mārkaṇḍeya uvāca . oṁ yadguhyaṁ paramaṁ loke sarvarakṣākaraṁ nr̥ṇām . yanna kasyacidākhyātaṁ tanme brūhi pitāmaha.
Markandeya said: O Grandfather! Please tell me that supreme secret in this world which gives all protection to people, and which has not been revealed to anyone.
brahmovāca . asti guhyatamaṁ vipra sarvabhūtopakārakam . devyāstu kavacaṁ puṇyaṁ tacchr̥ṇuṣva mahāmune.
Brahma said: O Brahmin, there is the most secret and useful to all beings. It is the sacred armour of the Devi; listen to it, O great sage.
prathamaṁ śailaputrī ca dvitīyaṁ brahmacāriṇī . tr̥tīyaṁ candraghaṇṭeti kūṣmāṇḍeti caturthakam.
The first is Shailaputri, the second is Brahmacharini, the third is Chandraghanta, and the fourth is Kushmanda.
pañcamaṁ skandamāteti ṣaṣṭhaṁ kātyāyanīti ca . saptamaṁ kālarātrīti mahāgaurīti cāṣṭamam.
The fifth is Skandamata, the sixth is Katyayani, the seventh is Kalaratri, and the eighth is Mahagauri.
navamaṁ siddhidātrī ca navadurgāḥ prakīrtitāḥ . uktānyetāni nāmāni brahmaṇaiva mahātmanā.
The ninth is Siddhidatri; these are known as the Navadurgas. These names have been declared by the great soul Brahma himself.
agninā dahyamānastu śatrumadhye gato raṇe . viṣame durgame caiva bhayārttāḥ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ.
Those who are burning in fire, surrounded by enemies in battle, or caught in an impassable crisis, and who seek refuge in Her,
na teṣāṁ jāyate kiṁcidaśubhaṁ raṇasaṁkaṭe . nāpadaṁ tasya paśyāmi śokaduḥkhabhayaṁ na hi.
No inauspiciousness befalls them in the peril of war. I see no calamity, nor any fear of grief or sorrow for them.
yaistu bhaktyā smr̥tā nūnaṁ teṣāṁ vr̥ddhiḥ prajāyate . ye tvāṁ smaranti deveśi rakṣase tānna saṁśayaḥ.
Those who remember You with devotion, their prosperity surely increases. O Supreme Devi, there is no doubt that You protect those who remember You.
pretasaṁsthā tu cāmuṇḍā vārāhī mahiṣāsanā . aindrī gajasamārūḍhā vaiṣṇavī garuḍāsanā.
Chamunda rides on corpses, Varahi rides on a buffalo, Aindri is mounted on an elephant, and Vaishnavi is seated on Garuda.
māheśvarī vr̥ṣārūḍhā kaumārī śikhivāhanā . lakṣmīḥ padmāsanā devī padmahastā haripriyā.
Maheshwari rides on a bull, Kaumari rides on a peacock, Lakshmi, the beloved of Hari, is seated on a lotus and holds a lotus in her hand.
śvetarūpadharā devī īśvarī vr̥ṣavāhanā . brāhmī haṁsasamārūḍhā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā.
The Devi Ishwari, of white complexion, rides on a bull. Brahmi, adorned with all ornaments, is seated on a swan.
ityetā mātaraḥ sarvāḥ sarvayogasamanvitāḥ . nānābharaṇaśobhāḍhyā nānāratnopaśobhitāḥ.
All these mothers are endowed with all yogic powers. They are adorned with various ornaments and studded with various gems.
dr̥śyante rathamārūḍhā devyaḥ krodhasamākulāḥ . śaṅkhaṁ cakraṁ gadāṁ śaktiṁ halaṁ ca musalāyudham.
The devis are seen mounted on chariots, filled with anger. They hold a conch, discus, mace, spear, plough, and club,
kheṭakaṁ tomaraṁ caiva paraśuṁ pāśameva ca . kuntāyudhaṁ triśūlaṁ ca śārṅgamāyudhamuttamam.
A shield, javelin, axe, noose, spear, trident, and the excellent bow named Sharnga.
daityānāṁ dehanāśāya bhaktānāmabhayāya ca . dhārayantyāyudhānītthaṁ devānāṁ ca hitāya vai.
