- Viniyoga
ॐ अस्य श्रीचण्डीकवचस्य ब्रह्मा ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः,
चामुण्डा देवता, अङ्गन्यासोक्तमातरो बीजम्, दिग्बन्धदेवतास्तत्त्वम्,
श्रीजगदम्बाप्रीत्यर्थे सप्तशतीपाठाङ्गत्वेन जपे विनियोगः।
ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै॥
Om asya shreechandeekavachasya brahmaa rishih, anushtup chhandah,
Chaamundaa devataa, anganyaasoktamaataro beejam, digbandhadevataastattvam,
Shreejagadambaapreetyarthe saptashateepaathaangatvena jape viniyogah |
Om namashchandikaayai ||
The seer of this Chandi Kavach is Brahma, its metre is Anushtup and its deity is Chamunda. The Mothers named in the anganyasa are its seed, and the deities who bind the directions are its essence. It is recited as a part of the Saptashati recitation, to please Jagadamba, the Mother of the world: this is the statement of purpose (viniyoga). Salutations to Chandika.
- Verse 1
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
ॐ यद्गुह्यं परमं लोके सर्वरक्षाकरं नृणाम्।
यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥१॥
Maarkandeya uvaacha
Om yadguhyam paramam loke sarvarakshaakaram nrinaam |
Yanna kasyachidaakhyaatam tanme broohi pitaamaha || 1 ||
Markandeya said: O Grandsire (Brahma), tell me what is most secret in this world, what protects people in every way, and what you have not yet told anyone.
- Verse 2
ब्रह्मोवाच
अस्ति गुह्यतमं विप्र सर्वभूतोपकारकम्।
देव्यास्तु कवचं पुण्यं तच्छृणुष्व महामुने॥२॥
Brahmovaacha
Asti guhyatamam vipra sarvabhootopakaarakam |
Devyaastu kavacham punyam tachchhrinushva mahaamune || 2 ||
Brahma said: O learned one, there is something most secret that helps all beings: the holy armour (kavach) of the Goddess. Listen to it, great sage.
- Verses 3–5
प्रथमं शैलपुत्री च द्वितीयं ब्रह्मचारिणी।
तृतीयं चन्द्रघण्टेति कूष्माण्डेति चतुर्थकम्॥३॥
पञ्चमं स्कन्दमातेति षष्ठं कात्यायनीति च।
सप्तमं कालरात्रीति महागौरीति चाष्टमम्॥४॥
नवमं सिद्धिदात्री च नवदुर्गाः प्रकीर्तिताः।
उक्तान्येतानि नामानि ब्रह्मणैव महात्मना॥५॥
Prathamam shailaputree cha dviteeyam brahmachaarinee |
Triteeyam chandraghanteti kooshmaandeti chaturthakam || 3 ||
Panchamam skandamaateti shashtham kaatyaayaneeti cha |
Saptamam kaalaraatreeti mahaagaureeti chaashtamam || 4 ||
Navamam siddhidaatree cha navadurgaah prakeertitaah |
Uktaanyetaani naamaani brahmanaiva mahaatmanaa || 5 ||
First Shailaputri, second Brahmacharini, third Chandraghanta, fourth Kushmanda, fifth Skandamata, sixth Katyayani, seventh Kalaratri, eighth Mahagauri and ninth Siddhidatri: these are called the Navadurga, the nine Durgas. These names were declared by the great Brahman itself (the Gita Press translation takes it to mean the Veda). The nine days of Navratri worship the forms of the Goddess in this order.
- Verse 6
अग्निना दह्यमानस्तु शत्रुमध्ये गतो रणे।
विषमे दुर्गमे चैव भयार्ताः शरणं गताः॥६॥
Agninaa dahyamaanastu shatrumadhye gato rane |
Vishame durgame chaiva bhayaartaah sharanam gataah || 6 ||
Those who are burning in a fire, who are caught among enemies in battle, or who are trapped in a hard and dangerous plight, and who, stricken with fear, take refuge in the Goddess,
- Verse 7
न तेषां जायते किंचिदशुभं रणसंकटे।
नापदं तस्य पश्यामि शोकदुःखभयं न हि॥७॥
Na teshaam jaayate kinchidashubham ranasankate |
Naapadam tasya pashyaami shokaduhkhabhayam na hi || 7 ||
no harm comes to them even in the danger of battle. (Brahma says:) I see no calamity for them; they have no grief, sorrow or fear.
