maarkandey uvaach . om yadguhyan paraman loke sarvarakshaakaran nrinaam . yann kasyachidaakhyaatan tanme broohi pitaamah.
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.
brahmovaach . asti guhyataman vipr sarvabhootopakaarakam . devyaastu kavachan punyan tachchhrinushv mahaamune.
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.
prathaman shailaputree ch dviteeyan brahmachaarinee . triteeyan chandraghanteti kooshmaandeti chaturthakam.
The first is Shailaputri, the second is Brahmacharini, the third is Chandraghanta, and the fourth is Kushmanda.
panchaman skandamaateti shashthan kaatyaayaneeti ch . saptaman kaalaraatreeti mahaagaureeti chaashtamam.
The fifth is Skandamata, the sixth is Katyayani, the seventh is Kalaratri, and the eighth is Mahagauri.
navaman siddhidaatree ch navadurgaah prakeertitaah . uktaanyetaani naamaani brahmanaiv mahaatmanaa.
The ninth is Siddhidatri; these are known as the Navadurgas. These names have been declared by the great soul Brahma himself.
agninaa dahyamaanastu shatrumadhye gato rane . vishame durgame chaiv bhayaarttaah sharanan gataah.
Those who are burning in fire, surrounded by enemies in battle, or caught in an impassable crisis, and who seek refuge in Her,
n teshaan jaayate kinchidashubhan ranasankate . naapadan tasy pashyaami shokaduhkhabhayan n hi.
No inauspiciousness befalls them in the peril of war. I see no calamity, nor any fear of grief or sorrow for them.
yaistu bhaktyaa smritaa noonan teshaan vriddhih prajaayate . ye tvaan smaranti deveshi rakshase taann sanshayah.
Those who remember You with devotion, their prosperity surely increases. O Supreme Devi, there is no doubt that You protect those who remember You.
pretasansthaa tu chaamundaa vaaraahee mahishaasanaa . aindree gajasamaaroodhaa vaishnavee garudaasanaa.
Chamunda rides on corpses, Varahi rides on a buffalo, Aindri is mounted on an elephant, and Vaishnavi is seated on Garuda.
maaheshvaree vrishaaroodhaa kaumaaree shikhivaahanaa . lakshmeeh padmaasanaa devee padmahastaa haripriyaa.
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.
shvetaroopadharaa devee eeshvaree vrishavaahanaa . braahmee hansasamaaroodhaa sarvaabharanabhooshitaa.
The Devi Ishwari, of white complexion, rides on a bull. Brahmi, adorned with all ornaments, is seated on a swan.
ityetaa maatarah sarvaah sarvayogasamanvitaah . naanaabharanashobhaadhyaa naanaaratnopashobhitaah.
All these mothers are endowed with all yogic powers. They are adorned with various ornaments and studded with various gems.
drishyante rathamaaroodhaa devyah krodhasamaakulaah . shankhan chakran gadaan shaktin halan ch musalaayudham.
The devis are seen mounted on chariots, filled with anger. They hold a conch, discus, mace, spear, plough, and club,
khetakan tomaran chaiv parashun paashamev ch . kuntaayudhan trishoolan ch shaarngamaayudhamuttamam.
A shield, javelin, axe, noose, spear, trident, and the excellent bow named Sharnga.
daityaanaan dehanaashaay bhaktaanaamabhayaay ch . dhaarayantyaayudhaaneetthan devaanaan ch hitaay 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 mahaaraudre mahaaghoraparaakrame . mahaabale mahotsaahe mahaabhayavinaashini.
Salutations to You, O exceedingly fierce one, of terrifying prowess, of great strength, of great enthusiasm, and the destroyer of great fears.
traahi maan devi dushprekshye shatroonaan bhayavarddhini . praachyaan rakshatu maamaindree aagneyyaamagnidevataa.
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.
dakshine'vatu vaaraahee nairrityaan khadgadhaarinee . prateechyaan vaarunee rakshedvaayavyaan mrigavaahinee.
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.
udeechyaan paatu kaumaaree aishaanyaan shooladhaarinee . oordhvan brahmaani me rakshedadhastaadvaishnavee tathaa.
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.
evan dash disho rakshechchaamundaa shavavaahanaa . jayaa me chaagratah paatu vijayaa paatu prishthatah.
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.
ajitaa vaamapaarshve tu dakshine chaaparaajitaa . shikhaamudyotinee rakshedumaa moordhni vyavasthitaa.
May Ajita protect my left side and Aparajita my right. May Dyotini protect my hair and Uma sit on my head and protect it.
maalaadharee lalaate ch bhruvau rakshedyashasvinee . trinetraa ch bhruvormadhye yamaghantaa ch naasike.
