Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 12 — Chapter 3
DB 12 3.1
गायत्रीमन्त्रकवचवर्णनम् नारद उवाच स्वामिन्सर्वजगन्नाथ संशयोऽस्ति मम प्रभो । चतुःषष्टिकलाभिज्ञ पातकाद्योगविद्वर
gāyatrīmantrakavacavarṇanam nārada uvāca svāminsarvajagannātha saṃśayo'sti mama prabho | catuḥṣaṣṭikalābhijña pātakādyogavidvara
(Description of the armour-hymn of the Gāyatrī mantra.) Nārada said: O Lord, master of the whole world, I have a doubt, O Lord—you who know the sixty-four arts, best of those who know the yoga (that removes) sin and the rest:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.2
मुच्यते केन पुण्येन ब्रह्मरूपः कथं भवेत् । देहश्च देवतारूपो मन्त्ररूपो विशेषतः
mucyate kena puṇyena brahmarūpaḥ kathaṃ bhavet | dehaśca devatārūpo mantrarūpo viśeṣataḥ
By what merit is one released? How does one become of the form of Brahman? And how does the body become of the form of the deity, and especially of the form of the mantra?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.3
कर्म तच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि न्यासं च विधिपूर्वकम् । ऋषिश्छन्दोऽधिदैवं च ध्यानं च विधिवद्विभो
karma tacchrotumicchāmi nyāsaṃ ca vidhipūrvakam | ṛṣiśchando'dhidaivaṃ ca dhyānaṃ ca vidhivadvibho
"I wish to hear that rite, and the assignment (of syllables to the body) according to rule; and the seer, the metre, the presiding deity, and the meditation, duly, O mighty one."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.4
श्रीनारायण उवाच अस्त्येकं परमं गुह्यं गायत्रीकवचं तथा । पठनाद्धारणान्मर्त्यः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca astyekaṃ paramaṃ guhyaṃ gāyatrīkavacaṃ tathā | paṭhanāddhāraṇānmartyaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: There is one supremely secret thing, namely the Gāyatrī armour; by reciting and by wearing it a mortal is freed from all sins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.5
सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति देवीरूपश्च जायते । गायत्रीकवचस्यास्य ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः
sarvānkāmānavāpnoti devīrūpaśca jāyate | gāyatrīkavacasyāsya brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ
He obtains all his desires and comes to have the form of the Goddess. Of this Gāyatrī armour, Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.6
ऋषयो ऋग्यजुःसामाथर्वश्छन्दांसि नारद । ब्रह्मरूपा देवतोक्ता गायत्री परमा कला
ṛṣayo ṛgyajuḥsāmātharvaśchandāṃsi nārada | brahmarūpā devatoktā gāyatrī paramā kalā
are the seers, O Nārada, and the Ṛg, Yajus, Sāma and Atharva are the metres; the deity is declared to be Brahman-formed, Gāyatrī, the supreme portion (of the divine).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.7
तद्बीजं भर्ग इत्येषा शक्तिरुक्ता मनीषिभिः । कीलकं च धियः प्रोक्तं मोक्षार्थे विनियोजनम्
tadbījaṃ bharga ityeṣā śaktiruktā manīṣibhiḥ | kīlakaṃ ca dhiyaḥ proktaṃ mokṣārthe viniyojanam
Its seed is "tat"; "bharga" is declared by the wise to be its power (śakti); and "dhiyaḥ" is said to be the pin (kīlaka); the application is for the sake of liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.8
चतुर्भिर्हृदयं प्रोक्तं त्रिभिर्वर्णेः शिरः स्मृतम् । चतुर्भिः स्याच्छिखा पश्चात् त्रिभिस्तु कवचं स्मृतम्
caturbhirhṛdayaṃ proktaṃ tribhirvarṇeḥ śiraḥ smṛtam | caturbhiḥ syācchikhā paścāt tribhistu kavacaṃ smṛtam
With four syllables the heart (-nyāsa) is declared; with three syllables the head is intended; with four should be the crest-lock, and thereafter with three the armour is intended.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.9
