Sri Subrahmanya Kavacha Stotram lyrics and meaning
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Verse 1
अस्य श्रीसुब्रह्मण्यकवचस्तोत्रमहामन्त्रस्य, ब्रह्मा ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप्छन्दः, श्रीसुब्रह्मण्यो देवता, ॐ नम इति बीजं, भगवत इति शक्तिः, सुब्रह्मण्यायेति कीलकं, श्रीसुब्रह्मण्य प्रसादसिद्ध्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः ॥
asya śrīsubrahmaṇyakavachastōtramahāmantrasya, brahmā ṛṣiḥ, anuṣṭupChandaḥ, śrīsubrahmaṇyō dēvatā, ōṃ nama iti bījaṃ, bhagavata iti śaktiḥ, subrahmaṇyāyēti kīlakaṃ, śrīsubrahmaṇya prasādasiddhyarthē japē viniyōgaḥ ॥
Viniyoga — Of this great mantra-hymn, the Śrī Subrahmanya Kavaca Stotram: the sage (ṛṣi) is Brahmā; the metre (chandas) is Anuṣṭup; the deity (dēvatā) is Śrī Subrahmanya; the bīja syllables are Śrīṃ and Sauṃ; the purpose is the fulfilment of all desired aims (sarvābhīṣṭa-siddhi). This is applied to one's hands and body as a protective armour.
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Verse 2
करन्यासः
ॐ सां अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सीं तर्जनीभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सूं मध्यमाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सैं अनामिकाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सौं कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सः करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः ॥
अङ्गन्यासः –
ॐ सां हृदयाय नमः ।
ॐ सीं शिरसे स्वाहा ।
ॐ सूं शिखायै वषट् ।
ॐ सैं कवचाय हुम् ।
ॐ सौं नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट् ।
ॐ सः अस्त्राय फट् ।
भूर्भुवस्सुवरोमिति दिग्बन्धः ॥
karanyāsaḥ
ōṃ sāṃ aṅguṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ sīṃ tarjanībhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ sūṃ madhyamābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ saiṃ anāmikābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ sauṃ kaniṣṭhikābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ saḥ karatalakarapṛṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ ॥
aṅganyāsaḥ –
ōṃ sāṃ hṛdayāya namaḥ ।
ōṃ sīṃ śirasē svāhā ।
ōṃ sūṃ śikhāyai vaṣaṭ ।
ōṃ saiṃ kavachāya hum ।
ōṃ sauṃ nētratrayāya vauṣaṭ ।
ōṃ saḥ astrāya phaṭ ।
bhūrbhuvassuvarōmiti digbandhaḥ ॥
Kara Nyāsa — Assignment of the seed-syllables to the hands: Oṃ Sāṃ — to both thumbs, salutations; Oṃ Sīṃ — to both index fingers, salutations; Oṃ Sūṃ — to both middle fingers, salutations; Oṃ Saiṃ — to both ring fingers, salutations; Oṃ Sauṃ — to both little fingers, salutations; Oṃ Saḥ — to the back and palms of both hands, salutations. Thus the six-syllable armour is installed on the hands.
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Verse 3
ध्यानम्
सिन्दूरारुणमिन्दुकान्तिवदनं केयूरहारादिभिः
दिव्यैराभरणैर्विभूषिततनुं स्वर्गादिसौख्यप्रदम् ।
अम्भोजाभयशक्तिकुक्कुटधरं रक्ताङ्गरागोज्ज्वलं
सुब्रह्मण्यमुपास्महे प्रणमतां सर्वार्थसिद्धिप्रदम् ॥ [भीतिप्रणाशोद्यतम्]
dhyānam
sindūrāruṇamindukāntivadanaṃ kēyūrahārādibhiḥ
divyairābharaṇairvibhūṣitatanuṃ svargādisaukhyapradam ।
ambhōjābhayaśaktikukkuṭadharaṃ raktāṅgarāgōjjvalaṃ
subrahmaṇyamupāsmahē praṇamatāṃ sarvārthasiddhipradam ॥ [bhītipraṇāśōdyatam]
Dhyāna — I meditate upon him: his faces radiant as red sindūra and the lustrous moon (sindūrāruṇa indukānti vadanam); his body adorned with divine ornaments — armlets, garlands and more (kēyūrahārādibhiḥ divyair ābharaṇaiḥ vibhūṣitatanum); holding the Śakti spear and all the sacred weapons; seated on his peacock throne, flanked by Vaḷḷī and Devasenā — I meditate on this six-faced Subrahmanya, lord of all.
