Baneshwara Kavacha Sahita Shiva Stavaraja
This stotra is a combination of the Stavaraja and the Baneshwara Kavacha, offering both praise and protective blessings from Lord Shiva.
(ब्रह्मवैवर्त पुराणान्तर्गतम्)
(brahmavaivarta purāṇāntargatam) ōṁ namō mahādēvāya
Oṁ namo Mahadeva.
ओं नमो महादेवाय ।
[– kavacaṁ –] bāṇāsura uvāca
Banasura said,
[– कवचं –]
mahēśvara mahābhāga kavacaṁ yatprakāśitam
"O great Lord, the supreme being, please tell me about the armor that is revealed,
बाणासुर उवाच ।
saṁsārapāvanaṁ nāma kr̥payā kathaya prabhō
which is named the purifier of the cycle of existence, out of compassion, my Lord."
महेश्वर महाभाग कवचं यत्प्रकाशितम् । संसारपावनं नाम कृपया कथय प्रभो ॥ ४३ ॥
mahēśvara uvāca
Maheshvara said,
महेश्वर उवाच । शृणु वक्ष्यामि हे वत्स कवचं परमाद्भुतम् ।
śr̥ṇu vakṣyāmi hē vatsa kavacaṁ paramādbhutam
"Listen, dear one, I will describe to you the most wonderful armor.
अहं तुभ्यं प्रदास्यामि गोपनीयं सुदुर्लभम् ॥ ४४ ॥
ahaṁ tubhyaṁ pradāsyāmi gōpanīyaṁ sudurlabham
I shall give you a secret that is very rare.
पुरा दुर्वाससे दत्तं त्रैलोक्यविजयाय च ।
purā durvāsasē dattaṁ trailōkyavijayāya ca
Long ago, it was given by Durvasa for the victory over the three worlds.
ममैवेदं च कवचं भक्त्या यो धारयेत्सुधीः ॥ ४५ ॥
mamaivēdaṁ ca kavacaṁ bhaktyā yō dhārayētsudhīḥ
This armor of mine, whoever holds it with devotion,
जेतुं शक्नोति त्रैलोक्यं भगवन्नवलीलया ।
jētuṁ śaknōti trailōkyaṁ bhagavannavalīlayā
can conquer the three worlds by the divine play of the Lord.
संसारपावनस्यास्य कवचस्य प्रजापतिः ॥ ४६ ॥
saṁsārapāvanasyāsya kavacasya prajāpatiḥ
The creator of this armor, the purifier of the cycle of existence,
ऋषिश्छन्दश्च गायत्री देवोऽहं च महेश्वरः ।
r̥ṣiśchandaśca gāyatrī dēvō:'haṁ ca mahēśvaraḥ
is the sage, the meter is Gayatri, and I am Maheshvara.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु विनियोगः प्रकीर्तितः ॥ ४७ ॥
dharmārthakāmamōkṣēṣu viniyōgaḥ prakīrtitaḥ
The application of this is proclaimed for the purposes of righteousness, wealth, desires, and liberation.
पञ्चलक्षजपेनैव सिद्धिदं कवचं भवेत् ।
pañcalakṣajapēnaiva siddhidaṁ kavacaṁ bhavēt
By chanting it five lakh times, this armor will become accomplished.
यो भवेत्सिद्धकवचो मम तुल्यो भवेद्भुवि । तेजसा सिद्धियोगेन तपसा विक्रमेण च ॥ ४८ ॥
yō bhavētsiddhakavacō mama tulyō bhavēdbhuvi
Whoever becomes the possessor of this accomplished armor will be equal to me on earth."
शम्भुर्मे मस्तकं पातु मुखं पातु महेश्वरः । दन्तपङ्क्तिं नीलकण्ठोऽप्यधरोष्ठं हरः स्वयम् ॥ ४९ ॥
tējasā siddhiyōgēna tapasā vikramēṇa ca
May the divine energy protect my head, and may the great lord protect my face.
कण्ठं पातु चन्द्रचूडः स्कन्धौ वृषभवाहनः । वक्षःस्थलं नीलकण्ठः पातु पृष्ठं दिगम्बरः ॥ ५० ॥
śambhurmē mastakaṁ pātu mukhaṁ pātu mahēśvaraḥ
May the blue-throated one himself protect my lower lip.
सर्वाङ्गं पातु विश्वेशः सर्वदिक्षु च सर्वदा । स्वप्ने जागरणे चैव स्थाणुर्मे पातु सन्ततम् ॥ ५१ ॥
dantapaṅktiṁ nīlakaṇṭhō:'pyadharōṣṭhaṁ haraḥ svayam
May the crescent-crowned one protect my throat, and may the bull-rider protect my shoulders.
