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.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु विनियोगः प्रकीर्तितः
Its application is declared in the pursuits of righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation.
ॐ ह्रीं कमलवासिन्यै स्वाहा मे पातु मस्तकम्।। श्रीं मे पातु कपालं च लोचने श्रीं श्रियै नमः
Om hrīṃ, to the One who dwells in the lotus, svāhā—may she protect my head; śrīṃ—may she protect my skull, and śrīṃ, homage to Śrī, may she protect my eyes.
ॐ श्रीं क्लीं महालक्ष्म्यै स्वाहा मे पातु नासिकाम
Om śrīṃ klīṃ, to Mahālakṣmī, svāhā—may she protect my nose.
ॐ श्रीं पद्मालयायै च स्वाहा दन्तान्सदाऽवतु
Om śrīṃ, to Padmālayā, svāhā—may she always protect my teeth.
ॐ श्रीं नारायणेशायै मम कण्ठं सदाऽवतु
Om śrīṃ, to Nārāyaṇeśī, may she always protect my throat.
ॐ श्रीं पद्मनिवासिन्यै स्वाहा नाभिं सदाऽवतु 3.38.
Om śrīṃ, to the One who dwells in the lotus, svāhā—may she always protect my navel.
ओं श्रीं मों कृष्णकान्तायै स्वाहा पृष्ठं सदाऽवतु
Om śrīṃ moṃ, to Kṛṣṇa's beloved, svāhā—may she always protect my back.
ॐ श्रीनिवासकान्तायै मम पदौ सदाऽवतु
To the beloved of Śrīnivāsa, may she always protect my feet.
प्राच्यां पातु महालक्ष्मीराग्नेय्यां कमलालया
In the east, may Mahālakṣmī protect me; in the southeast, Kamalālayā.
पद्मालया पश्चिमे मां वायव्यां पातु सा स्वयम्
Padmālayā in the west, may she protect me; in the northwest, may she herself protect me.