- Verse 8
यैस्तु भक्त्या स्मृता नूनं तेषां वृद्धिः प्रजायते।
ये त्वां स्मरन्ति देवेशि रक्षसे तान्न संशयः॥८॥
Yaistu bhaktyaa smritaa noonam teshaam vriddhih prajaayate |
Ye tvaam smaranti deveshi rakshase taanna sanshayah || 8 ||
Those who remember her with devotion surely prosper. O Queen of the gods, you protect those who remember you; of this there is no doubt.
- Verse 9
प्रेतसंस्था तु चामुण्डा वाराही महिषासना।
ऐन्द्री गजसमारूढा वैष्णवी गरुडासना॥९॥
Pretasansthaa tu chaamundaa vaaraahee mahishaasanaa |
Aindree gajasamaaroodhaa vaishnavee garudaasanaa || 9 ||
Chamunda sits on a corpse, Varahi on a buffalo, Aindri rides an elephant and Vaishnavi sits on Garuda.
- Verse 10
माहेश्वरी वृषारूढा कौमारी शिखिवाहना।
लक्ष्मीः पद्मासना देवी पद्महस्ता हरिप्रिया॥१०॥
Maaheshvaree vrishaaroodhaa kaumaaree shikhivaahanaa |
Lakshmeeh padmaasanaa devee padmahastaa haripriyaa || 10 ||
Maheshvari rides a bull and Kaumari’s mount is the peacock. Goddess Lakshmi, beloved of Hari (Vishnu), sits on a lotus and holds a lotus in her hand.
- Verse 11
श्वेतरूपधरा देवी ईश्वरी वृषवाहना।
ब्राह्मी हंससमारूढा सर्वाभरणभूषिता॥११॥
Shvetaroopadharaa devee eeshvaree vrishavaahanaa |
Braahmee hansasamaaroodhaa sarvaabharanabhooshitaa || 11 ||
Goddess Ishvari, white in form, rides a bull, and Brahmi, adorned with every ornament, rides a swan.
- Verse 12
इत्येता मातरः सर्वाः सर्वयोगसमन्विताः।
नानाभरणशोभाढ्या नानारत्नोपशोभिताः॥१२॥
Ityetaa maatarah sarvaah sarvayogasamanvitaah |
Naanaabharanashobhaadhyaa naanaaratnopashobhitaah || 12 ||
All these Mothers (Matrikas) possess every yogic power, and shine with many ornaments and many jewels.
- Verses 13–15
दृश्यन्ते रथमारूढा देव्यः क्रोधसमाकुलाः।
शङ्खं चक्रं गदां शक्तिं हलं च मुसलायुधम्॥१३॥
खेटकं तोमरं चैव परशुं पाशमेव च।
कुन्तायुधं त्रिशूलं च शार्ङ्गमायुधमुत्तमम्॥१४॥
दैत्यानां देहनाशाय भक्तानामभयाय च।
धारयन्त्यायुधानीत्थं देवानां च हिताय वै॥१५॥
Drishyante rathamaaroodhaa devyah krodhasamaakulaah |
Shankham chakram gadaam shaktim halam cha musalaayudham || 13 ||
Khetakam tomaram chaiva parashum paashameva cha |
Kuntaayudham trishoolam cha shaarngamaayudhamuttamam || 14 ||
Daityaanaam dehanaashaaya bhaktaanaamabhayaaya cha |
Dhaarayantyaayudhaaneettham devaanaam cha hitaaya vai || 15 ||
These goddesses are seen mounted on chariots, filled with wrath. Conch, discus, mace, spear (shakti), plough, pestle, shield, javelin (tomara), axe, noose, lance (kunta), trident and the fine bow Sharnga: they hold these weapons to destroy the bodies of the daityas, to free their devotees from fear, and for the good of the gods.
- Verse 16
नमस्तेऽस्तु महारौद्रे महाघोरपराक्रमे।
महाबले महोत्साहे महाभयविनाशिनि॥१६॥
Namastestu mahaaraudre mahaaghoraparaakrame |
Mahaabale mahotsaahe mahaabhayavinaashini || 16 ||
Salutations to you, O fiercest one, of most terrible valour, of great strength and great zeal, destroyer of great fear.
