प्राच्यां मृडानि परिपाहि सदा नतान्नो याम्यामव प्रतिपदं विपदो भवानि
In the east, O gentle one, always protect those who bow to you; in the south, O Bhavānī, ward off calamities at every step.
ब्रह्माणि रक्ष सततं नतमौलिदेशं त्वं वैष्णवि प्रतिकुलं परिपालयाधः
O Brahmāṇi, always guard the region of bowed heads; O Vaiṣṇavī, protect below from all that is adverse.
पातु त्रिशूलममले तव मौलिजान्नो भालस्थलं शशिकला मृदुमाभ्रुवौ च
May your pure trident protect the top of my head; may the crescent moon on your brow guard my forehead, and your gentle eyebrows as well.
श्रोत्रद्वयं श्रुतिरवा दशनावलिं श्रीश्चंडी कपोलयुगलं रसनां च वाणी
May my two ears be protected by the Vedas, my row of teeth by Śrī Caṇḍī, my cheeks by your pair of cheeks, and my tongue by Vāṇī.
कंठप्रदेशमवतादिह नीलकंठी भूदारशक्तिरनिशं च कृकाटिकायाम्
May Nīlakaṇṭhī protect my throat here, and the mighty earth-piercing power ever guard my shoulders.
हस्तांगुलीः कमलजा विरजा नखांश्च कक्षांतरं तरणिमंडलगा तमोघ्नी 4.2.72.
May the lotus-born protect my fingers, the stainless one my nails, and the destroyer of darkness my armpits, which shine like the sun's orb.
अव्यात्सदा दरदरीं जगदीश्वरी नो नाभिं नभोगतिरजात्वथ पृष्ठदेशम्
May the sovereign of the world always protect my heart, may the sky-goer guard my navel, and may she also protect my back.
ऊरुद्वयं च विपुला ललिता च जानू जंघे जवाऽवतु कठोरतरात्र गुल्फौ
May the broad one protect my two thighs, Lalitā my knees, and the swift one my shanks; may the exceedingly firm one protect my ankles.
गृहं रक्षतु नो लक्ष्मीः क्षेत्रं क्षेमकरी सदा
May Lakṣmī protect our home, and the bringer of welfare always protect our fields.
यशः पातु महादेवी धर्मं पातु धनुर्धरी
May the great goddess protect my fame, and may the bearer of the bow protect my righteousness.
रणे राजकुले द्यूते संग्रामे शत्रुसंकटे
In battle, in the royal court, at dice, in war, and in the peril of enemies—
इति स्तुत्वा जगद्धात्रीं प्रणेमुश्च पुनःपुनः
Having thus praised the Mother of the Universe, they bowed to her again and again.
ततस्तुष्टा जगन्माता तानाह सुरसत्तमान्
Then, pleased, the Mother of the Universe spoke to those best of gods.
तुष्टाहमनया स्तुत्या नितरां तु यथार्थया
I am truly pleased by this praise, especially because it is sincere.
तस्याहं नाशयिष्यामि विपदं च पदे पदे
I will remove her misfortune at every step.
एतत्स्तोत्रस्य कवचं परिधास्यति यो नरः 4.2.72.
Whoever wears this hymn as armor—
अद्यप्रभृति मे नाम दुर्गेति ख्यातिमेष्यति
From today onward, my name will become famous as Durga.
ये मां दुर्गां शरणगा न तेषां दुर्गतिः क्वचित्
Those who take refuge in me as Durga will never meet with misfortune.
अनया कवचं कृत्वा मा बिभेतु यमादपि
Having made this armor, let him not fear even Yama.
झोटिंगा राक्षसाः क्रूरा विष सर्पाग्नि दस्यवः
Cruel demons called Jhoṭiṃgā, poison, serpents, fire, and thieves—
वातपित्तादि जनितास्तथा च विषमज्वराः
Diseases arising from wind or bile, and also malignant fevers—
वज्रपंजर नामैतत्स्तोत्रं दुर्गाप्रशंसनम्
This hymn, called the Vajra Cage, is the praise of Durga.
अष्टजप्तेन चानेन योभिमंत्र्य जलं पिबेत्
Whoever recites this eight times and then drinks water after consecrating it—
गर्भपीडा तु नो जातु भविष्यत्यभिमंत्रणात्
By such consecration, there will never be any affliction of the womb.
यत्र सान्निध्यमेतस्य स्तवस्येह भविष्यति
Wherever the presence of this hymn exists—
रक्षां परिकरिष्यंति मद्भक्तानां ममाज्ञया 4.2.72.
By my command, protections will be provided to my devotees.
तेपि स्वर्गौकसः सर्वे स्वंस्वं स्वर्गं ययुर्मुदा स्कंद उवाच काश्यां सेव्या यथा सा च तच्छृणुष्व वदामि ते
All of them, dwellers of heaven, joyfully attained their own heavenly abodes. Skanda said: Hear from me how she is to be worshipped in Kashi.
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां भौमवारे विशेषतः
Especially on the eighth and fourteenth days, and on Tuesdays.
नवरात्रं प्रयत्नेन प्रत्यहं सा समर्चिता
With devotion, she was worshipped each day for nine nights.
महापूजोपहारैश्च महाबलिनिवेदनैः
With offerings of great worship and presentations of powerful oblations.