About this stotra
The Durga Devi Kavacham is a sacred protective hymn dedicated to Goddess Durga, where "kavacham" literally means "armour." This powerful prayer serves as spiritual protection for devotees, with the opening verse establishing its purpose: "Listen, O Goddess, I shall recite this kavacham which grants all accomplishments. By reciting or teaching it, a person is freed from all troubles." The text is a means of spiritual empowerment and divine intervention against life's difficulties.
Structurally, the kavacham follows the traditional format of protective mantras by systematically invoking Goddess Durga's protection for different parts of the body and various aspects of life. Each verse typically calls upon specific names and forms of the goddess while requesting her divine shield against negative forces, creating a comprehensive spiritual armor. The hymn weaves together devotional praise with practical appeals for protection.
The kavacham holds particular significance in devotional practice and is commonly recited during Navaratri festivals, times of personal crisis, daily spiritual routines, and before important undertakings. Regular recitation creates a protective energy field around the practitioner, combining the power of sacred sound with heartfelt devotion. This text exemplifies Durga's role as the protective mother deity who not only shields her children from harm but also empowers them with strength and wisdom to overcome life's challenges, making it a cornerstone of Devi worship and personal spiritual protection.
Durga Devi Kavacham lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
ईश्वर उवाच ।
शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि कवचं सर्वसिद्धिदम् ।
पठित्वा पाठयित्वा च नरो मुच्येत सङ्कटात् ॥ १ ॥
īśvara uvāca .
śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi kavacaṃ sarvasiddhidam .
paṭhitvā pāṭhayitvā ca naro mucyeta saṅkaṭāt .. 1 ..
Ishvara said: Listen, O Goddess — I shall recite this kavacham (protective armour) which grants all accomplishments. By reciting or teaching it, a person is freed from all troubles.
Word by word
- ईश्वर (īśvara)
- Lord
- उवाच (uvāca)
- said
- शृणु (śṛṇu)
- listen
- देवि (devi)
- O Goddess
- प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi)
- I shall speak
- कवचं (kavacaṁ)
- armor
- सर्वसिद्धिदम् (sarvasiddhidam)
- granting all success (सर्व:all | सिद्धिदम्:granting success)
- पठित्वा (paṭhitvā)
- having recited
- पाठयित्वा (pāṭhayitvā)
- having taught
- च (ca)
- and
- नरो (naro)
- man
- मुच्येत (mucyeta)
- would be freed
- सङ्कटात् (saṅkaṭāt)
- from distress
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
अज्ञात्वा कवचं देवि दुर्गामन्त्रं च यो जपेत् ।
स नाप्नोति फलं तस्य परं च नरकं व्रजेत् ॥ २ ॥
ajñātvā kavacaṃ devi durgāmantraṃ ca yo japet .
sa nāpnoti phalaṃ tasya paraṃ ca narakaṃ vrajet .. 2 ..
O Goddess, one who recites the Durga mantra without knowing this kavacham obtains no fruit from it and indeed goes to a higher kind of hell.
Word by word
- अज्ञात्वा (ajñātvā)
- without knowing
- कवचं (kavacaṁ)
- armor
- देवि (devi)
- O Goddess
- दुर्गामन्त्रं (durgāmantraṁ)
- Durga mantra (दुर्गा:Durga | मन्त्रं:mantra)
- च (ca)
- and
- यो (yaḥ)
- who
- जपेत् (japet)
- chants
- स (sa)
- he
- नाप्नोति (nāpnoti)
- does not obtain
- फलं (phalaṁ)
- fruit
- तस्य (tasya)
- his
- परं (paraṁ)
- supreme
- च (ca)
- and
- नरकं (narakaṁ)
- hell
- व्रजेत् (vrajet)
- goes
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
इदं गुह्यतमं देवि कवचं तव कथ्यते ।
गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन सावधानवधारय ॥ ३ ॥
idaṃ guhyatamaṃ devi kavacaṃ tava kathyate .
gopanīyaṃ prayatnena sāvadhānavadhāraya .. 3 ..
This most secret kavacham of yours is now being narrated. Guard it carefully and listen with full attention.
Word by word
- इदं (idaṁ)
- this
- गुह्यतमं (guhyatamaṁ)
- most secret
- देवि (devi)
- O Goddess
- कवचं (kavacaṁ)
- armor
- तव (tava)
- your
- कथ्यते (kathyate)
- is told
- गोपनीयं (gopanīyaṁ)
- to be kept secret
- प्रयत्नेन (prayatnena)
- with effort
- सावधानवधारय (sāvadhānavadhāraya)
- attentively comprehend (सावधान:attentive | वधारय:comprehend)
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
उमादेवी शिरः पातु ललाटे शूलधारिणी ।
चक्षुषी खेचरी पातु कर्णौ चत्वरवासिनी ॥ ४ ॥
umādevī śiraḥ pātu lalāṭe śūladhāriṇī .
cakṣuṣī khecarī pātu karṇau catvaravāsinī .. 4 ..
