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).
दत्तं सनत्कुमाराय प्रियपुत्राय धीमते
It was given to Sanatkumāra, the wise and beloved son.
यद्धृत्वा पाठनाद् ब्रह्मा सवसिद्धेश्वरो महान्
By holding and reciting it, Brahmā became the great lord of all accomplished beings.
यद्दत्वा च धनाध्यक्षः कुबेरश्च धनाधिपः
By giving it, Kubera, the lord of wealth and treasurer, (became so).
प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ लक्ष्मीवन्तौ यतो मुने
Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, O sage, became endowed with Lakṣmī because of it.
कवचस्य प्रसादेन स्वयं दक्षः प्रजापतिः
By the grace of this protective charm, Daksha himself became the lord of creatures.
यद्धृत्वा दक्षिणे बाहौ विष्णुः क्षीरोदशायितः 3.38.
Having worn it on his right arm, Vishnu, who reclines in the Ocean of Milk, did so.
यद्धृत्वा वामनं लेभे कश्यपश्च प्रजापतिः
Having worn it, Kashyapa, the lord of creatures, obtained the form of Vamana.
राजा मरुत्तो भगवानभवद्धारणाद्यतः
King Marutta became blessed because of wearing it.
विश्वं विजिग्ये खट्वाङ्गः पठनाद्धारणाद्यतः
By reciting and wearing it, Khatvanga conquered the whole world.
सर्वसम्पत्पदस्यास्य कवचस्य प्रजापतिः
This protective charm is the source of all prosperity, O lord of creatures.