इति ते कथितं बाण कवचं परमाद्भुतम् । यस्मै कस्मै न दातव्यं गोपनीयं प्रयत्नतः ॥ ५२ ॥
kaṇṭhaṁ pātu candracūḍaḥ skandhau vr̥ṣabhavāhanaḥ
May the blue-throated one protect my chest, and may the sky-clad one protect my back.
यत्फलं सर्वतीर्थानां स्नानेन लभते नरः । तत्फलं लभते नूनं कवचस्यैव धारणात् ॥ ५३ ॥
vakṣaḥsthalaṁ nīlakaṇṭhaḥ pātu pr̥ṣṭhaṁ digambaraḥ
May the lord of the universe protect all my limbs, and may he protect me in all directions at all times.
इदं कवचमज्ञात्वा भजेन्मां यः सुमन्दधीः । शतलक्षप्रजप्तोऽपि न मन्त्रः सिद्धिदायकः ॥ ५४ ॥
sarvāṅgaṁ pātu viśvēśaḥ sarvadikṣu ca sarvadā
May my posture be protected during sleep and wakefulness.
सौतिरुवाच । इदं च कवचं प्रोक्तं स्तोत्रम् च शृणु शौनक ।
svapnē jāgaraṇē caiva sthāṇurmē pātu santatam
Thus, this divine armor has been spoken, a most wondrous shield.
मन्त्रराजः कल्पतरुर्वसिष्ठो दत्तवान्पुरा ॥ ५५ ॥
iti tē kathitaṁ bāṇa kavacaṁ paramādbhutam
To whom should it not be given? It is to be kept secret with effort.
ओं नमः शिवाय ।
yasmai kasmai na dātavyaṁ gōpanīyaṁ prayatnataḥ
The fruit obtained from bathing in all holy places is surely attained through the wearing of this armor.
[– स्तवराजः –]
yatphalaṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ snānēna labhatē naraḥ
Indeed, one who does not understand this armor and worships me with a dull intellect,
बाणासुर उवाच ।
tatphalaṁ labhatē nūnaṁ kavacasyaiva dhāraṇāt
Even if he recites a hundred thousand mantras, he will not attain success.
वन्दे सुराणां सारं च सुरेशं नीललोहितम् । योगीश्वरं योगबीजं योगिनां च गुरोर्गुरुम् ॥ ५६ ॥
idaṁ kavacamajñātvā bhajēnmāṁ yaḥ sumandadhīḥ
Sauti said:
ज्ञानानन्दं ज्ञानरूपं ज्ञानबीजं सनातनम् । तपसां फलदातारं दातारं सर्वसम्पदाम् ॥ ५७ ॥
śatalakṣaprajaptō:'pi na mantraḥ siddhidāyakaḥ
This armor and hymn have been declared; listen, O Shaunaka.
तपोरूपं तपोबीजं तपोधनधनं वरम् । वरं वरेण्यं वरदमीड्यं सिद्धगणैर्वरैः ॥ ५८ ॥
sautiruvāca
The king of mantras, the wish-fulfilling tree, has been given in ancient times.
कारणं भुक्तिमुक्तीनां नरकार्णवतारणम् । आशुतोषं प्रसन्नास्यं करुणामयसागरम् ॥ ५९ ॥
idaṁ ca kavacaṁ prōktaṁ stōtram ca śr̥ṇu śaunaka
Om, salutations to Shiva.
हिमचन्दन कुन्देन्दु कुमुदांभोज सन्निभम् । ब्रह्मज्योतिः स्वरूपं च भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहम् ॥ ६० ॥
mantrarājaḥ kalpatarurvasiṣṭhō dattavānpurā
Banasura spoke:
विषयाणां विभेदेन बिभ्रतं बहुरूपकम् । जलरूपमग्निरूप-माकाशरूपमीश्वरम् ॥ ६१ ॥
ōṁ namaḥ śivāya
I bow to the essence of the gods, to the lord of the gods, the blue-red one.
वायुरूपं चन्द्ररूपं सूर्यरूपं महत्प्रभुं । आत्मनः स्वपदं दातुं समर्थमवलीलया ॥ ६२ ॥
[– stavarājaḥ –] bāṇāsura uvāca
To the lord of yogis, the seed of yoga, the guru of yogis.
