विश्वं पाशुपतेनैव भवेद्भस्म च सत्वरम्
By the Pashupata weapon alone, the whole universe would swiftly be reduced to ashes.
अहो पाशुपतं जेतुं नालमेव सुदर्शनम्
Indeed, even the Sudarshana discus is not sufficient to conquer the Pashupata weapon.
खट्वांगिनः पाशुपातं हरेरेव सुदर्शनम्
For one bearing the skull, the Pashupata weapon is his; for Hari, the Sudarshana discus.
त्यज पाशुपतं ब्रह्मन्मदीयं वचनं शृणु
Abandon the Pashupata weapon, O Brahmin, and listen to my words.
कार्त्तवीर्य्यमजेतारं यथा जेष्यसि साम्प्रतम्
I shall tell you how you will now defeat Kartavirya, who is otherwise unconquerable.
महालक्ष्म्याश्च कवचं त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम् 3.38.
The armor of Mahalakshmi, rare in the three worlds,
परं दुर्गतिनाशिन्याः कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
The supreme and wondrous armor of the destroyer of great misfortune,
कवचस्य प्रभावेण विश्वं जेतुं क्षमौ च तौ
By the power of this armor, you will conquer the universe and those two on earth.
अहं यास्यामि भिक्षार्थं सन्निधाने तयोर्मुने
I shall go, O sage, to their presence to beg for alms.
ब्राह्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा रामः संत्रस्तमानसः
Hearing the Brahmin's words, Rama's mind became fearful.
परशुराम उवाच शीघ्रं च ब्रूहि मां मूढं तदा गच्छ नृपान्तिकम्
Parashurama said: Quickly tell me, who am confused, then go to the king.
जामदग्न्यवचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य ब्राह्मणः स्वयम्
Hearing Jamadagni's words, the Brahmin himself laughed.
गत्वा तयोः सन्निधानं ययाचे कवचे च तौ गृहीत्वा कवचे विष्णुर्वैकुण्ठं निर्जगाम सः
Going into their presence, he asked them for the armor; taking the armor, Vishnu departed for Vaikuntha.
नारद उवाच पुष्कराक्षाय भूपाय श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम
Narada said: I am eager to hear, O king, about the armor given to Pushkaraksha.
कवचं चापि दुर्गायाः पुष्कराक्षसुताय च
And the armor of Durga, and to the son of Pushkaraksha.
कवचं चापि किम्भूतं तयोर्वा तस्य किं फलम् ।।। 3.38.
What was the nature of the armor, and what was its result for those two or for him?
नारायण उवाच महालक्ष्म्याश्च कवचं मन्त्रश्चापि दशाक्षरः
Nārāyaṇa said: The protective hymn of Mahālakṣmī, and also her ten-syllabled mantra,
स्तवनं चापि गोप्यं वै प्रोक्तं तच्चरितं च यत्
and her hymn of praise, which is indeed secret, as well as her deeds that have been spoken of—
दुर्गायाश्चापि कवचं दत्तं दुर्वाससा पुरा
and the protective hymn of Durgā, which was once given by Durvāsas—
पश्चाच्छ्रोष्यसि तत्सर्वं देव्याश्च परमाद्भुतम्
all of this, most wondrous concerning the goddess, you shall hear later.
महालक्ष्म्याश्च मन्त्रं च शृणु तं कथयामि ते
Now hear the mantra of Mahālakṣmī, I shall tell it to you.
ध्यानं च सामवेदोक्तं शृणु पूजाविधिं मुने
Hear also the meditation as spoken in the Sāmaveda, and the method of worship, O sage.
सहस्रदलपद्मस्थां पद्मनाभप्रियां सतीम्
One should meditate on her as seated upon a thousand-petaled lotus, the beloved and virtuous consort of Padmanābha.
पद्मपुष्पप्रियां पद्मपुष्पतल्पाधिशायिनीम्
She who delights in lotus flowers, who reclines upon a bed of lotus petals,
पद्मभूषणभूषाढ्यां पद्मशोभाविवर्द्धनीम्
adorned with ornaments of lotus, who increases the splendor of the lotus.
चन्दनाष्टदले पद्मे पद्मपुष्पेण पूजयेत् 3.38.
Upon a lotus of eight sandalwood petals, one should worship her with lotus flowers.
ततः स्तुत्वा च प्रणमेत्साधको भक्तिपूर्वकम्
Then, having praised her, the practitioner should bow with devotion.
शृणु विप्रेन्द्र पद्मायाः कवचं परमं शुभम्
Hear, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, the supreme and auspicious protective hymn of Padmā.
सम्प्राप्य कवचं ब्रह्मा तत्पद्मे ससृजे जगत्
Having obtained the protective hymn, Brahmā, upon the lotus, created the world.
पद्मालयावरं प्राप्य पाद्मश्च जगतां प्रभुः
Having received the boon from the abode of Padmā, Padma, the lord of beings, (created the world).