May Uma Devi protect the head; may the trident-holder protect the forehead; may Khachari protect the eyes; may the four-roads-dweller protect the ears.
Word by word
- उमादेवी (umādēvī)
- Goddess Uma
- शिरः (śiraḥ)
- head
- पातु (pātu)
- may protect
- ललाटे (lalāṭe)
- forehead
- शूलधारिणी (śūladhāriṇī)
- trident bearer (शूल:trident | धारिणी:bearer)
- चक्षुषी (cakṣuṣī)
- eyes
- खेचरी (khecarī)
- sky wanderer
- पातु (pātu)
- may protect
- कर्णौ (karṇau)
- ears
- चत्वरवासिनी (catvaravāsinī)
- dweller of crossroads (चत्वर:crossroads | वासिनी:dweller)
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
सुगन्धा नासिके पातु वदनं सर्वधारिणी । सर्वसाधिनी
जिह्वां च चण्डिकादेवी ग्रीवां सौभद्रिका तथा ॥ ५ ॥
sugandhā nāsike pātu vadanaṃ sarvadhāriṇī . sarvasādhinī
jihvāṃ ca caṇḍikādevī grīvāṃ saubhadrikā tathā .. 5 ..
May Sugandha (the fragrant one) protect the nose; may the all-supporting one protect the face; may Chandika Devi protect the tongue; may Saubhadrika protect the neck.
Word by word
- सुगन्धा (sugandhā)
- fragrant
- नासिके (nāsike)
- nose
- पातु (pātu)
- may protect
- वदनं (vadanaṁ)
- face
- सर्वधारिणी (sarvadhāriṇī)
- supporter of all (सर्व:all | धारिणी:supporter)
- सर्वसाधिनी (sarvasādhini)
- accomplisher of all (सर्व:all | साधिनी:accomplisher)
- जिह्वां (jihvāṁ)
- tongue
- च (ca)
- and
- चण्डिकादेवी (caṇḍikādevī)
- Goddess Caṇḍikā (चण्डिका:Caṇḍikā | देवी:goddess)
- ग्रीवां (grīvāṁ)
- neck
- सौभद्रिका (saubhadrikā)
- Saubhadra's daughter
- तथा (tathā)
- also
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
अशोकवासिनी चेतो द्वौ बाहू वज्रधारिणी ।
कण्ठं पातु महावाणी जगन्माता स्तनद्वयम् ॥ ६ ॥
aśokavāsinī ceto dvau bāhū vajradhāriṇī .
kaṇṭhaṃ pātu mahāvāṇī jaganmātā stanadvayam .. 6 ..
May the Ashoka-tree-dweller protect the mind; may the thunderbolt-bearer protect both arms; may Mahavani protect the throat; may Jaganmata (world-mother) protect both breasts.
Word by word
- अशोकवासिनी (aśokavāsinī)
- residing in Ashoka tree (अशोक:Ashoka tree | वासिनी:residing)
- चेतो (ceto)
- mind
- द्वौ (dvau)
- two
- बाहू (bāhū)
- arms
- वज्रधारिणी (vajradhāriṇī)
- holding a thunderbolt (वज्र:thunderbolt | धारिणी:holding)
- कण्ठं (kaṇṭhaṁ)
- throat
- पातु (pātu)
- may protect
- महावाणी (mahāvāṇī)
- great speech (मह:great | वाणी:speech)
- जगन्माता (jaganmātā)
- mother of the world (जगन्:world | माता:mother)
- स्तनद्वयम् (stanadvayam)
- pair of breasts (स्तन:breast | द्वयम्:pair)
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
हृदयं ललितादेवी उदरं सिंहवाहिनी ।
कटिं भगवती देवी द्वावूरू विन्ध्यवासिनी ॥ ७ ॥
hṛdayaṃ lalitādevī udaraṃ siṃhavāhinī .
kaṭiṃ bhagavatī devī dvāvūrū vindhyavāsinī .. 7 ..
May Lalita Devi protect the heart; may the lion-rider protect the abdomen; may Bhagavati protect the waist; may Vindhyavasini protect both thighs.
Word by word
- हृदयं (hṛdayaṁ)
- heart
- ललितादेवी (lalitādevī)
- Goddess Lalita (ललिता:Lalita | देवी:goddess)
- उदरं (udaraṁ)
- stomach
- सिंहवाहिनी (siṁhavāhinī)
- lion-rider (सिंह:lion | वाहिनी:rider)
- कटिं (kaṭiṁ)
- waist
- भगवती (bhagavatī)
- Goddess
- देवी (devī)
- goddess
- द्वावूरू (dvāvūrū)
- two thighs (द्वा:two | ऊरू:thighs)
- विन्ध्यवासिनी (vindhyavāsinī)
- Vindhyavasini (विन्ध्य:Vindhya | वासिनी:dweller)
॥ ८ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 8
महाबला च जङ्घे द्वे पादौ भूतलवासिनी ।
एवं स्थिताऽसि देवि त्वं त्रैलोक्ये रक्षणात्मिका ।
रक्ष मां सर्वगात्रेषु दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तुते ॥ ८ ॥
mahābalā ca jaṅghe dve pādau bhūtalavāsinī .
evaṃ sthitā'si devi tvaṃ trailokye rakṣaṇātmikā .
rakṣa māṃ sarvagātreṣu durge devi namo'stute .. 8 ..