- Verse 17
त्राहि मां देवि दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये शत्रूणां भयवर्धिनि।
प्राच्यां रक्षतु मामैन्द्री आग्नेय्यामग्निदेवता॥१७॥
Traahi maam devi dushprekshye shatroonaam bhayavardhini |
Praachyaam rakshatu maamaindree aagneyyaamagnidevataa || 17 ||
O Goddess, hard even to look upon, who make enemies afraid, save me. May Aindri guard me in the east, and the power of Agni in the south-east.
- Verse 18
दक्षिणेऽवतु वाराही नैर्ऋत्यां खड्गधारिणी।
प्रतीच्यां वारुणी रक्षेद् वायव्यां मृगवाहिनी॥१८॥
Dakshinevatu vaaraahee nairrityaam khadgadhaarinee |
Prateechyaam vaarunee rakshed vaayavyaam mrigavaahinee || 18 ||
May Varahi guard the south, the sword-bearer the south-west, Varuni the west, and the Goddess who rides a deer the north-west.
- Verse 19
उदीच्यां पातु कौमारी ऐशान्यां शूलधारिणी।
ऊर्ध्वं ब्रह्माणि मे रक्षेदधस्ताद् वैष्णवी तथा॥१९॥
Udeechyaam paatu kaumaaree aishaanyaam shooladhaarinee |
Oordhvam brahmaani me rakshedadhastaad vaishnavee tathaa || 19 ||
May Kaumari guard the north, the trident-bearer the north-east, Brahmani the space above me and Vaishnavi the space below.
- Verse 20
एवं दश दिशो रक्षेच्चामुण्डा शववाहना।
जया मे चाग्रतः पातु विजया पातु पृष्ठतः॥२०॥
Evam dasha disho rakshechchaamundaa shavavaahanaa |
Jayaa me chaagratah paatu vijayaa paatu prishthatah || 20 ||
So may Chamunda, who rides a corpse, guard all ten directions. May Jaya guard me in front and Vijaya behind.
- Verse 21
अजिता वामपार्श्वे तु दक्षिणे चापराजिता।
शिखामुद्योतिनी रक्षेदुमा मूर्ध्नि व्यवस्थिता॥२१॥
Ajitaa vaamapaarshve tu dakshine chaaparaajitaa |
Shikhaamudyotinee rakshedumaa moordhni vyavasthitaa || 21 ||
May Ajita guard my left side and Aparajita my right. May Udyotini guard the tuft of hair on my head, and Uma, seated on the crown of my head, protect it.
- Verse 22
मालाधरी ललाटे च भ्रुवौ रक्षेद् यशस्विनी।
त्रिनेत्रा च भ्रुवोर्मध्ये यमघण्टा च नासिके॥२२॥
Maalaadharee lalaate cha bhruvau rakshed yashasvinee |
Trinetraa cha bhruvormadhye yamaghantaa cha naasike || 22 ||
May Maladhari guard my forehead, Yashasvini my eyebrows, Trinetra the space between the brows and Yamaghanta my nose.
- Verse 23
शङ्खिनी चक्षुषोर्मध्ये श्रोत्रयोर्द्वारवासिनी।
कपोलौ कालिका रक्षेत्कर्णमूले तु शाङ्करी॥२३॥
Shankhinee chakshushormadhye shrotrayordvaaravaasinee |
Kapolau kaalikaa rakshetkarnamoole tu shaankaree || 23 ||
May Shankhini guard the space between my eyes, Dvaravasini my ears, Kalika my cheeks and Shankari the roots of my ears.
- Verse 24
नासिकायां सुगन्धा च उत्तरोष्ठे च चर्चिका।
अधरे चामृतकला जिह्वायां च सरस्वती॥२४॥
Naasikaayaam sugandhaa cha uttaroshthe cha charchikaa |
Adhare chaamritakalaa jihvaayaam cha sarasvatee || 24 ||
May Sugandha guard my nostrils, Charchika my upper lip, Amritakala my lower lip and Saraswati my tongue.
- Verse 25
दन्तान् रक्षतु कौमारी कण्ठदेशे तु चण्डिका।
घण्टिकां चित्रघण्टा च महामाया च तालुके॥२५॥
Dantaan rakshatu kaumaaree kanthadeshe tu chandikaa |
Ghantikaam chitraghantaa cha mahaamaayaa cha taaluke || 25 ||
May Kaumari guard my teeth, Chandika my throat, Chitraghanta the uvula and Mahamaya my palate.
- Verse 26
कामाक्षी चिबुकं रक्षेद् वाचं मे सर्वमङ्गला।
ग्रीवायां भद्रकाली च पृष्ठवंशे धनुर्धरी॥२६॥
Kaamaakshee chibukam rakshed vaacham me sarvamangalaa |
Greevaayaam bhadrakaalee cha prishthavanshe dhanurdharee || 26 ||
May Kamakshi guard my chin, Sarvamangala my speech, Bhadrakali my neck and Dhanurdhari, the archer, my spine.
- Verse 27
नीलग्रीवा बहिःकण्ठे नलिकां नलकूबरी।
स्कन्धयोः खड्गिनी रक्षेद् बाहू मे वज्रधारिणी॥२७॥
Neelagreevaa bahihkanthe nalikaam nalakoobaree |
Skandhayoh khadginee rakshed baahoo me vajradhaarinee || 27 ||
May Nilagriva guard the outside of my throat, Nalakubari the windpipe, Khadgini my shoulders and Vajradharini my arms.
- Verse 28
हस्तयोर्दण्डिनी रक्षेदम्बिका चाङ्गुलीषु च।
नखाञ्छूलेश्वरी रक्षेत्कुक्षौ रक्षेत्कुलेश्वरी॥२८॥
Hastayordandinee rakshedambikaa chaanguleeshu cha |
Nakhaanchhooleshvaree rakshetkukshau rakshetkuleshvaree || 28 ||
May Dandini guard my hands, Ambika my fingers, Shuleshvari my nails and Kuleshvari my belly.
- Verse 29
स्तनौ रक्षेन्महादेवी मनः शोकविनाशिनी।
हृदये ललिता देवी उदरे शूलधारिणी॥२९॥
Stanau rakshenmahaadevee manah shokavinaashinee |
Hridaye lalitaa devee udare shooladhaarinee || 29 ||
May Mahadevi guard my breast and Shokavinashini, the remover of grief, my mind. May Goddess Lalita guard my heart and the trident-bearer my abdomen.
- Verse 30
नाभौ च कामिनी रक्षेद् गुह्यं गुह्येश्वरी तथा।
पूतना कामिका मेढ्रं गुदे महिषवाहिनी॥३०॥
Naabhau cha kaaminee rakshed guhyam guhyeshvaree tathaa |
Pootanaa kaamikaa medhram gude mahishavaahinee || 30 ||
May Kamini guard my navel and Guhyeshvari my private parts. May Putana and Kamika guard the organ of generation, and Mahishavahini the anus.
- Verse 31
कट्यां भगवती रक्षेज्जानुनी विन्ध्यवासिनी।
जङ्घे महाबला रक्षेत्सर्वकामप्रदायिनी॥३१॥
Katyaam bhagavatee rakshejjaanunee vindhyavaasinee |
Janghe mahaabalaa rakshetsarvakaamapradaayinee || 31 ||
May Bhagavati guard my hips, Vindhyavasini my knees, and Mahabala, who grants every wish, my shins.
- Verse 32
गुल्फयोर्नारसिंही च पादपृष्ठे तु तैजसी।
पादाङ्गुलीषु श्री रक्षेत्पादाधस्तलवासिनी॥३२॥
Gulphayornaarasinhee cha paadaprishthe tu taijasee |
Paadaanguleeshu shree rakshetpaadaadhastalavaasinee || 32 ||
May Narasimhi guard my ankles, Taijasi the tops of my feet, Shri my toes and Talavasini the soles of my feet.
- Verse 33
नखान् दंष्ट्राकराली च केशांश्चैवोर्ध्वकेशिनी।
रोमकूपेषु कौबेरी त्वचं वागीश्वरी तथा॥३३॥
Nakhaan danshtraakaraalee cha keshaanshchaivordhvakeshinee |
Romakoopeshu kauberee tvacham vaageeshvaree tathaa || 33 ||
May Damshtrakarali guard my nails, Urdhvakeshini my hair, Kauberi the pores of my skin and Vagishvari my skin.
- Verse 34
रक्तमज्जावसामांसान्यस्थिमेदांसि पार्वती।
अन्त्राणि कालरात्रिश्च पित्तं च मुकुटेश्वरी॥३४॥
Raktamajjaavasaamaansaanyasthimedaansi paarvatee |
Antraani kaalaraatrishcha pittam cha mukuteshvaree || 34 ||
May Parvati guard my blood, marrow, fat, flesh, bones and tissue. May Kalaratri guard my intestines and Mukuteshvari my bile.