They hold these weapons for the destruction of the bodies of asuras, for the protection of those who turn to her, and for the welfare of the gods.
namaste'stu mahāraudre mahāghoraparākrame . mahābale mahotsāhe mahābhayavināśini.
Salutations to You, O exceedingly fierce one, of terrifying prowess, of great strength, of great enthusiasm, and the destroyer of great fears.
trāhi māṁ devi duṣprekṣye śatrūṇāṁ bhayavarddhini . prācyāṁ rakṣatu māmaindrī āgneyyāmagnidevatā.
Protect me, O Devi, who is difficult to look at and who increases the fear of enemies. May Aindri protect me in the east, and the deity of fire in the southeast.
dakṣiṇe'vatu vārāhī nairr̥tyāṁ khaḍgadhāriṇī . pratīcyāṁ vāruṇī rakṣedvāyavyāṁ mr̥gavāhinī.
May Varahi protect me in the south, and the sword-wielding devi in the southwest. May Varuni protect me in the west, and the deer-riding devi in the northwest.
udīcyāṁ pātu kaumārī aiśānyāṁ śūladhāriṇī . ūrdhvaṁ brahmāṇi me rakṣedadhastādvaiṣṇavī tathā.
May Kaumari protect me in the north, and the trident-wielding devi in the northeast. May Brahmani protect me from above, and Vaishnavi from below.
evaṁ daśa diśo rakṣeccāmuṇḍā śavavāhanā . jayā me cāgrataḥ pātu vijayā pātu pr̥ṣṭhataḥ.
Thus may Chamunda, who rides on a corpse, protect the ten directions. May Jaya protect me in the front, and Vijaya protect me in the back.
ajitā vāmapārśve tu dakṣiṇe cāparājitā . śikhāmudyotinī rakṣedumā mūrdhni vyavasthitā.
May Ajita protect my left side and Aparajita my right. May Dyotini protect my hair and Uma sit on my head and protect it.
mālādharī lalāṭe ca bhruvau rakṣedyaśasvinī . trinetrā ca bhruvormadhye yamaghaṇṭā ca nāsike.
May Maladhari protect my forehead and Yashasvini my eyebrows. May Trinetra protect the space between my eyebrows and Yamaghanta my nose.
śaṅkhinī cakṣuṣormadhye śrotrayordvāravāsinī . kapolau kālikā rakṣet karṇamūle tu śāṅkarī.
May Shankhini protect the space between my eyes and Dvaravasini my ears. May Kalika protect my cheeks and Shankari the roots of my ears.
nāsikāyāṁ sugandhā ca uttaroṣṭhe ca carcikā . adhare cāmr̥tākalā jihvāyāṁ ca sarasvatī.
May Sugandha protect my nose and Charchika my upper lip. May Amritakala protect my lower lip and Sarasvati my tongue.
dantān rakṣatu kaumārī kaṇṭhamadhye tu caṇḍikā . ghaṇṭikāṁ citraghaṇṭā ca mahāmāyā ca tāluke.
May Kaumari protect my teeth and Chandika the middle of my throat. May Chitraghanta protect my uvula and Mahamaya my palate.
kāmākṣī cibukaṁ rakṣedvācaṁ me sarvamaṅgalā . grīvāyāṁ bhadrakālī ca pr̥ṣṭhavaṁśe dhanurdharī.
May Kamakshi protect my chin and Sarvamangala my speech. May Bhadrakali protect my neck and Dhanurdhari my spine.
nīlagrīvā bahiḥkaṇṭhe nalikāṁ nalakūbarī . skandhayoḥ khaḍginī rakṣedbāhū me vajradhāriṇī.
May Nilagriva protect the outer part of my throat and Nalakubari my windpipe. May Khadgini protect my shoulders and Vajradharini my arms.
hastayordaṇḍinī rakṣedambikā cāṅgulīṣu ca . nakhāñchūleśvarī rakṣet kukṣau rakṣetkuleśvarī.
May Dandini protect both my hands and Ambika my fingers. May Shuleshvari protect my nails and Nareshvari my abdomen.
stanau rakṣenmahādevī manaḥ śokavināśinī . hr̥dayaṁ lalitā devī udare śūladhāriṇī.