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Verse 4
लमित्यादि पञ्चपूजा ।
ॐ लं पृथिव्यात्मने सुब्रह्मण्याय गन्धं समर्पयामि ।
ॐ हं आकाशात्मने सुब्रह्मण्याय पुष्पाणि समर्पयामि ।
ॐ यं वाय्वात्मने सुब्रह्मण्याय धूपमाघ्रापयामि ।
ॐ रं अग्न्यात्मने सुब्रह्मण्याय दीपं दर्शयामि ।
ॐ वं अमृतात्मने सुब्रह्मण्याय स्वादन्नं निवेदयामि ।
ॐ सं सर्वात्मने सुब्रह्मण्याय सर्वोपचारान् समर्पयामि ।
lamityādi pañchapūjā ।
ōṃ laṃ pṛthivyātmanē subrahmaṇyāya gandhaṃ samarpayāmi ।
ōṃ haṃ ākāśātmanē subrahmaṇyāya puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi ।
ōṃ yaṃ vāyvātmanē subrahmaṇyāya dhūpamāghrāpayāmi ।
ōṃ raṃ agnyātmanē subrahmaṇyāya dīpaṃ darśayāmi ।
ōṃ vaṃ amṛtātmanē subrahmaṇyāya svādannaṃ nivēdayāmi ।
ōṃ saṃ sarvātmanē subrahmaṇyāya sarvōpachārān samarpayāmi ।
Pañcha Pūjā — The five-element worship is now performed: Oṃ Laṃ — to the earth-element, offering fragrant sandal (gandham) to Subrahmanya; Oṃ Haṃ — to the sky-element, offering flowers (puṣpam); Oṃ Yaṃ — to the wind-element, offering incense (dhūpam); Oṃ Raṃ — to the fire-element, offering the lamp (dīpam); Oṃ Vaṃ — to the water-element, offering sacred food (naivedyam). Thus the five-element offering is made to Śrī Subrahmanya.
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Verse 5
कवचम्
सुब्रह्मण्योऽग्रतः पातु सेनानीः पातु पृष्ठतः ।
गुहो मां दक्षिणे पातु वह्निजः पातु वामतः ॥ 1 ॥
kavacham
subrahmaṇyō'grataḥ pātu sēnānīḥ pātu pṛṣṭhataḥ ।
guhō māṃ dakṣiṇē pātu vahnijaḥ pātu vāmataḥ ॥ 1 ॥
Kavacham begins — May Subrahmanya protect me from the front! May the great general Sēnānī guard my back! May Guha protect me on the right! May the fire-born son (Vahnija) guard me on the left! Thus the four directions of my body are shielded by the divine names of the lord.
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Verse 6
शिरः पातु महासेनः स्कन्दो रक्षेल्ललाटकम् ।
नेत्रे मे द्वादशाक्षश्च श्रोत्रे रक्षतु विश्वभृत् ॥ 2 ॥
śiraḥ pātu mahāsēnaḥ skandō rakṣēllalāṭakam ।
nētrē mē dvādaśākṣaścha śrōtrē rakṣatu viśvabhṛt ॥ 2 ॥
May Mahāsēna protect my head! May Skanda guard my forehead! May the twelve-eyed one (Dvādaśākṣa) protect my eyes! May Viśvabhṛt (the sustainer of the universe) guard my ears! So may these divine names armour every feature of my face.
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Verse 7
मुखं मे षण्मुखः पातु नासिकां शङ्करात्मजः ।
ओष्ठौ वल्लीपतिः पातु जिह्वां पातु षडाननः ॥ 3 ॥
mukhaṃ mē ṣaṇmukhaḥ pātu nāsikāṃ śaṅkarātmajaḥ ।
ōṣṭhau vallīpatiḥ pātu jihvāṃ pātu ṣaḍānanaḥ ॥ 3 ॥
May the six-faced Ṣaṇmukha protect my face! May Śaṅkarātmaja (son of Śaṅkara) guard my nose! May Vallīpati (lord of Vaḷḷī) protect my lips! May Ṣaḍānana (the six-faced lord) guard my tongue! Thus may every feature of my face be encased in his armour.
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Verse 8
देवसेनापतिर्दन्तान् चिबुकं बहुलोद्भवः ।
कण्ठं तारकजित्पातु बाहू द्वादशबाहुकः ॥ 4 ॥
dēvasēnāpatirdantān chibukaṃ bahulōdbhavaḥ ।
kaṇṭhaṃ tārakajitpātu bāhū dvādaśabāhukaḥ ॥ 4 ॥
May Dēvasēnapati (commander of the divine armies) protect my teeth! May the many-born Kārttikēya (Bahulōdbhava) guard my chin! May Tārakajit (conqueror of the demon Tāraka) protect my throat! May the twelve-armed one (Dvādaśabāhuka) guard my arms! So may my entire upper body be shielded.
