The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca (Māruti-kavaca)

Verse 1

सनत्कुमार उवाच । कार्तवीर्यस्य कवचं कथितं ते मुनीश्वर । मोहविध्वंसनं जैत्रं मारुतेः कवचं श्रृणु ॥ १ ॥

Sanatkumāra said: O great sage, I have told you the kavaca of Kārtavīrya. Now listen to the kavaca of Māruti (Hanumān)—victorious, and a destroyer of delusion.

Verse 2

यस्य संधारणात्सद्यः सर्वे नश्यंत्युपद्रवाः । भूतप्रेतारिजं दुःखं नाशमेति न संशयः ॥ २ ॥

By merely retaining it (in mind or recitation), all disturbances are destroyed at once; suffering caused by bhūtas, pretas, or enemies comes to an end—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 3

एकदाहं गतो द्रष्टुं रामं रमयतां वरम् । आनंदवनिकासंस्थं ध्यायंतं स्वात्मनः पदम् ॥ ३ ॥

Once I went to behold Rāma, the foremost of those who gladden all beings. He dwelt in the grove called Ānandavanikā, meditating upon the supreme state of his own Self.

Verse 4

तत्र रामं रमानाथं पूजितं त्रिदशेश्वरैः । नमस्कृत्य तदादिष्टमासनं स्थितवान् पुरः ॥ ४ ॥

There I bowed to Rāma—Ramanātha, the Lord of Ramā (Lakṣmī)—who was being worshipped by the lords of the thirty-three gods. Having offered homage, I stood before him and took the seat assigned to me.

Verse 5

तत्र सर्वं मया वृत्तं रावणस्य वधांतकम् । पृष्टं प्रोवाच राजेंद्रः श्रीरामः स्वयमादरात् ॥ ५ ॥

There I recounted everything that had occurred, up to the slaying of Rāvaṇa. When asked, Śrī Rāma himself—the foremost of kings—spoke of it with reverence and care.

Verse 6

ततः कथांते भगवान्मारुतेः कवचं ददौ । मह्यं तत्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि न प्रकाश्यं हि कुत्रचित् ॥ ६ ॥

Then, at the close of the narration, the Blessed Lord bestowed upon me Māruti’s (Hanumān’s) kavaca, the protective armor. Now I shall teach it to you just as it was taught to me—for it is not to be disclosed indiscriminately anywhere.

Verse 7

भविष्यदेतन्निर्द्दिष्टं बालभावेन नारद । श्रीरामेणांजनासूनासूनोर्भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम् ॥ ७ ॥

O Nārada, this has been foretold for the time to come: by taking on the mood of a child, Śrī Rāma will grant to Añjanā’s grandson—Māruti (Hanumān)—both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 8

हनुमान् पूर्वतः पातु दक्षिणे पवनात्मजः । पातु प्रतीच्यामक्षघ्नः सौम्ये सागरतारकः ॥ ८ ॥

May Hanumān protect me in the east; in the south, may the son of the Wind-god protect. In the west, may the slayer of Akṣa protect; and in the north, may he who helped cross the ocean protect.

Verse 9

ऊर्द्ध पातु कपिश्रेष्ठः केसरिप्रियनंदनः । अधस्ताद्विष्णुभक्तस्तु पातु मध्ये च पावनिः ॥ ९ ॥

From above, may the foremost of monkeys—the beloved son who delights Kesarin—protect me. From below, may that devotee of Viṣṇu protect me; and in the middle, may the Purifier guard me.

Verse 10

लंकाविदाहकः पातु सर्वापद्भ्यो निरंतरम् । सुग्रीवसचिवः पातु मस्तकं वायुनंदनः ॥ १० ॥

May the burner of Laṅkā protect me ceaselessly from every calamity; may Vāyu’s son—Sugrīva’s minister—protect my head.