May Mahadevi protect my breasts and Shokavinashini my mind. May Lalita Devi protect my heart and Shuladharini my stomach.
nābhau ca kāminī rakṣedguhyaṁ guhyeśvarī tathā . bhūtanāthā ca meḍhraṁ me gude mahiṣavāhinī.
May Kamini protect my navel and Guhyeshvari my hidden parts. May Bhutanatha protect my reproductive organs and Mahishavahini my thighs.
kaṭyāṁ bhagavatī rakṣejjānunī vindhyavāsinī . jaṅghe mahābalā proktā sarvakāmapradāyinī.
May Bhagavati protect my waist and Vindhyavasini my knees. May Mahabala, the granter of all desires, protect my calves.
gulphayornārasiṁhī ca pādapr̥ṣṭhāmitaujasī . pādāṅgulīṣu śrīrakṣet pādādhaḥsthalavāsinī.
May Narasimhi protect my ankles and Amitaujasi the back of my feet. May Shri protect my toes and Padadhasthalavasini the soles of my feet.
nakhān daṁṣṭrā karālī ca keśāṁścaivordhvakeśinī . romakūpeṣu kauberī tvacaṁ vāgīśvarī tathā.
May Damshtrakarali protect my toenails and Urdhvakeshini my hair. May Kauberi protect the pores of my skin and Vagishvari my skin.
raktamajjāvasāmāṁsānyasthimedāṁsi pārvatī . antrāṇi kālarātriśca pittaṁ ca mukuṭeśvarī.
May Parvati protect my blood, marrow, fat, flesh, bones, and lymph. May Kalaratri protect my intestines and Mukuteshvari my bile.
padmāvatī padmakośe kaphe cūḍāmaṇistathā . jvālāmukhī nakhajvālāmabhedyā sarvasandhiṣu.
May Padmavati protect the lotuses (chakras) and Chudamani the phlegm. May Jvalamukhi protect the luster of my nails and Abhedya all my joints.
śukraṁ brahmāṇi me rakṣecchāyāṁ chatreśvarī tathā . ahaṅkāraṁ mano buddhiṁ rakṣenme dharmadhāriṇī.
May Brahmani protect my semen and Chatreshvari my shadow. May Dharmadharini protect my ego, mind, and intellect.
prāṇāpānau tathā vyānamudānaṁ ca samānakam . vajrahastā ca me rakṣetprāṇaṁ kalyāṇaśobhanā.
May Vajrahasta protect the five vital airs: prana, apana, vyana, udana, and samana. May Kalyana Shobhana protect my life force.
rase rūpe ca gandhe ca śabde sparśe ca yoginī . sattvaṁ rajastamaścaiva rakṣennārāyaṇī sadā.
May Yogini protect the senses of taste, sight, smell, sound, and touch. May Narayani always protect the qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas.
āyū rakṣatu vārāhī dharmaṁ rakṣatu vaiṣṇavī . yaśaḥ kīrtiṁ ca lakṣmīṁ ca dhanaṁ vidyāṁ ca cakriṇī.
May Varahi protect my life and Vaishnavi my dharma. May Chakrini protect my fame, reputation, wealth, and knowledge.
gotramindrāṇi me rakṣetpaśūnme rakṣa caṇḍike . putrān rakṣenmahālakṣmīrbhāryāṁ rakṣatu bhairavī.
May Indrani protect my lineage and Chandika my cattle. May Mahalakshmi protect my children and Bhairavi my wife.
dhaneśvarī dhanaṁ rakṣet kaumārī kanyakāṁ tathā . panthānaṁ supathā rakṣenmārgaṁ kṣemaṅkarī tathā.
Let Dhaneshwari protect the wealth, and Kumari protect the daughter. Let Supatha protect the journey, and Kshemankari protect the way.
rājadvāre mahālakṣmīrvijayā satata sthitā . rakṣāhīnaṁ tu yat sthānaṁ varjitaṁ kavacena tu.
At the king's gate, let Mahalakshmi and Vijaya always stand. And whatever place is left unprotected by this armour,
tatsarvaṁ rakṣa me devi jayantī pāpanāśinī . sarvarakṣākaraṁ puṇyaṁ kavacaṁ sarvadā japet.
O Devi Jayanti, destroyer of sins, protect all of that. One should always recite this armour which provides all-round protection.
idaṁ rahasyaṁ viprarṣe bhaktyā tava mayoditam . pādamekaṁ na gacchet tu yadīcchecchubhamātmanaḥ.