चतुर्भिर्नेत्रमुद्दिष्टं चतुर्भिः स्यात्तदस्त्रकम् । अथ ध्यानं प्रवक्ष्यामि साधकाभीष्टदायकम्
caturbhirnetramuddiṣṭaṃ caturbhiḥ syāttadastrakam | atha dhyānaṃ pravakṣyāmi sādhakābhīṣṭadāyakam
With four the eye is prescribed; with four should be its weapon. Now I shall declare the meditation, which grants the practitioner what he desires.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.10
मुक्ताविद्रुमहेमनीलधवलच्छायैर्मुखैस्त्रीक्षणै- र्युक्तामिन्दुनिबद्धरत्नमुकुटां तत्त्वार्थवर्णात्मिकाम् । गायत्रीं वरदाभयाङ्कुशकशाः शुभ्रं कपालं गुणं शङ्खं चक्रमथारविन्दयुगलं हस्तैर्वहन्तीं भजे
muktāvidrumahemanīladhavalacchāyairmukhaistrīkṣaṇai- ryuktāmindunibaddharatnamukuṭāṃ tattvārthavarṇātmikām | gāyatrīṃ varadābhayāṅkuśakaśāḥ śubhraṃ kapālaṃ guṇaṃ śaṅkhaṃ cakramathāravindayugalaṃ hastairvahantīṃ bhaje
I worship Gāyatrī, joined with faces of the hues of pearl, coral, gold, sapphire and white, each three-eyed, wearing a jewelled crown fastened with the moon, consisting of the syllables whose meaning is the truth (of reality), bearing in her hands the boon-giving and fear-dispelling gestures, the goad, the whip, a bright skull, a noose, a conch, a discus, and a pair of lotuses.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.11
गायत्री पूर्वतः पातु सावित्री पातु दक्षिणे । ब्रह्मसन्ध्या तु मे पश्चादुत्तरायां सरस्वती
gāyatrī pūrvataḥ pātu sāvitrī pātu dakṣiṇe | brahmasandhyā tu me paścāduttarāyāṃ sarasvatī
May Gāyatrī protect me on the east, may Sāvitrī protect me on the south; may Brahmasandhyā (protect) me on the west, and Sarasvatī in the north.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.12
पार्वती मे दिशं रक्षेत्पावकीं जलशायिनी । यातुधानी दिशं रक्षेद्यातुधानभयङ्करी
pārvatī me diśaṃ rakṣetpāvakīṃ jalaśāyinī | yātudhānī diśaṃ rakṣedyātudhānabhayaṅkarī
May Pārvatī guard my (northeast) quarter; may Jalaśāyinī (guard) the quarter of fire (southeast); may Yātudhānī, terrifying to demons, guard the (southwest) quarter.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 12 3.13
पावमानी दिशं रक्षेत्पवमानविलासिनी । दिशं रौद्री च मे पातु रुद्राणी रुद्ररूपिणी
pāvamānī diśaṃ rakṣetpavamānavilāsinī | diśaṃ raudrī ca me pātu rudrāṇī rudrarūpiṇī
May Pavamānavilāsinī guard the quarter of the wind (northwest); and may Raudrī, Rudrāṇī, having Rudra's form, protect my (northeast) quarter.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 12 3.14
ऊर्ध्वं ब्रह्माणी मे रक्षेदधस्ताद्वैष्णवी तथा । एवं दश दिशो रक्षेत्सर्वाङ्गं भुवनेश्वरी
ūrdhvaṃ brahmāṇī me rakṣedadhastādvaiṣṇavī tathā | evaṃ daśa diśo rakṣetsarvāṅgaṃ bhuvaneśvarī
May Brahmāṇī protect me above, and Vaiṣṇavī below; thus may Bhuvaneśvarī protect the ten directions and my whole body.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.15
तत्पदं पातु मे पादौ जङ्घे मे सवितुः पदम् । वरेण्यं कटिदेशे तु नाभिं भर्गस्तथैव च
tatpadaṃ pātu me pādau jaṅghe me savituḥ padam | vareṇyaṃ kaṭideśe tu nābhiṃ bhargastathaiva ca
May the word "tat" protect my two feet; the word "savituḥ" my shanks; "vareṇyaṃ" the region of the hips, and likewise "bhargaḥ" the navel.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.16
देवस्य मे तद्धृदयं धीमहीति च गल्लयोः । धियः पदं च मे नेत्रे यः पदं मे ललाटकम्
devasya me taddhṛdayaṃ dhīmahīti ca gallayoḥ | dhiyaḥ padaṃ ca me netre yaḥ padaṃ me lalāṭakam
"devasya" (protect) my heart, and "dhīmahi" my two cheeks; and the word "dhiyaḥ" my eyes, the word "yaḥ" my forehead.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.17