Verse 11

भालं पातु महावीरो भ्रुवोर्मध्ये निरंतरम् । नेत्रे छायापहारी च पातु नः प्लवगेश्वरः ॥ ११ ॥

May the great hero protect my forehead; may he constantly guard the space between my eyebrows. And may the Lord of the monkeys—he who removes obscuring shadows—protect our eyes.

Verse 12

कपोलौ कर्णमूले च पातु श्रीरामकिंकरः । नासाग्रमंजनासूनुः पातु वक्त्रं हरीश्वरः ॥ १२ ॥

May Śrī Rāma’s devoted servant protect my cheeks and the roots of my ears. May the son of Añjanā protect the tip of my nose; and may Hari, the Supreme Lord, protect my face.

Verse 13

पातु कंठे तु दैत्यारिः स्कंधौ पातु सुरारिजित् । भुजौ पातु महातेजाः करौ च चरणायुधः ॥ १३ ॥

May the Slayer of the daityas protect my throat; may the Conqueror of the gods’ foes protect my shoulders. May the Greatly Radiant One protect my arms, and may He whose weapon is His feet protect my hands.

Verse 14

नखान्नाखायुधः पातु कुक्षौ पातु कपीश्वरः । वक्षो मुद्रापहारी च पातु पार्श्वे भुजायुधः ॥ १४ ॥

May Nakhāyudha, whose weapon is the nails, protect me at the nails; may Kapīśvara, Lord of the vānaras, protect my belly. May Mudrāpahārī protect my chest, and may Bhujāyudha, whose weapon is the arms, protect my sides.

Verse 15

लंकानिभंजनः पातु पृष्टदेशे निरंतरम् । नाभिं श्रीरामभक्तस्तु कटिं पात्वनिलात्मजः ॥ १५ ॥

May the Destroyer of Laṅkā protect my back unceasingly. May Śrī Rāma’s devotee protect my navel, and may the son of the Wind-god protect my waist.

Verse 16

गुह्यं पातु महाप्रज्ञः सक्थिनी अतिथिप्रियः । ऊरू च जानुनी पातु लंकाप्रासादभंजनः ॥ १६ ॥

May the Great-Wise One protect my private parts; may the Lover of guests protect my thighs. May the Breaker of the palaces of Laṅkā protect my hips and my knees.

Verse 17

जंघे पातु कपिश्रेष्ठो गुल्फौ पातु महाबलः । अचलोद्धारकः पातु पादौ भास्करसन्निभः ॥ १७ ॥

May the foremost of the monkeys protect my shanks; may the mighty one protect my ankles; may the lifter of a mountain protect my feet—he whose radiance is like the Sun.

Verse 18

अङ्गानि पातु सत्त्वाढ्यः पातु पादांगुलीः सदा । मुखांगानि महाशूरः पातु रोमाणि चात्मवान् ॥ १८ ॥

May the One abounding in sattva protect my limbs; may He always protect the toes of my feet. May the Great Hero protect the organs of my face, and may the Self-possessed One protect even the hairs of my body.

Verse 19

दिवारात्रौ त्रिलोकेषु सदागतिलुतोऽवतु । स्थितं व्रजंतमासीनं पिबंतं जक्षतं कपिः ॥ १९ ॥

May Kapi—ever moving through the three worlds by day and by night—protect me: whether standing still, walking, sitting, drinking, or eating.

Verse 20

लोकोत्तरगुणः श्रीमान् पातु त्र्यंबकसंभवः । प्रमत्तमप्रमत्तं वा शयानं गहनेंऽबुनि ॥ २० ॥

May the illustrious One, endowed with qualities beyond the world—born of Tryambaka—protect us, whether heedless or heedful, even if lying in the deep waters.

Verse 21

स्थलेंऽतरिक्षे ह्यग्नौ वा पर्वते सागरे द्रुमे । संग्रामे संकटे घोरे विराङ्रूपधरोऽवतु ॥ २१ ॥

On land, in the sky, in fire, on a mountain, in the ocean, or amid trees; in battle, in peril, and in dreadful crises—may the Lord who bears the cosmic form (Virāṭ) protect me.