भक्तजीवनमीशं च भक्तानुग्रहकारकम् । वेदा न शक्ता यं स्तोतुं किमहं स्तौमि तं प्रभुम् ॥ ६३ ॥
vandē surāṇāṁ sāraṁ ca surēśaṁ nīlalōhitam
The bliss of knowledge, the form of knowledge, the eternal seed of knowledge.
अपरिच्छिन्नमीशान-महोवाङ्मनसोः परम् । व्याघ्रचर्माम्बरधरं वृषभस्थं दिगम्बरम् ।
yōgīśvaraṁ yōgabījaṁ yōgināṁ ca gurōrgurum
The giver of fruits to ascetics, the bestower of all wealth.
त्रिशूलपट्टिशधरं सस्मितं चन्द्रशेखरम् ॥ ६४ ॥
jñānānandaṁ jñānarūpaṁ jñānabījaṁ sanātanam
The embodiment of austerity, the seed of austerity, the wealth of austerity, the best.
इत्युक्त्वा स्तवराजेन नित्यं बाणः सुसम्यतः ।
tapasāṁ phaladātāraṁ dātāraṁ sarvasampadām
The best among the best, the granter of boons, worthy of worship, revered by the perfected beings.
प्राणमच्छङ्करं भक्त्या दुर्वासाश्च मुनीश्वरः ॥ ६५ ॥
tapōrūpaṁ tapōbījaṁ tapōdhanadhanaṁ varam
The cause of enjoyment and liberation, the savior from the hellish realms.
इदं दत्तं वसिष्ठेन गन्धर्वाय पुरा मुने ।
varaṁ varēṇyaṁ varadamīḍyaṁ siddhagaṇairvaraiḥ
Quick to please, with a serene countenance, an ocean of compassion.
कथितं च महास्तोत्रम् शूलिनः परमाद्भुतम् ॥ ६६ ॥
kāraṇaṁ bhuktimuktīnāṁ narakārṇavatāraṇam
Like the cool sandalwood, the moon, and the lotus, resembling the water lily.
इदं स्तोत्रम् महापुण्यं पठेद्भक्त्या च यो नरः ।
āśutōṣaṁ prasannāsyaṁ karuṇāmayasāgaram
The light of Brahman, the essence of being, the embodiment of grace for devotees.
स्नानस्य सर्वतीर्थानां फलमाप्नोति निश्चितम् ॥ ६७ ॥
himacandana kundēndu kumudāṁbhōja sannibham
The one who manifests in various forms through differentiation of objects.
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं वर्षमेकं शृणोति यः ।
brahmajyōtiḥ svarūpaṁ ca bhaktānugrahavigraham
The Lord who takes the form of water, fire, and space.
सम्यतश्च हविष्याशी प्रणम्य शङ्करं गुरुम् ॥ ६८ ॥
viṣayāṇāṁ vibhēdēna bibhrataṁ bahurūpakam
The form of the wind, the form of the moon, the form of the sun, the great lord,
गलत्कुष्ठी महाशूली वर्षमेकं शृणोति यः ।
jalarūpamagnirūpa-mākāśarūpamīśvaram
Capable of granting the abode of the self, he plays in a sublime manner.
अवश्यं मुच्यते रोगाद्व्यासवाक्यमिति श्रुतम् ॥ ६९ ॥
vāyurūpaṁ candrarūpaṁ sūryarūpaṁ mahatprabhuṁ
The lord of the devotees, the giver of grace to the devotees,
कारागारेऽपि बद्धो यो नैव प्राप्नोति निर्वृतिम् ।
ātmanaḥ svapadaṁ dātuṁ samarthamavalīlayā
The Vedas cannot praise him; what can I say about that lord?
स्तोत्रम् श्रुत्वा मासमेकं मुच्यते बन्धनाद्धृवम् ॥ ७० ॥
bhaktajīvanamīśaṁ ca bhaktānugrahakārakam
The unbounded lord, the supreme of the minds,
भ्रष्टराज्यो लभेद्राज्यं भक्त्यामासं शृणोति यः ।
vēdā na śaktā yaṁ stōtuṁ kimahaṁ staumi taṁ prabhum
Wearing the skin of a tiger, standing on a bull, clad in the sky,
मासं श्रुत्वा सम्यतश्च लभेद्भ्रष्टधनो धनम् ॥ ७१ ॥
aparicchinnamīśāna-mahōvāṅmanasōḥ param
Holding a trident and a bow, smiling with a moon-like face.