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Verse 9
हस्तौ शक्तिधरः पातु वक्षः पातु शरोद्भवः ।
हृदयं वह्निभूः पातु कुक्षिं पात्वम्बिकासुतः ॥ 5 ॥
hastau śaktidharaḥ pātu vakṣaḥ pātu śarōdbhavaḥ ।
hṛdayaṃ vahnibhūḥ pātu kukṣiṃ pātvambikāsutaḥ ॥ 5 ॥
May Śaktidhara (the spear-bearer) protect my hands! May Śarōdbhava (born in the sacred reeds) guard my chest! May Vahnibhū (the fire-born) protect my heart! May Ambikāsuta (son of Ambikā / Pārvatī) guard my belly! Thus may the lord's sacred names form an unbreakable shield over my vital regions.
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Verse 10
नाभिं शम्भुसुतः पातु कटिं पातु हरात्मजः ।
ऊरू पातु गजारूढो जानू मे जाह्नवीसुतः ॥ 6 ॥
nābhiṃ śambhusutaḥ pātu kaṭiṃ pātu harātmajaḥ ।
ūrū pātu gajārūḍhō jānū mē jāhnavīsutaḥ ॥ 6 ॥
May Śambhusuta (son of Śambhu / Śiva) protect my navel! May Harātmaja (son of Hara) guard my waist! May Gajārūḍha (the mighty, elephant-conquering lord) protect my thighs! May Jāhnavīsuta (son of the Gaṅgā) guard my knees! Thus may the lower body too be armoured in the lord's divine protection.
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Verse 11
जङ्घे विशाखो मे पातु पादौ मे शिखिवाहनः ।
सर्वाण्यङ्गानि भूतेशः सर्वधातूंश्च पावकिः ॥ 7 ॥
jaṅghē viśākhō mē pātu pādau mē śikhivāhanaḥ ।
sarvāṇyaṅgāni bhūtēśaḥ sarvadhātūṃścha pāvakiḥ ॥ 7 ॥
May Viśākha protect my calves! May Śikhivāhana (the peacock-vehicled lord) guard my feet! May Bhūtēśa (lord of all beings) protect all my limbs! May Pāvaki (son of fire, Agni's son) protect every tissue and substance of my body! Thus the entire body, from crown to sole, is clad in Subrahmanya's divine armour.
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Verse 12
सन्ध्याकाले निशीथिन्यां दिवा प्रातर्जलेऽग्निषु ।
दुर्गमे च महारण्ये राजद्वारे महाभये ॥ 8 ॥
sandhyākālē niśīthinyāṃ divā prātarjalē'gniṣu ।
durgamē cha mahāraṇyē rājadvārē mahābhayē ॥ 8 ॥
At twilight, at midnight, in daytime and at dawn — in water, in fire, in impassable terrain, in great forests, at the doors of kings, in moments of great danger — may the lord's kavaca protect me in all these circumstances.
॥ १३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 13
तुमुले रण्यमध्ये च सर्वदुष्टमृगादिषु ।
चोरादिसाध्वसेऽभेद्ये ज्वरादिव्याधिपीडने ॥ 9 ॥
tumulē raṇyamadhyē cha sarvaduṣṭamṛgādiṣu ।
chōrādisādhvasē'bhēdyē jvarādivyādhipīḍanē ॥ 9 ॥
In tumult and in battle — against all ferocious beasts — in the fear of thieves and robbers, in impenetrable situations, in the suffering of fever and all other diseases — may the armour of Subrahmanya's names be my protection.
॥ १४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 14
दुष्टग्रहादिभीतौ च दुर्निमित्तादिभीषणे ।
अस्त्रशस्त्रनिपाते च पातु मां क्रौञ्चरन्ध्रकृत् ॥ 10 ॥
duṣṭagrahādibhītau cha durnimittādibhīṣaṇē ।
astraśastranipātē cha pātu māṃ krauñcharandhrakṛt ॥ 10 ॥
In fear of the malefic influence of evil planets — in the terror of ill omens and inauspicious signs — when assailed by missiles and weapons — may the piercer of Krauñcha mountain (Krauñcharandhrakṛt) protect me! His armour is my refuge in every danger.