May Maladhari protect my forehead and Yashasvini my eyebrows. May Trinetra protect the space between my eyebrows and Yamaghanta my nose.
shankhinee chakshushormadhye shrotrayordvaaravaasinee . kapolau kaalikaa rakshet karnamoole tu shaankaree.
May Shankhini protect the space between my eyes and Dvaravasini my ears. May Kalika protect my cheeks and Shankari the roots of my ears.
naasikaayaan sugandhaa ch uttaroshthe ch charchikaa . adhare chaamritaakalaa jihvaayaan ch sarasvatee.
May Sugandha protect my nose and Charchika my upper lip. May Amritakala protect my lower lip and Sarasvati my tongue.
dantaan rakshatu kaumaaree kanthamadhye tu chandikaa . ghantikaan chitraghantaa ch mahaamaayaa ch taaluke.
May Kaumari protect my teeth and Chandika the middle of my throat. May Chitraghanta protect my uvula and Mahamaya my palate.
kaamaakshee chibukan rakshedvaachan me sarvamangalaa . greevaayaan bhadrakaalee ch prishthavanshe dhanurdharee.
May Kamakshi protect my chin and Sarvamangala my speech. May Bhadrakali protect my neck and Dhanurdhari my spine.
neelagreevaa bahihkanthe nalikaan nalakoobaree . skandhayoh khadginee rakshedbaahoo me vajradhaarinee.
May Nilagriva protect the outer part of my throat and Nalakubari my windpipe. May Khadgini protect my shoulders and Vajradharini my arms.
hastayordandinee rakshedambikaa chaanguleeshu ch . nakhaanchhooleshvaree rakshet kukshau rakshetkuleshvaree.
May Dandini protect both my hands and Ambika my fingers. May Shuleshvari protect my nails and Nareshvari my abdomen.
stanau rakshenmahaadevee manah shokavinaashinee . hridayan lalitaa devee udare shooladhaarinee.
May Mahadevi protect my breasts and Shokavinashini my mind. May Lalita Devi protect my heart and Shuladharini my stomach.
naabhau ch kaaminee rakshedguhyan guhyeshvaree tathaa . bhootanaathaa ch medhran me gude mahishavaahinee.
May Kamini protect my navel and Guhyeshvari my hidden parts. May Bhutanatha protect my reproductive organs and Mahishavahini my thighs.
katyaan bhagavatee rakshejjaanunee vindhyavaasinee . janghe mahaabalaa proktaa sarvakaamapradaayinee.
May Bhagavati protect my waist and Vindhyavasini my knees. May Mahabala, the granter of all desires, protect my calves.
gulphayornaarasinhee ch paadaprishthaamitaujasee . paadaanguleeshu shreerakshet paadaadhahsthalavaasinee.
May Narasimhi protect my ankles and Amitaujasi the back of my feet. May Shri protect my toes and Padadhasthalavasini the soles of my feet.
nakhaan danshtraa karaalee ch keshaanshchaivordhvakeshinee . romakoopeshu kauberee tvachan vaageeshvaree tathaa.
May Damshtrakarali protect my toenails and Urdhvakeshini my hair. May Kauberi protect the pores of my skin and Vagishvari my skin.
raktamajjaavasaamaansaanyasthimedaansi paarvatee . antraani kaalaraatrishch pittan ch mukuteshvaree.
May Parvati protect my blood, marrow, fat, flesh, bones, and lymph. May Kalaratri protect my intestines and Mukuteshvari my bile.
padmaavatee padmakoshe kaphe choodaamanistathaa . jvaalaamukhee nakhajvaalaamabhedyaa sarvasandhishu.
May Padmavati protect the lotuses (chakras) and Chudamani the phlegm. May Jvalamukhi protect the luster of my nails and Abhedya all my joints.
shukran brahmaani me rakshechchhaayaan chhatreshvaree tathaa . ahankaaran mano buddhin rakshenme dharmadhaarinee.
May Brahmani protect my semen and Chatreshvari my shadow. May Dharmadharini protect my ego, mind, and intellect.
praanaapaanau tathaa vyaanamudaanan ch samaanakam . vajrahastaa ch me rakshetpraanan kalyaanashobhanaa.
May Vajrahasta protect the five vital airs: prana, apana, vyana, udana, and samana. May Kalyana Shobhana protect my life force.
rase roope ch gandhe ch shabde sparshe ch yoginee . sattvan rajastamashchaiv rakshennaaraayanee sadaa.
May Yogini protect the senses of taste, sight, smell, sound, and touch. May Narayani always protect the qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas.
aayoo rakshatu vaaraahee dharman rakshatu vaishnavee . yashah keertin ch lakshmeen ch dhanan vidyaan ch chakrinee.
