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,
ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं कालिकायै स्वाहा मे पातु मस्तकम् 3.37.
Oṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ klīṃ kālikāyai svāhā—may this protect my head.
ॐ ह्रीं त्रिलोचने स्वाहा नासिकां मे सदाऽवतु
Oṃ hrīṃ trilocane svāhā—may this always protect my nose.
क्लीं भद्रकालिके स्वाहा पातु मेऽधरयुग्मकम्
May the syllable 'klīṃ', O Auspicious Kālikā, with svāhā, protect my pair of lips.
ॐ ह्रीं कालिकायै स्वाहा कर्णयुग्मं सदाऽवतु
Om hrīṃ, for Kālikā, svāhā—may she always guard my pair of ears.
ॐ क्रीं भद्रकाल्यै स्वाहा मम वक्षः सदाऽवतु
Om krīṃ, for Auspicious Kālikā, svāhā—may she always protect my chest.
ॐ ह्रीं कालिकायै स्वाहा मम पृष्ठं सदाऽवतु
Om hrīṃ, for Kālikā, svāhā—may she always guard my back.
ॐ ह्रीं क्लीं मुण्डमालिन्यै स्वाहा पादौ सदावतु
Om hrīṃ klīṃ, for Muṇḍamālinī, svāhā—may she always protect my feet.
प्राच्यां पातु महाकाली चाग्नेय्यां रक्तदन्तिका
In the east, may Mahākālī protect; in the southeast, Raktadantikā.
श्यामा च वारुणे पातु वायव्यां पातु चण्डिका
In the west, may Śyāmā protect; in the northwest, may Caṇḍikā guard.
पातूर्ध्वं लोलजिह्वा सा मायाऽऽद्या पात्वधः सदा
Above, may Lolajihvā protect; below, may Māyā and others always guard.