O noble sage, this secret has been told to you with devotion. One who desires his own welfare should not take even a single step without it.
kavacenāvr̥to nityaṁ yatra yatraiva gacchati . tatra tatrārthalābhaśva vijayaḥ sārvakālikaḥ.
Wherever one goes, constantly covered by this armour, there one gains wealth and eternal victory.
yaṁ yaṁ cintayate kāmaṁ taṁ taṁ prāpnoti niścitam . paramaiśvaryamatulaṁ prāpsyate bhūtale pumān.
Whatever desire one thinks of, one certainly attains it. That person will attain incomparable supreme wealth on earth.
nirbhayo jāyate martyaḥ saṅgrāmeṣvaparājitaḥ . trailokye tu bhavetpūjyaḥ kavacenāvr̥taḥ pumān.
The mortal becomes fearless and undefeated in battles. A person covered by this armour becomes honoured in the three worlds.
idaṁ tu devyāḥ kavacaṁ devānāmapi durlabham . yaḥ paṭhetprayato nityaṁ trisandhyaṁ śraddhayānvitaḥ.
This armour of the Devi is difficult even for the gods to attain. He who recites it daily with devotion during the three twilights,
daivīkalā bhavettasya trailokye cāparājitaḥ . jīvedvarṣaśataṁ sāgramapamr̥tyuvivarjitaḥ.
attains divine arts and remains undefeated in the three worlds. He lives for a full hundred years, free from untimely death.
naśyanti vyādhayaḥ sarve lūtāvisphoṭakādayaḥ . sthāvaraṁ jaṅgamaṁ caiva kr̥trimaṁ caiva yadviṣam.
All diseases, such as skin diseases and boils, are destroyed. All poisons, whether from immovable objects, moving creatures, or artificial sources,
abhicārāṇi sarvāṇi mantrayantrāṇi bhūtale . bhūcarāḥ khecarāścaiva kulajāścaupadeśikāḥ.
all black magic, mantras, and yantras on earth, as well as beings moving on earth or in the sky, those born of lineage or created by instructions,
sahajā kulajā mālā ḍākinī śākinī tathā . antarikṣacarā ghorā ḍākinyaśca mahāravāḥ.
naturally born, born of lineage, Dakinis, Shakinis, and terrible Dakinis roaming in the space making loud noises,
grahabhūtapiśācāśca yakṣagandharvarākṣasāḥ . brahmarākṣasavetālāḥ kūṣmāṇḍā bhairavādayaḥ.
evil planets, ghosts, vampires, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Brahmarakshasas, Vetalas, Kushmandas, and Bhairavas,
naśyanti darśanāttasya kavacenāvr̥to hi yaḥ . mānonnatirbhavedrājñastejovr̥ddhiḥ parā bhavet.
all perish just by the sight of the one covered by this armour. He gains honour from the king and his radiance increases supremely.
yaśovr̥ddhirbhavet puṁsāṁ kīrtivr̥ddhiśca jāyate . tasmāt japet sadā bhaktaḥ kavacaṁ kāmadaṁ mune.
His fame and glory multiply. Therefore, O sage, one should always recite this wish-fulfilling armour.
japet saptaśatīṁ caṇḍīṁ kr̥tvā tu kavacaṁ purā . nirvighnena bhavet siddhiścaṇḍījapasamudbhavā.
One should recite the Chandi Saptashati only after first reciting this armour. Then the success arising from the Chandi japa is achieved without obstacles.
yāvadbhūmaṇḍalaṁ dhatte saśailavanakānanam . tāvattiṣṭhati medinyāṁ santatiḥ putrapautrikī.
As long as the earth holds mountains and forests, so long will his lineage of sons and grandsons remain on earth.
dehānte paramaṁ sthānaṁ surairapi sudurlabham . prāpnoti puruṣo nityaṁ mahāmāyāprasādataḥ.
At the end of life, by the grace of Mahamaya, he eternally attains the supreme state which is very difficult even for the gods to reach.
tatra gacchati gatvāsau punaścāgamanaṁ nahi . labhate paramaṁ sthānaṁ śivena samatāṁ vrajet.
He will go there, and having gone shall surely not return. He will attain the supreme state and with the Absolute will merge.