Durga Kavacha (Kavacha) · PujaKit Devotional Library

Hindi / Sanskrit Text

ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै॥

मार्कण्डेय उवाच।
ॐ यद्गुह्यं परमं लोके सर्वरक्षाकरं नृणाम्।
यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥

ब्रह्मोवाच।
अस्ति गुह्यतमं विप्र सर्वभूतोपकारकम्।
देव्यास्तु कवचं पुण्यं तच्छृणुष्व महामुने॥

प्रथमं शैलपुत्री च द्वितीयं ब्रह्मचारिणी।
तृतीयं चन्द्रघण्टेति कूष्माण्डेति चतुर्थकम्॥

पञ्चमं स्कन्दमातेति षष्ठं कात्यायनीति च।
सप्तमं कालरात्रीति महागौरीति चाष्टमम्॥

नवमं सिद्धिदात्री च नवदुर्गाः प्रकीर्तिताः।
उक्तान्येतानि नामानि ब्रह्मणैव महात्मना॥

अग्निना दह्यमानस्तु शत्रुमध्ये गतो रणे।
विषमे दुर्गमे चैव भयार्तः शरणं गतः॥

न तस्य जायते किञ्चिदशुभं रणसंकटे।
नापदं तस्य पश्यामि शोकदुःखभयं न हि॥

यैस्तु भक्त्या स्मृता नित्यं तेषां वृद्धिः प्रजायते।
जयते च रणे नित्यं यस्य कण्ठे धृतं वरम्॥

English Translation

Om, salutations to Chandika.

Markandeya said: O grandfather, tell me that which is the greatest secret in the world, the protector of all humans — that which has not been told to anyone.

Brahma said: O great sage, there is a most secret thing, beneficial to all beings — it is the holy Kavacha of the Devi. Hear it.

The first is Shailaputri; the second is Brahmacharini;
The third is Chandraghanta; the fourth is Kushmanda.

The fifth is Skandamata; the sixth is Katyayani;
The seventh is Kalaratri; the eighth is Mahagauri.

The ninth is Siddhidatri — these are called the nine Durgas,
These names were declared by the great-souled Brahma.

One who is burning in fire, gone into the midst of enemies in battle,
In difficulty or inaccessible place, or fleeing in terror to her shelter —

For that person nothing inauspicious happens in the battle-crisis;
I see no calamity, no grief, sorrow or fear for that person.

Those by whom she is remembered daily with devotion — their prosperity grows;
One who wears this excellent (kavacha) at the throat is always victorious in battle.

Hindi / Sanskrit Text

ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै॥ मार्कण्डेय उवाच। ॐ यद्गुह्यं परमं लोके सर्वरक्षाकरं नृणाम्। यन्न कस्यचिदाख्यातं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥ ब्रह्मोवाच। अस्ति गुह्यतमं विप्र सर्वभूतोपकारकम्। देव्यास्तु कवचं पुण्यं तच्छृणुष्व महामुने॥ प्रथमं शैलपुत्री च द्वितीयं ब्रह्मचारिणी। तृतीयं चन्द्रघण्टेति कूष्माण्डेति चतुर्थकम्॥ पञ्चमं स्कन्दमातेति षष्ठं कात्यायनीति च। सप्तमं कालरात्रीति महागौरीति चाष्टमम्॥ नवमं सिद्धिदात्री च नवदुर्गाः प्रकीर्तिताः। उक्तान्येतानि नामानि ब्रह्मणैव महात्मना॥ अग्निना दह्यमानस्तु शत्रुमध्ये गतो रणे। विषमे दुर्गमे चैव भयार्तः शरणं गतः॥ न तस्य जायते किञ्चिदशुभं रणसंकटे। नापदं तस्य पश्यामि शोकदुःखभयं न हि॥ यैस्तु भक्त्या स्मृता नित्यं तेषां वृद्धिः प्रजायते। जयते च रणे नित्यं यस्य कण्ठे धृतं वरम्॥

English Translation

Om, salutations to Chandika. Markandeya said: O grandfather, tell me that which is the greatest secret in the world, the protector of all humans — that which has not been told to anyone. Brahma said: O great sage, there is a most secret thing, beneficial to all beings — it is the holy Kavacha of the Devi. Hear it. The first is Shailaputri; the second is Brahmacharini; The third is Chandraghanta; the fourth is Kushmanda. The fifth is Skandamata; the sixth is Katyayani; The seventh is Kalaratri; the eighth is Mahagauri. The ninth is Siddhidatri — these are called the nine Durgas, These names were declared by the great-souled Brahma. One who is burning in fire, gone into the midst of enemies in battle, In difficulty or inaccessible place, or fleeing in terror to her shelter — For that person nothing inauspicious happens in the battle-crisis; I see no calamity, no grief, sorrow or fear for that person. Those by whom she is remembered daily with devotion — their prosperity grows; One who wears this excellent (kavacha) at the throat is always victorious in battle.