Verse 22

डाकिनीशाकिनीमारीकालरात्रिमरीचिकाः । शयानं मां विभुः पातु पिशाचोरगराक्षसीः ॥ २२ ॥

May the all-pervading Lord (Vibhu) protect me as I lie down to sleep—from ḍākinīs and śākinīs, from pestilence, from dreadful Kālarātri, from deceptive apparitions, and from piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasīs.

Verse 23

दिव्यदेहधरो धीमान्सर्वसत्त्वभयंकरः । साधकेंद्रावनः शश्वत्पातु सर्वत एव माम् ॥ २३ ॥

May that wise Lord—bearing a divine body, terrifying to all hostile beings, and ever the protector of the foremost among spiritual practitioners—constantly guard me from every direction.

Verse 24

यद्रूपं भीषणं दृष्ट्वा पलायंते भयानकाः । स सर्वरूपः सर्वज्ञः सृष्टिस्थितिकरोऽवतु ॥ २४ ॥

Seeing that terrifying form, even the dreadful ones flee in fear. May He—of all forms, all-knowing, and the maker of creation and preservation—protect us.

Verse 25

स्वयं ब्रह्मा स्वयं विष्णुः साक्षाद्देवो महेश्वरः । सूर्यमंडलगः श्रीदः पातु कालत्रयेऽपि माम् ॥ २५ ॥

May He—who is Himself Brahmā, Himself Viṣṇu, and directly the divine Maheśvara—abiding in the solar orb and bestowing prosperity, protect me in all the three times (past, present, and future).

Verse 26

यस्य शब्दमुपाकर्ण्य दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः । देवा मनुष्यास्तिर्यंचः स्थावरा जङ्गमास्तथा ॥ २६ ॥

On hearing whose sound (utterance), the Daityas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas—as well as the gods, human beings, animals, and even beings that are immobile and mobile—are all affected (brought under its influence).

Verse 27

सभया भयनिर्मुक्ता भवंति स्वकृतानुगाः । यस्यानेककथाः पुण्याः श्रूयंते प्रतिकल्पके ॥ २७ ॥

Those who follow the fruits of their own deeds become free from fear, even amid assemblies. Of him, many holy narratives are heard in every age-cycle (kalpa after kalpa).

Verse 28

सोऽवतात्साधकश्रेष्ठं सदा रामपरायणः । वैधात्रधातृप्रभृति यत्किंचिद्दृश्यतेऽत्यलम् ॥ २८ ॥

May that supreme among sādhakas—ever devoted to Rāma—protect us. From the Creator’s cosmic ordinance onward, whatever little is seen in this world is exceedingly insignificant before Him.

Verse 29

विद्ध्वि व्याप्तं यथा कीशरूपेणानंजनेन तत् । यो विभुः सोऽहमेषोऽहं स्वीयः स्वयमणुर्बृहत् ॥ २९ ॥

Know that He pervades all—subtly, without any taint—appearing in the form of the Lord. That all-pervading One is “I”; this very “I” is His own Self, and by His own power He is both minute and vast.

Verse 30

ऋग्यजुःसामरूपश्च प्रणवस्त्रिवृदध्वरः । तस्मै स्वस्मै च सर्वस्मै नतोऽस्म्यात्मसमाधिना ॥ ३० ॥

In inward samādhi upon the Self, I bow to Him who is of the form of the Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāman; who is the sacred Praṇava (Oṁ); who is the threefold holy rite—to that One, to the Self within, and to the All I offer reverence.

Verse 31

अनेकानन्तब्रह्माण्डधृते ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणे । समीरणात्मने तस्मै नतोऽस्म्यात्मस्वरूपिणे ॥ ३१ ॥

I bow to Him who upholds countless infinite universes; who is of the very nature of Brahman; who abides as the vital life-breath. To that One—who is the Self’s own true form—I offer reverence.

Verse 32

नमो हनुमते तस्मै नमो मारुतसूनवे । नमः श्रीरामभक्ताय श्यामाय महते नमः ॥ ३२ ॥

Salutations to that Hanumān; salutations to the son of Māruta, the Wind-god. Salutations to the bhakta of Śrī Rāma—to the dark-hued one, the great one—salutations again.

Verse 33

नमो वानर वीराय सुग्रीवसख्यकारिणे । संकाविदहनायाथ महासागरतारिणे ॥ ३३ ॥

Salutations to the heroic Vanara who forged friendship with Sugrīva; who burned Laṅkā, and who enabled the crossing of the great ocean.

Verse 34

सीताशोकविनाशाय राममुद्राधराय च । रावणांतनिदानाय नमः सर्वोत्तरात्मने ॥ ३४ ॥

Salutations to the Supreme Self beyond all—who destroys Sītā’s sorrow, who bears Rāma’s signet-ring, and who is the decisive cause of Rāvaṇa’s end.

Verse 35

मेघनादमखध्वंसकारणाय नमोनमः । अशोकवनविध्वंसकारिणे जयदायिने ॥ ३५ ॥

Repeated salutations to the One who became the cause of the destruction of Meghanāda’s sacrifice, who laid waste the Aśoka grove, and who bestows victory.

Verse 36

वायुपुत्राय वीराय आकाशोदरगामिने । वनपालशिरश्छेत्रे लंकाप्रासादभंजिने ॥ ३६ ॥

Salutations to the heroic son of Vāyu, who moves through the vast expanse of the sky; who cut down the head of the forest-guardian, and who shattered the palaces of Laṅkā.

Verse 37

ज्वलत्कांचनवर्णाय दीर्घलांगूलधारिणे । सौमित्रिजयदात्रे च रामदूताय ते नमः ॥ ३७ ॥

Salutations to you—the blazing, golden-hued one; the bearer of a long tail; the giver of victory to Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa); and the messenger of Rāma.

Verse 38

अक्षस्य वधकर्त्रे च ब्रह्मशस्त्रनिवारिणे । लक्ष्मणांगमहाशक्तिजातक्षतविनाशिने ॥ ३८ ॥

Salutations to Him who slew Akṣa, who averted the Brahmā-weapon (Brahmāstra), and who destroyed the wound caused by the great Śakti that struck Lakṣmaṇa’s body.

Verse 39

रक्षोघ्नाय रिपुघ्नाय भूतघ्नाय नमोनमः । ऋक्षवानरवीरौघप्रासादाय नमोनमः ॥ ३९ ॥

Repeated salutations to Him who destroys the rākṣasas, who destroys enemies, who destroys malevolent beings. Repeated salutations to Him who is the exalted refuge and support of the hosts of heroic bears and vānaras.

Verse 40

परसैन्यबलघ्नाय शस्त्रास्त्रघ्नाय ते नमः । विषघ्नाय द्विषघ्नाय भयघ्नाय नमोनमः ॥ ४० ॥

Salutations to You, the destroyer of the strength of enemy armies; salutations to You, the neutralizer of weapons and missiles (astras). Salutations again and again to You, the remover of poison, the destroyer of foes, and the dispeller of fear.

Verse 41

महीरिपुभयघ्नाय भक्तत्राणैककारिण । परप्रेरितमन्त्राणां मंत्राणां स्तंभकारिणे ॥ ४१ ॥

Salutations to Him who destroys the fear caused by enemies on earth; who is solely devoted to protecting His devotees; and who can paralyze, rendering ineffective, mantras impelled by others.

Verse 42

पयः पाषाणतरणकारणाय नमोनमः । बालार्कमंडलग्रासकारिणे दुःखहारिणे ॥ ४२ ॥

Repeated salutations to Him who makes even stones cross over by water; salutations to Him who can swallow the orb of the rising sun, the remover of sorrow.