May Varahi protect my life and Vaishnavi my dharma. May Chakrini protect my fame, reputation, wealth, and knowledge.
gotramindraani me rakshetpashoonme raksh chandike . putraan rakshenmahaalakshmeerbhaaryaan rakshatu bhairavee.
May Indrani protect my lineage and Chandika my cattle. May Mahalakshmi protect my children and Bhairavi my wife.
dhaneshvaree dhanan rakshet kaumaaree kanyakaan tathaa . panthaanan supathaa rakshenmaargan kshemankaree tathaa.
Let Dhaneshwari protect the wealth, and Kumari protect the daughter. Let Supatha protect the journey, and Kshemankari protect the way.
raajadvaare mahaalakshmeervijayaa satat sthitaa . rakshaaheenan tu yat sthaanan varjitan kavachen tu.
At the king's gate, let Mahalakshmi and Vijaya always stand. And whatever place is left unprotected by this armour,
tatsarvan raksh me devi jayantee paapanaashinee . sarvarakshaakaran punyan kavachan sarvadaa japet.
O Devi Jayanti, destroyer of sins, protect all of that. One should always recite this armour which provides all-round protection.
idan rahasyan viprarshe bhaktyaa tav mayoditam . paadamekan n gachchhet tu yadeechchhechchhubhamaatmanah.
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.
kavachenaavrito nityan yatr yatraiv gachchhati . tatr tatraarthalaabhashv vijayah saarvakaalikah.
Wherever one goes, constantly covered by this armour, there one gains wealth and eternal victory.
yan yan chintayate kaaman tan tan praapnoti nishchitam . paramaishvaryamatulan praapsyate bhootale pumaan.
Whatever desire one thinks of, one certainly attains it. That person will attain incomparable supreme wealth on earth.
nirbhayo jaayate martyah sangraameshvaparaajitah . trailokye tu bhavetpoojyah kavachenaavritah pumaan.
The mortal becomes fearless and undefeated in battles. A person covered by this armour becomes honoured in the three worlds.
idan tu devyaah kavachan devaanaamapi durlabham . yah pathetprayato nityan trisandhyan shraddhayaanvitah.
This armour of the Devi is difficult even for the gods to attain. He who recites it daily with devotion during the three twilights,
daiveekalaa bhavettasy trailokye chaaparaajitah . jeevedvarshashatan saagramapamrityuvivarjitah.
attains divine arts and remains undefeated in the three worlds. He lives for a full hundred years, free from untimely death.
nashyanti vyaadhayah sarve lootaavisphotakaadayah . sthaavaran jangaman chaiv kritriman chaiv yadvisham.
All diseases, such as skin diseases and boils, are destroyed. All poisons, whether from immovable objects, moving creatures, or artificial sources,
abhichaaraani sarvaani mantrayantraani bhootale . bhoocharaah khecharaashchaiv kulajaashchaupadeshikaah.
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,
sahajaa kulajaa maalaa daakinee shaakinee tathaa . antarikshacharaa ghoraa daakinyashch mahaaravaah.
naturally born, born of lineage, Dakinis, Shakinis, and terrible Dakinis roaming in the space making loud noises,
grahabhootapishaachaashch yakshagandharvaraakshasaah . brahmaraakshasavetaalaah kooshmaandaa bhairavaadayah.
evil planets, ghosts, vampires, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Brahmarakshasas, Vetalas, Kushmandas, and Bhairavas,
nashyanti darshanaattasy kavachenaavrito hi yah . maanonnatirbhavedraajnastejovriddhih paraa 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.
yashovriddhirbhavet punsaan keertivriddhishch jaayate . tasmaat japet sadaa bhaktah kavachan kaamadan mune.
His fame and glory multiply. Therefore, O sage, one should always recite this wish-fulfilling armour.
japet saptashateen chandeen kritvaa tu kavachan puraa . nirvighnen bhavet siddhishchandeejapasamudbhavaa.
One should recite the Chandi Saptashati only after first reciting this armour. Then the success arising from the Chandi japa is achieved without obstacles.
yaavadbhoomandalan dhatte sashailavanakaananam . taavattishthati medinyaan santatih putrapautrikee.
As long as the earth holds mountains and forests, so long will his lineage of sons and grandsons remain on earth.
dehaante paraman sthaanan surairapi sudurlabham . praapnoti purusho nityan mahaamaayaaprasaadatah.
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.
tatr gachchhati gatvaasau punashchaagamanan nahi . labhate paraman sthaanan shiven samataan vrajet.
He will go there, and having gone shall surely not return. He will attain the supreme state and with the Absolute will merge.