नः पातु मे पदं मूर्ध्नि शिखायां मे प्रचोदयात् । तत्पदं पातु मूर्धानं सकारः पातु भालकम्
naḥ pātu me padaṃ mūrdhni śikhāyāṃ me pracodayāt | tatpadaṃ pātu mūrdhānaṃ sakāraḥ pātu bhālakam
May the word "naḥ" protect me on the crown, and "pracodayāt" at my crest-lock. May the word "tat" protect the head; may the syllable "sa" protect the brow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.18
चक्षुषी तु विकारार्णस्तुकारस्तु कपोलयोः । नासापुटं वकारार्णो रेकारस्तु मुखे तथा
cakṣuṣī tu vikārārṇastukārastu kapolayoḥ | nāsāpuṭaṃ vakārārṇo rekārastu mukhe tathā
The syllable "vi" (protect) the two eyes, and the syllable "tu" the cheeks; the syllable "va" the nostrils, and "re" likewise the mouth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.19
णिकार ऊर्ध्वमोष्ठं तु यकारस्त्वधरोष्ठकम् । आस्यमध्ये भकारार्णो र्गोकारश्चिबुके तथा
ṇikāra ūrdhvamoṣṭhaṃ tu yakārastvadharoṣṭhakam | āsyamadhye bhakārārṇo rgokāraścibuke tathā
The syllable "ṇi" (protect) the upper lip, and the syllable "ya" the lower lip; the syllable "bha" the inside of the mouth, and "rgo" likewise the chin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.20
देकारः कण्ठदेशे तु वकारः स्कन्धदेशकम् । स्यकारो दक्षिणं हस्तं धीकारो वामहस्तकम्
dekāraḥ kaṇṭhadeśe tu vakāraḥ skandhadeśakam | syakāro dakṣiṇaṃ hastaṃ dhīkāro vāmahastakam
The syllable "de" (protect) the throat region, and the syllable "va" the shoulder region; the syllable "sya" the right hand, the syllable "dhī" the left hand.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.21
मकारो हृदयं रक्षेद्धिकार उदरे तथा । धिकारो नाभिदेशे तु योकारस्तु कटिं तथा
makāro hṛdayaṃ rakṣeddhikāra udare tathā | dhikāro nābhideśe tu yokārastu kaṭiṃ tathā
May the syllable "ma" protect the heart, and the syllable "hi" the belly; the syllable "dhi" the navel region, and the syllable "yo" likewise the hips.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.22
गुह्यं रक्षतु योकार ऊरू द्वौ नः पदाक्षरम् । प्रकारो जानुनी रक्षेच्चोकारो जङ्घदेशकम्
guhyaṃ rakṣatu yokāra ūrū dvau naḥ padākṣaram | prakāro jānunī rakṣeccokāro jaṅghadeśakam
May the syllable "yo" protect the private parts, and the syllable of the word "naḥ" the two thighs; may the syllable "pra" protect the knees, and the syllable "co" the region of the shanks.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.23
दकारं गुल्फदेशे तु यकारः पदयुग्मकम् । तकारव्यञ्जनं चैव सर्वाङ्गं मे सदावतु
dakāraṃ gulphadeśe tu yakāraḥ padayugmakam | takāravyañjanaṃ caiva sarvāṅgaṃ me sadāvatu
And (may) the letter da (protect) at the ankles, the letter ya the pair of feet, and the consonant ta — may (they) always protect all my body.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.24
इदं तु कवचं दिव्यं बाधाशतविनाशनम् । चतुःषष्टिकलाविद्यादायकं मोक्षकारकम्
idaṃ tu kavacaṃ divyaṃ bādhāśatavināśanam | catuḥṣaṣṭikalāvidyādāyakaṃ mokṣakārakam
This, indeed, is the divine armour, destroyer of a hundred afflictions, bestower of the knowledge of the sixty-four arts, and bringer of liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 12 3.25
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति । पठनाच्छ्रवणाद्वापि गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
mucyate sarvapāpebhyaḥ paraṃ brahmādhigacchati | paṭhanācchravaṇādvāpi gosahasraphalaṃ labhet
(By it) one is freed from all sins and attains the supreme Brahman; whether by reciting or even by hearing (it), one would gain the fruit of (giving) a thousand cows.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition