śrī hanumatkavacam

Dedication (Viniyoga): Of this Śrī Hanumat Kavaca Stotram Mahāmantra: the seer is Vasiṣṭha; the metre is Anuṣṭup; the deity is Śrī Hanumān; the seed-syllable is "Mārutātmaja"; the power is "Añjanāsūnu"; the pin is "Vāyuputra". Its application is declared for the attainment of Hanumān's grace.

I bow with folded hands to Āñjanēya (Hanumān) — who leaped playfully across the ocean's waters, who took the fire of Jānakī's (Sītā's) sorrow and with that very fire burned Laṅkā itself. (1)

Swift as thought, equal in speed to the wind, conqueror of the senses, foremost among the wise — born of the Wind, chief of the monkey host, the divine messenger of Śrī Rāma — to him I bow with my head. (2)

Like the rising sun in brilliance, of noble strength of arms, beautiful as ten million Kāmadevas, expert in all branches of knowledge — (3)

— the delight of Śrī Rāma's heart, the wish-fulfilling Kalpa tree for devotees, one who bestows fearlessness and boons with both arms — I meditate on the son of Mārutas. (4)

"Śrī Rāma Rāma Rāma" — I delight in Rāma, in the mind-enchanting Rāma. The name "Rāma" is equal to a thousand (divine) names — such is the greatness of Rāma's name, O fair-faced one. (5)

May Vāyusuta (son of the Wind) protect my feet; may Rāmadūta (messenger of Rāma) protect my toes. May Harīśvara (lord of Hari's monkeys) protect my ankles; may Arṇavalaṅghana (the ocean-leaper) protect my calves. (6)

May Mārutī protect my knees; may Asurāntaka (destroyer of demons) protect my thighs. May Vajratanu (of diamond body) protect my private parts; may Jagaddhita (benefactor of the world) protect my hips. (7)

May Āñjanēya protect my waist; may Saumitrijīvana (giver of life to Lakṣmaṇa) protect my navel. May Hṛdgēhī (dweller in the heart) protect my abdomen; may Mahābala (the supremely powerful) protect my heart. (8)

May Vālāyudha (one whose weapon is his tail) protect my chest; may Amitavikrama (of immeasurable valor) protect my breast. May Jitēndriya (conqueror of the senses) protect my sides; may Sugrīvamantrakṛt (counselor of Sugrīva) protect my arms. (9)

May Akṣajayī (victor over Akṣa) protect my hands; may Hanumān protect my fingers. May Bhaviṣyadbrahmā (the future Brahmā) protect my back; may Mati-matām-vara (best among the wise) protect my shoulders. (10)

May Kapiśrēṣṭha (foremost among monkeys) protect my throat; may Rāvaṇadarpahā (destroyer of Rāvaṇa's pride) protect my face. May Vaktṛpravaṇa (gifted with eloquent speech) protect my mouth; may Dēvagaṇastuta (praised by the host of gods) protect my eyes. (11)

May the one who accepted the Brahmāstra with equanimity protect my eyebrows always. May Kāmarūpa (one who assumes any form at will) protect my cheeks; may Vajranakha (of thunderbolt claws) protect my forehead. (12)

May Jānakīśōkanāśana (destroyer of Jānakī's sorrow) always protect my head. May Śrīrāmabhaktapravara (chief among devotees of Śrī Rāma) protect my entire body. (13)

May Sarvajña (the all-knowing) protect me by day; may Mahāyaśas (of great renown) protect me by night. May the disciple of the Sun (trained by Sūrya himself) protect me at both twilights, always. (14)

May the one who received boons from Brahmā and the gods protect me without cease. The person who daily recites and listens to this kavacham — (15)

— attains a long life, gains strength and clarity of vision. The enemies of the one who recites it shall be crushed underfoot; one obtains enduring good reputation, health, and eternal happiness. (16)

O Āñjanēya — all your own deeds have now been spoken in these verse-clusters, for you. O one devoted solely to the protection of your own people — the power of the great mantra of Rāma is ever at your command. (17)