यक्ष्मग्रस्तो वर्षमेकमास्तिको यः शृणोति चेत् ।
vyāghracarmāmbaradharaṁ vr̥ṣabhasthaṁ digambaram
Having spoken thus, the great sage Durvasa, always disciplined,
निश्चितं मुच्यते रोगाच्छङ्करस्य प्रसादतः ॥ ७२ ॥
triśūlapaṭ-ṭiśadharaṁ sasmitaṁ candraśēkharam
With devotion, praises the lord of life, Shankara.
यः शृणोति सदा भक्त्या स्तवराजमिमं द्विजः ।
ityuktvā stavarājēna nityaṁ bāṇaḥ susamyataḥ
This was given by Vasistha to the Gandharva in ancient times,
तस्यासाध्यं त्रिभुवने नास्ति किञ्चिच्च शौनक ॥ ७३ ॥
prāṇamacchaṅkaraṁ bhaktyā durvāsāśca munīśvaraḥ
And the great hymn was told, most wonderful, of the one with the trident.
कदाचिद्बन्धुविच्छेदो न भवेत्तस्य भारते ।
idaṁ dattaṁ vasiṣṭhēna gandharvāya purā munē
This hymn, very meritorious, whoever reads it with devotion,
अचलं परमैश्वर्यं लभते नात्र सम्शयः ॥ ७४ ॥
kathitaṁ ca mahāstōtram śūlinaḥ paramādbhutam
Will surely attain the fruit of all pilgrimages after bathing.
सुसम्यतोऽति भक्त्या च मासमेकं शृणोति यः ।
idaṁ stōtram mahāpuṇyaṁ paṭhēdbhaktyā ca yō naraḥ
The childless will gain a son; whoever hears it for a year,
अभार्यो लभते भार्यां सुविनीतां सतीं वराम् ॥ ७५ ॥
snānasya sarvatīrthānāṁ phalamāpnōti niścitam
Will be disciplined and will receive the offering, bowing to Shankara, the guru.
महामूर्खश्च दुर्मेधा मासमेकं शृणोति यः ।
aputrō labhatē putraṁ varṣamēkaṁ śr̥ṇōti yaḥ
The one who listens for one year to the great disease of leprosy
बुद्धिं विद्यां च लभते गुरूपदेशमात्रतः ॥ ७६ ॥
samyataśca haviṣyāśī praṇamya śaṅkaraṁ gurum
Will surely be freed from illness, as heard from Vyasa's words.
कर्मदुःखी दरिद्रश्च मासं भक्त्या शृणोति यः ।
galatkuṣṭhī mahāśūlī varṣamēkaṁ śr̥ṇōti yaḥ
Even one who is bound in prison, who does not attain satisfaction,
ध्रुवं वित्तं भवेत्तस्य शङ्करस्य प्रसादतः ॥ ७७ ॥
avaśyaṁ mucyatē rōgādvyāsavākyamiti śrutam
By hearing this hymn for one month, will be freed from bondage.
इह लोके सुखं भुक्त्वा कृत्वाकीर्तिं सुदुर्लभाम् ।
kārāgārē:'pi baddhō yō naiva prāpnōti nirvr̥tim
The one who hears for one month about the fallen kingdom,
नाना प्रकार धर्मं च यात्यन्ते शङ्करालयम् ॥ ७८ ॥
stōtram śrutvā māsamēkaṁ mucyatē bandhanāddhr̥vam
With devotion, will regain wealth that was lost.
पार्षदप्रवरो भूत्वा सेवते तत्र शङ्करम् ।
bhraṣṭarājyō labhēdrājyaṁ bhaktyāmāsaṁ śr̥ṇōti yaḥ
The one who hears for one year about the afflicted by tuberculosis,
यः शृणोति त्रिसन्ध्यं च नित्यं स्तोत्रमनुत्तमम् ॥ ७९ ॥
māsaṁ śrutvā samyataśca labhēdbhraṣṭadhanō dhanam
Will certainly be freed from disease by the grace of Shankara.
इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्ते महापुराणे ब्रह्मखण्डे सौतिशौनकसंवादे शङ्करस्तोत्र कथनं नाम एकोनविम्शोध्यायः ॥
yakṣmagrastō varṣamēkamāstikō yaḥ śr̥ṇōti cēt
The one who always listens with devotion to this hymn of praise,
Narada Kruta Sri Rama Stuti – श्री राम स्तुतिः (नारद कृतम्)
niścitaṁ mucyatē rōgācchaṅkarasya prasādataḥ
There is nothing unattainable for him in the three worlds, says Shaunaka.
Sri Devi Atharvashirsha – श्री देव्यथर्वशीर्षम्
yaḥ śr̥ṇōti sadā bhaktyā stavarājamimaṁ dvijaḥ
At some time, there will be no separation from relatives in his Bharat.