛgu, in the guise of a renunciant, went to the king, O sage.
राजा ददौ च तन्मन्त्रं कवचं परमादरात्
The king gave that mantra and armor with utmost reverence.
कवचं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तां च विद्यां दशाक्षरीम्
I wish to hear the armor and that ten-syllable mantra.
नारायण उवाच गोपनीयं च कवचं त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम्
Nārāyaṇa said: The armor must be kept secret; it is rare in the three worlds.
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं कालिकायै स्वाहेति च दशाक्षरीम्
The ten-syllable mantra is: Oṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ klīṃ kālikāyai svāhā.
दशलक्षजपेनैव मन्त्रसिद्धिः कृता पुरा
By reciting it one hundred thousand times, perfection of the mantra was attained in ancient times.
बभूव सिद्धकवचोऽप्ययोध्यामाजगाम सः
Having attained perfection with the armor, he came to Ayodhyā.
नारद उवाच अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि कवचं ब्रूहि मे प्रभो
Nārada said: Now I wish to hear the armor; speak it to me, Lord.
नारायण उवाच नारायणेन यद्दत्तं कृपया शूलिने पुरा
Nārāyaṇa said: That which was once given by Nārāyaṇa, out of compassion, to the trident-bearer,
त्रिपुरस्य वधे घोरे शिवस्य विजयाय च
For the terrible destruction of Tripura and for the victory of Śiva,
दुर्वाससा च यद्दत्तं सुचन्द्राय महात्मने
And that which was given by Durvāsas to the great-souled Sucandra,