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Verse 15
यः सुब्रह्मण्यकवचं इष्टसिद्धिप्रदं पठेत् ।
तस्य तापत्रयं नास्ति सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् ॥ 11 ॥
yaḥ subrahmaṇyakavachaṃ iṣṭasiddhipradaṃ paṭhēt ।
tasya tāpatrayaṃ nāsti satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham ॥ 11 ॥
Whoever recites this Subrahmanya Kavaca, the granter of all desired perfections — for that person, the three kinds of suffering (ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika and ādhidaivika) cease to exist entirely. Truly, truly I declare this — this is no exaggeration.
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Verse 16
धर्मार्थी लभते धर्ममर्थार्थी चार्थमाप्नुयात् ।
कामार्थी लभते कामं मोक्षार्थी मोक्षमाप्नुयात् ॥ 12 ॥
dharmārthī labhatē dharmamarthārthī chārthamāpnuyāt ।
kāmārthī labhatē kāmaṃ mōkṣārthī mōkṣamāpnuyāt ॥ 12 ॥
The seeker of dharma attains dharma; the seeker of wealth attains wealth; the seeker of desires has them fulfilled; and the seeker of liberation (mokṣa) attains liberation. This kavaca grants all four aims of life (puruṣārthas) to the devoted reciter.
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Verse 17
यत्र यत्र जपेद्भक्त्या तत्र सन्निहितो गुहः ।
पूजाप्रतिष्ठाकाले च जपकाले पठेदिदम् ॥ 13 ॥
yatra yatra japēdbhaktyā tatra sannihitō guhaḥ ।
pūjāpratiṣṭhākālē cha japakālē paṭhēdidam ॥ 13 ॥
Wherever one recites this kavaca with devotion, there Guha himself is present (sannihita). One should recite this at the time of worship (pūjā), at the time of consecration (pratiṣṭhā) and at the time of japa — at each of these sacred moments, the lord's presence is assured.
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Verse 18
तेषामेव फलावाप्तिः महापातकनाशनम् ।
यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्भक्त्या नित्यं देवस्य सन्निधौ ।
सर्वान्कामानिह प्राप्य सोऽन्ते स्कन्दपुरं व्रजेत् ॥ 14 ॥
tēṣāmēva phalāvāptiḥ mahāpātakanāśanam ।
yaḥ paṭhēchChṛṇuyādbhaktyā nityaṃ dēvasya sannidhau ।
sarvānkāmāniha prāpya sō'ntē skandapuraṃ vrajēt ॥ 14 ॥
The full fruit of all worship, consecration and japa is attained; and all great sins (mahāpātaka) are completely destroyed — for whoever recites or listens to this kavaca with devotion every day in the presence of the deity. Such is the supreme power of this protective hymn.
॥ १९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 19
उत्तरन्यासः
करन्यासः –
ॐ सां अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सीं तर्जनीभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सूं मध्यमाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सैं अनामिकाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सौं कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः ।
ॐ सः करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः ॥
अङ्गन्यासः –
ॐ सां हृदयाय नमः ।
ॐ सीं शिरसे स्वाहा ।
ॐ सूं शिखायै वषट् ।
ॐ सैं कवचाय हुम् ।
ॐ सौं नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट् ।
ॐ सः अस्त्राय फट् ।
भूर्भुवस्सुवरोमिति दिग्विमोकः ॥
uttaranyāsah
karanyāsaḥ –
ōṃ sāṃ aṅguṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ sīṃ tarjanībhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ sūṃ madhyamābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ saiṃ anāmikābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ sauṃ kaniṣṭhikābhyāṃ namaḥ ।
ōṃ saḥ karatalakarapṛṣṭhābhyāṃ namaḥ ॥
aṅganyāsaḥ –
ōṃ sāṃ hṛdayāya namaḥ ।
ōṃ sīṃ śirasē svāhā ।
ōṃ sūṃ śikhāyai vaṣaṭ ।
ōṃ saiṃ kavachāya hum ।
ōṃ sauṃ nētratrayāya vauṣaṭ ।
ōṃ saḥ astrāya phaṭ ।
bhūrbhuvassuvarōmiti digvimōkaḥ ॥
Uttara Nyāsa — Post-recitation re-assignment of the seed-syllables to fingers and body, completing the armour-installation ritual: the same kara nyāsa and aṅga nyāsa assignments made at the opening are now repeated to seal and complete the protective rite of Śrī Subrahmanya Kavaca.
॥ २० ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 20
इति श्री सुब्रह्मण्य कवच स्तोत्रम् ।
iti śrī subrahmaṇya kavacha stōtram ।
Thus ends the Śrī Subrahmanya Kavaca Stotram.
ॐ