- Verse 35
पद्मावती पद्मकोशे कफे चूडामणिस्तथा।
ज्वालामुखी नखज्वालामभेद्या सर्वसन्धिषु॥३५॥
Padmaavatee padmakoshe kaphe choodaamanistathaa |
Jvaalaamukhee nakhajvaalaamabhedyaa sarvasandhishu || 35 ||
May Padmavati guard the lotus-sheath (padmakosha) and Chudamani the phlegm. May Jvalamukhi guard the glow of my nails, and Abhedya, the unbreakable one, all my joints.
- Verse 36
शुक्रं ब्रह्माणि मे रक्षेच्छायां छत्रेश्वरी तथा।
अहंकारं मनो बुद्धिं रक्षेन्मे धर्मधारिणी॥३६॥
Shukram brahmaani me rakshechchhaayaam chhatreshvaree tathaa |
Ahankaaram mano buddhim rakshenme dharmadhaarinee || 36 ||
May Brahmani guard my vital seed and Chhatreshvari my shadow. May Dharmadharini, upholder of dharma, guard my sense of self, my mind and my intellect.
- Verse 37
प्राणापानौ तथा व्यानमुदानं च समानकम्।
वज्रहस्ता च मे रक्षेत्प्राणं कल्याणशोभना॥३७॥
Praanaapaanau tathaa vyaanamudaanam cha samaanakam |
Vajrahastaa cha me rakshetpraanam kalyaanashobhanaa || 37 ||
May Vajrahasta guard my five breaths, prana, apana, vyana, udana and samana, and may Kalyanashobhana guard my life.
- Verse 38
रसे रूपे च गन्धे च शब्दे स्पर्शे च योगिनी।
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव रक्षेन्नारायणी सदा॥३८॥
Rase roope cha gandhe cha shabde sparshe cha yoginee |
Sattvam rajastamashchaiva rakshennaaraayanee sadaa || 38 ||
May Yogini guard me in taste, form, smell, sound and touch. May Narayani always guard the three qualities, sattva, rajas and tamas.
- Verse 39
आयू रक्षतु वाराही धर्मं रक्षतु वैष्णवी।
यशः कीर्तिं च लक्ष्मीं च धनं विद्यां च चक्रिणी॥३९॥
Aayoo rakshatu vaaraahee dharmam rakshatu vaishnavee |
Yashah keertim cha lakshmeem cha dhanam vidyaam cha chakrinee || 39 ||
May Varahi guard my lifespan and Vaishnavi my dharma. May Chakrini, who bears the discus, guard my good name, fame, prosperity, wealth and learning.
- Verse 40
गोत्रमिन्द्राणि मे रक्षेत्पशून्मे रक्ष चण्डिके।
पुत्रान् रक्षेन्महालक्ष्मीर्भार्यां रक्षतु भैरवी॥४०॥
Gotramindraani me rakshetpashoonme raksha chandike |
Putraan rakshenmahaalakshmeerbhaaryaam rakshatu bhairavee || 40 ||
May Indrani guard my family line; O Chandika, guard my cattle. May Mahalakshmi guard my children and Bhairavi my wife.
- Verse 41
पन्थानं सुपथा रक्षेन्मार्गं क्षेमकरी तथा।
राजद्वारे महालक्ष्मीर्विजया सर्वतः स्थिता॥४१॥
Panthaanam supathaa rakshenmaargam kshemakaree tathaa |
Raajadvaare mahaalakshmeervijayaa sarvatah sthitaa || 41 ||
May Supatha guard my road and Kshemakari my journey. May Mahalakshmi guard me at the king’s gate (in court), and Vijaya, present everywhere, on every side.
- Verse 42
रक्षाहीनं तु यत्स्थानं वर्जितं कवचेन तु।
तत्सर्वं रक्ष मे देवि जयन्ती पापनाशिनी॥४२॥
Rakshaaheenam tu yatsthaanam varjitam kavachena tu |
Tatsarvam raksha me devi jayantee paapanaashinee || 42 ||
Whatever place is left out of this armour and so stands unguarded, O Goddess, victorious one and destroyer of sin, guard all of it for me.