Verse 43

नखायुधाय भीमाय दन्तायुधधराय च । विहंगमाय शवाय वज्रदेहाय ते नमः ॥ ४३ ॥

Salutations to You—armed with claws, the Terrible One; bearing teeth as weapons; the Bird-like One; the One who lies like a corpse in yogic stillness; and the One whose body is adamantine like the thunderbolt-vajra.

Verse 44

प्रतिग्रामस्थितायाथ भूतप्रेतवधार्थिने । करस्थशैलशस्त्राय राम शस्त्राय ते नमः ॥ ४४ ॥

Salutations to You—O Rāma-weapon—who abides in every village, whose purpose is the destruction of bhūtas and pretas, and whose weapon is a rocky missile held in the hand.

Verse 45

कौपीनवाससे तुभ्यं रामभक्तिरताय च । दक्षिणाशाभास्कराय सतां चन्द्रोदयात्मने ॥ ४५ ॥

Salutations to You—who wear only a loincloth, who delight in devotion to Rāma; who are like the sun rising in the southern quarter, and who are, for the virtuous, the very essence of moonrise—cool, auspicious illumination.

Verse 46

कृत्याक्षतव्यथाघ्नाय सर्वक्लेशहराय च । स्वाम्याज्ञापार्थसंग्रामसख्यसंजयकारिणे ॥ ४६ ॥

Salutations to Him who destroys the pain caused by hostile rites and injuries, and who removes every affliction; who, by the command of His Lord, became the charioteer-companion in Arjuna’s battle, and who brings about victory.

Verse 47

भक्तानां दिव्यवादेषु संग्रामे जयकारिणे । किल्किलावुवकाराय घोरशब्दकराय च ॥ ४७ ॥

Salutations to Him who grants victory to devotees in the divine contest of battle—who raises the jubilant war-cries, the “kilkilā” shouts, and who produces the awe-inspiring, thunderous sound.

Verse 48

सर्वाग्निव्याधिसंस्तंभकारिणे भयहारिणे । सदा वनफलाहारसंतृप्ताय विशेषतः ॥ ४८ ॥

Salutations to Him who arrests all fevers and diseases, who removes fear, and who is especially pleased by one who is ever content with a diet of forest fruits.

Verse 49

महार्णवशिलाबद्ध्वसेतुबंधाय ते नमः । इत्येतत्कथितं विप्र मारुतेः कवचं शिवम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Salutations to you, the one who—having bound stones—constructed the bridge across the great ocean. Thus, O brāhmaṇa, has been declared the auspicious protective hymn (kavaca) of Māruti (Hanumān).

Verse 50

यस्मै कस्मै न दातव्यं रक्षणीयं प्रयत्नतः । अष्टगंधैर्विलिख्याथ कवचं धारयेत्तु यः ॥ ५० ॥

It should not be given to just anyone; it must be carefully guarded. And whoever inscribes it with the eight fragrant substances and then wears this protective amulet (kavaca) obtains its protection.

Verse 51

कंठे वा दक्षिणे बाहौ जयस्तस्य पदे पदे । किं पुनर्बहुनोक्तेन साधितं लक्षमादरात् ॥ ५१ ॥

Whether worn on the neck or on the right arm, victory attends him at every step. What need is there to say more? The goal is surely accomplished with reverent care.

Verse 52

प्रजप्तमेतत्कवचमसाध्यं चापि साधयेत् ॥ ५२ ॥

When this protective kavaca is properly recited and perfected through japa, it can accomplish even what is considered impossible.

Verse 53

इति श्रीबृहन्नारदीयपुराणे पूर्वभागे बृहदुपाख्याने तृतीयपादे हनुमत्कवचनिरूपणं नामाष्टसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ७८ ॥

Thus ends the seventy-eighth chapter, entitled “The Exposition of Hanumān’s Protective Kavaca,” in the earlier section of the Śrī Bṛhannāradīya Purāṇa, within the Great Narrative, in the Third Pāda.