May the greatly powerful protect both calves; may the earth-dweller protect both feet. Thus, O Goddess, you are established in all three worlds as the protecting force — protect me in all my limbs, O Durga Devi, salutations to you.
Word by word
- महाबला (mahābalā)
- great strength
- च (ca)
- and
- जङ्घे (jaṅghe)
- legs
- द्वे (dve)
- two
- पादौ (pādau)
- feet
- भूतलवासिनी (bhūtalavāsinī)
- dweller on earth (भूतल:earth | वासिनी:dweller)
- एवं (evaṁ)
- thus
- स्थिताऽसि (sthitā'si)
- you are situated
- देवि (devi)
- goddess
- त्वं (tvaṁ)
- you
- त्रैलोक्ये (trailokye)
- in the three worlds
- रक्षणात्मिका (rakṣaṇātmikā)
- protector (रक्षण:protection | आत्मिका:essence)
- रक्ष (rakṣa)
- protect
- मां (māṁ)
- me
- सर्वगात्रेषु (sarvagātreṣu)
- in all limbs (सर्व:all | गात्रेषु:limbs)
- दुर्गे (durge)
- Durga
- देवि (devi)
- goddess
- नमोऽस्तुते (namo'stute)
- salutations to you
॥ ९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 9
इत्येतत्कवचं देवि महाविद्या फलप्रद ।
यः पठेत्प्रातरुत्थाय स हि तीर्थफलं लभेत् ॥ ९ ॥
ityetatkavacaṃ devi mahāvidyā phalaprada .
yaḥ paṭhetprātarutthāya sa hi tīrthaphalaṃ labhet .. 9 ..
This kavacham, O Goddess, bestows the fruits of the great knowledge. Whoever reads it upon rising in the morning obtains the merit of pilgrimage to all sacred tirthas.
Word by word
- इत्येतत्कवचं (ityetatkavacaṁ)
- thus this armor (इति:thus | एतत्:this | कवचं:armor)
- देवि (devi)
- O goddess
- महाविद्या (mahāvidyā)
- great knowledge (मह:great | विद्या:knowledge)
- फलप्रद (phalaprada)
- fruit-giving (फल:fruit | प्रद:giving)
- यः (yaḥ)
- who
- पठेत्प्रातरुत्थाय (paṭhetprātarutthāya)
- reads after rising in the morning (पठेत्:reads | प्रातर्:morning | उत्थाय:rising)
- स (sa)
- he
- हि (hi)
- indeed
- तीर्थफलं (tīrthaphalaṁ)
- fruit of pilgrimage (तीर्थ:pilgrimage | फलं:fruit)
- लभेत् (labhet)
- obtains
॥ १० ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 10
यो न्यसेत् कवचं देहे तस्य विघ्नं न क्वचित् ।
भूतप्रेतपिशाचेभ्यो भयं तस्य न विद्यते ॥ १० ॥
yo nyaset kavacaṃ dehe tasya vighnaṃ na kvacit .
bhūtapretapiśācebhyo bhayaṃ tasya na vidyate .. 10 ..
For one who wears this kavacham on the body, no obstacle will arise anywhere. There will be no fear from ghosts, spirits or demons for such a person.
Word by word
- यो (yaḥ)
- who
- न्यसेत् (nyaset)
- places
- कवचं (kavacaṁ)
- armor
- देहे (dehe)
- on the body
- तस्य (tasya)
- his
- विघ्नं (vighnaṁ)
- obstacle
- न (na)
- not
- क्वचित् (kvacit)
- anywhere
- भूतप्रेतपिशाचेभ्यो (bhūtapretapiśācebhyo)
- from ghosts, spirits, and demons (भूत:ghost | प्रेत:spirit | पिशाच:demon | एभ्यः:from)
- भयं (bhayaṁ)
- fear
- तस्य (tasya)
- his
- न (na)
- not
- विद्यते (vidyate)
- exists
॥ ११ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 11
इति श्रीकुब्जिकातन्त्रे दुर्गाकवचं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
iti śrīkubjikātantre durgākavacaṃ sampūrṇam ..
Thus the Durga Kavacham from the Sri Kubjika Tantra is complete.
Word by word
- इति (iti)
- thus
- श्रीकुब्जिकातन्त्रे (śrīkubjikātantre)
- in the Śrīkubjikā Tantra (श्री:holy | कुब्जिका:Kubjikā | तन्त्रे:in the Tantra)
- दुर्गाकवचं (durgākavacaṁ)
- Durga's armor (दुर्गा:Durga | कवचं:armor)
- सम्पूर्णम् (sampūrṇam)
- complete
ॐ