- Verse 43
पदमेकं न गच्छेत्तु यदीच्छेच्छुभमात्मनः।
कवचेनावृतो नित्यं यत्र यत्रैव गच्छति॥४३॥
Padamekam na gachchhettu yadeechchhechchhubhamaatmanah |
Kavachenaavrito nityam yatra yatraiva gachchhati || 43 ||
Here the phalashruti begins: the text says what the recitation of the kavach brings. One who wishes for his own good should not take a single step without this armour. Wherever a person always covered by it goes,
- Verse 44
तत्र तत्रार्थलाभश्च विजयः सार्वकामिकः।
यं यं चिन्तयते कामं तं तं प्राप्नोति निश्चितम्।
परमैश्वर्यमतुलं प्राप्स्यते भूतले पुमान्॥४४॥
Tatra tatraarthalaabhashcha vijayah saarvakaamikah |
Yam yam chintayate kaamam tam tam praapnoti nishchitam |
Paramaishvaryamatulam praapsyate bhootale pumaan || 44 ||
there he gains wealth and a victory that fulfils every wish. Whatever wish he thinks of, he surely attains it. That person attains matchless prosperity on this earth.
- Verse 45
निर्भयो जायते मर्त्यः संग्रामेष्वपराजितः।
त्रैलोक्ये तु भवेत्पूज्यः कवचेनावृतः पुमान्॥४५॥
Nirbhayo jaayate martyah sangraameshvaparaajitah |
Trailokye tu bhavetpoojyah kavachenaavritah pumaan || 45 ||
A person covered by this armour becomes fearless, is not defeated in battle and is honoured in the three worlds.
- Verse 46
इदं तु देव्याः कवचं देवानामपि दुर्लभम्।
यः पठेत्प्रयतो नित्यं त्रिसन्ध्यं श्रद्धयान्वितः॥४६॥
Idam tu devyaah kavacham devaanaamapi durlabham |
Yah pathetprayato nityam trisandhyam shraddhayaanvitah || 46 ||
This armour of the Goddess is hard to obtain even for the gods. One who recites it every day at the three junctions of the day (morning, noon and evening), self-controlled and with faith,
- Verse 47
दैवी कला भवेत्तस्य त्रैलोक्येष्वपराजितः।
जीवेद् वर्षशतं साग्रमपमृत्युविवर्जितः॥४७॥
Daivee kalaa bhavettasya trailokyeshvaparaajitah |
Jeeved varshashatam saagramapamrityuvivarjitah || 47 ||
receives a share of divine power, remains unconquered in the three worlds, and lives a hundred years and more, free from untimely death.
- Verse 48
नश्यन्ति व्याधयः सर्वे लूताविस्फोटकादयः।
स्थावरं जङ्गमं चैव कृत्रिमं चापि यद्विषम्॥४८॥
Nashyanti vyaadhayah sarve lootaavisphotakaadayah |
Sthaavaram jangamam chaiva kritrimam chaapi yadvisham || 48 ||
The text says that all his diseases, such as luta (spider-poison sores) and boils, are destroyed, and so is poison, whether from plants and minerals, from creatures, or prepared by people.
- Verses 49–51
अभिचाराणि सर्वाणि मन्त्रयन्त्राणि भूतले।
भूचराः खेचराश्चैव जलजाश्चोपदेशिकाः॥४९॥
सहजा कुलजा माला डाकिनी शाकिनी तथा।
अन्तरिक्षचरा घोरा डाकिन्यश्च महाबलाः॥५०॥
ग्रहभूतपिशाचाश्च यक्षगन्धर्वराक्षसाः।
ब्रह्मराक्षसवेतालाः कूष्माण्डा भैरवादयः॥५१॥
Abhichaaraani sarvaani mantrayantraani bhootale |
Bhoocharaah khecharaashchaiva jalajaashchopadeshikaah || 49 ||
Sahajaa kulajaa maalaa daakinee shaakinee tathaa |
Antarikshacharaa ghoraa daakinyashcha mahaabalaah || 50 ||
Grahabhootapishaachaashcha yakshagandharvaraakshasaah |
Brahmaraakshasavetaalaah kooshmaandaa bhairavaadayah || 51 ||
All the spells cast on earth to harm others, and their mantras and yantras; beings that move on land, in the sky and in water, and rites learnt through instruction; the troubles called sahaja, kulaja and mala, dakinis and shakinis, the fearsome and mighty dakinis who roam the sky; grahas, bhutas, pishachas, yakshas, gandharvas, rakshasas, brahmarakshasas, vetalas, kushmandas, bhairavas and the like,
- Verse 52
नश्यन्ति दर्शनात्तस्य कवचे हृदि संस्थिते।
मानोन्नतिर्भवेद् राज्ञस्तेजोवृद्धिकरं परम्॥५२॥
Nashyanti darshanaattasya kavache hridi sansthite |
Maanonnatirbhaved raagyastejovriddhikaram param || 52 ||
The text says that all of these perish at the very sight of one who holds this armour in his heart. He gains honour from the king; this armour greatly increases one’s radiance.
- Verse 53
यशसा वर्धते सोऽपि कीर्तिमण्डितभूतले।
जपेत्सप्तशतीं चण्डीं कृत्वा तु कवचं पुरा॥५३॥
Yashasaa vardhate sopi keertimanditabhootale |
Japetsaptashateem chandeem kritvaa tu kavacham puraa || 53 ||
He grows in renown on this earth adorned with his fame. One should first recite the kavach and then the Saptashati, the Chandi.
- Verse 54
यावद्भूमण्डलं धत्ते सशैलवनकाननम्।
तावत्तिष्ठति मेदिन्यां संततिः पुत्रपौत्रिकी॥५४॥
Yaavadbhoomandalam dhatte sashailavanakaananam |
Taavattishthati medinyaam santatih putrapautrikee || 54 ||
As long as the earth endures with its mountains, woods and forests, so long does his line of sons and grandsons remain on the earth.
- Verse 55
देहान्ते परमं स्थानं यत्सुरैरपि दुर्लभम्।
प्राप्नोति पुरुषो नित्यं महामायाप्रसादतः॥५५॥
Dehaante paramam sthaanam yatsurairapi durlabham |
Praapnoti purusho nityam mahaamaayaaprasaadatah || 55 ||
When the body falls away, by the grace of Mahamaya that person reaches the eternal supreme abode, which is hard to reach even for the gods.
- Verse 56
लभते परमं रूपं शिवेन सह मोदते॥ॐ॥५६॥
इति देव्याः कवचं सम्पूर्णम्।
Labhate paramam roopam shivena saha modate || om || 56 ||
Iti devyaah kavacham sampoornam |
He attains the supreme form and rejoices with Shiva. Om. Here the Kavach of the Goddess ends.
On the text: it was compared word by word in two Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions of the Durga Saptashati (the illustrated one with Hindi translation and method of recitation, and the original text with the method of recitation), sanskritdocuments.org (Ahto Jarve’s text, proofread by P. S. A. Easwaran) and Sanskrit Wikisource; all four have the same text, differing only in spelling and in how sandhi is written. A second recension (Mantra Maharnava, Khemraj 1924, the ‘Chandikavacham’ on sanskritdocuments.org) differs in some words: verse 3 ‘shailaputriti’, 4 ‘kalaratrishcha’, 6 ‘durge’, 8 ‘tesham siddhih prajayate’, 19 ‘udichyam raksha kauberi ishanyam’, 20 ‘jaya me agratah sthatu vijaya sthatu prishthatah’, 21 ‘shikham me dyotini’, 25 ‘kanthamadhye’, 28 ‘changulistatha’ and ‘naleshvari’, 29 ‘mahalakshmir manahshokavinashini’, 31 ‘mahabala prokta’, 32 ‘padau chamitatejasi’, 36 ‘raksha me dharmacharini’, 37 ‘samanodanam eva cha’, 43 ‘yatradhigachchhati’, 44 ‘kamayate’, 48 ‘vapi’ and 50 ‘sahajah kulaja malah shakini dakini’. On the source: the thirteen chapters of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya) are part of the Markandeya Purana; the Kavach, Argala and Kilaka are supporting texts recited with it, not part of those chapters. The Gita Press colophon says only ‘iti devyah kavacham sampurnam’; the colophon of the second recension calls it ‘from the Varaha Purana, composed by Harihara-Brahma’. We have not seen it in a printed edition of the Varaha Purana. The order of recitation also differs between traditions: Gita Press follows the Yogaratnavali (Kavach, Argala, Kilaka) and also gives the order of the Chidambara Samhita (Argala, Kilaka, then Kavach), saying it is best to follow the order handed down in one’s own region. Verses 43 to 56 are the phalashruti: the text itself says what reciting the kavach brings.
