dEvIkavacham 56

नश्यन्ति दर्शनात्तस्य कवचॆनावृतो हि यः | 
मनोन्नतिर्भवॆद्राञस्तॆजोवृद्धिः परा भवॆत् || 56 ||

nashyanti darshanAttasya kavachEnAvRRito hi yaH |

manonnatirbhavEdrAJNastEjovRRiddhiH parA bhavEt || 56 ||

All of these vanish at the sight of the one who is clad in this armor.
He will attract royal attention, and the spread of his fame will be supreme.

dEvIkavacham 55

ग्रहभूतपिशाचाश्च यक्षगन्धर्वराक्षसाः | 
ब्रह्मराक्षसवॆतालाः कूष्माण्डा भैरवादयः || 55 ||

grahabhUtapishAchAshcha yakShagandharvarAkShasAH |

brahmarAkShasavEtAlAH kUShmANDA bhairavAdayaH || 55 ||

spirits that possess, pishAchAs, yakShas, gandharvas, rAkShas,

brahmarAkShas, vEtAlAs, kUShmANDAs, bhairavas and such,

[Note: I will add translations for all these names of spirits and demons at a later time. I didn't want to hold this up.]

dEvIkavacham 54

सहजा कुलजा माला डाकिनी शाकिनी तथा | 
अन्तरिक्षचरा घोरा डाकिन्यश्च महारवाः || 54 ||

sahajA kulajA mAlA DAkinI shAkinI tathA |

antarikShacharA ghorA DAkinyashcha mahAravAH || 54 ||

self-born or family-born, as also the group of DAkinIs and shAkinIs:

the fearsome DAkinIs of great sound who move through the sky,

dEvIkavacham 53

अभिचाराणि सर्वाणि मन्त्रयन्त्राणि भूतलॆ | 
भूचराः खॆचराश्चैव कुलजाश्चौपदॆशिकाः || 53 ||

abhichArANi sarvANi mantrayantrANi bhUtalE |

bhUcharAH khEcharAshchaiva kulajAshchaupadEshikAH || 53 ||

all (destructive) magic spells, mantras, and yantras on earth.

The creatures that move upon the earth and through the air, whether (the products of) human instruction,

dEvIkavacham 52

नश्यन्ति व्याधयः सर्वॆ लूताविस्फोटकादयः | 
स्थावरं जङ् गमं चैव कृत्रिमं चैव यद्विषम् || 52 || 

nashyanti vyAdhayaH sarvE lUtAvisphoTakAdayaH |

sthAvaraM jaN^ gamaM chaiva kRRitrimaM chaiva yadviSham || 52 ||

All diseases from spider venom and such will disappear, as well as
stationary and movable (non-living and living) poisons both artificial and natural,

The Palavers of Parrots

The palavers of parrots
and the keening of doves
rend the stillness
of the spring morning,
calling me
to a poet's
prayers.

This Life

This life is a house
that has two doors:
we enter through one,
through the other we leave.
How long shall we linger
in relative darkness
before we emerge
into full light?

Nagna says: into the fullness
of the night.

--Nagna Devidas (Donald Traxler)

यह जीवन एक घर है
कि दो दरवाजे हैं:
हम एक के माध्यम से प्रवेश करते हैं,
दूसरे के द्वारा हम छोड़ देते हैं
हम कब तक रुकेंगे
सापेक्ष अंधेरे में
हम उभरने से पहले
पूर्ण प्रकाश में?
नग्न कहते हैं: पूर्णता में
रात की।

dEvIkavacham 51

दैवीकला भवॆत्तस्य त्रैलोक्यॆ चापराजितः | 
जीवॆद्वर्षशतं साग्रमपामृत्युविवर्जितः || 51 ||

daivIkalA bhavEttasya trailokyE chAparAjitaH |

jIvEdvarShashataM sAgramapaamRRityuvivarjitaH || 51 ||

becomes part of the Divine and is unconquered in the three worlds.

He will live a hundred years, protected from untimely death.

dEvIkavacham 50

इदं तु दॆव्याः कवचं दॆवानामपि दुर्लभम् | 
यः पठॆत्प्रयतो नित्यं त्रिस्सन्ध्यं श्रद्धयान्वितः || 50 ||

idaM tu dEvyAH kavachaM dEvAnAmapi durlabham |

yaH paThEtprayato nityaM trissandhyaM shraddhayAnvitaH || 50 ||

This armor of the goddess is difficult even for the gods to obtain.

One who always recites it, thrice daily and with faith,

dEvIkavacham 49

निर्भयो जायन्तॆ मर्त्यः संग्रामॆष्वपराजितः | 
त्रैलोक्यॆ तु भवॆत्पूज्यः कवचेनावृतः पुमान् || 49 ||

nirbhayo jAyantE martyaH saMgrAmEShvaparAjitaH |

trailokyE tu bhavEtpUjyaH kavachenAvRRitaH pumAn || 49 ||

This mortal will be fearless and unconquered in battle.

May there be worship in the three worlds of the one protected by this armor.

 

dEvIkavacham 48

यं यं चिन्तयतॆ कार्मं तं तं प्राप्नोति निश्चतम् | 
परमैश्वर्यमतुलं प्राप्स्यतॆ भूतलॆ पुमान् || 48 ||

yaM yaM chintayatE kArmaM taM taM prApnoti nishchatam |

paramaishvaryamatulaM prApsyatE bhUtalE pumAn || 48 ||

Whatever action he contemplates, he will undoubtedly achieve it.

He will attain unequaled supreme rulership on this earth. 

dEvIkavacham 47

कवचॆनावृतो नित्यं यत्र यत्रैव गच्छति | 
तत्र तत्रार्थलाभश्च विजयः सार्वकालिकः || 47 ||

kavachEnAvRRito nityaM yatra yatraiva gachChati |

tatra tatrArthalAbhashcha vijayaH sArvakAlikaH || 47 ||

unprotected by this armor. Wherever he goes, 

there he will achieve his goals, victorious at all times.

dEvIkavacham 46

इदं रहस्यं विप्रर्षॆ भक्त्या तव मयोदितम् | 
पादमॆकं न गच्छॆत् तु यदीच्छॆच्छुभमात्मनः || 46 ||

idaM rahasyaM viprarShE bhaktyA tava mayoditam |

pAdamEkaM na gachChEt tu yadIchChEchChubhamAtmanaH || 46 ||

I have revealed this secret on account of your devotion.

If one wishes his own well-being, he should not take a single step

(cont. in next verse)

With Every Tide

With every tide
the ocean brings
small gifts,
not satisfied
to have given us
the gift
of life.

Con cada crecida
el océano trae
pequeños regalos,
no satisfecho
habernos dado
el regalo
de la vida.

dEvIkavacham 45

तत्सर्वं रक्ष मॆ दॆवि जयन्ती पापनाशिनी | 
सर्वरक्षआकरं पुण्यं कवचं सर्वदा जपॆत् || 45 ||

tatsarvaM rakSha mE dEvi jayantI pApanAshinI |

sarvarakShaAkaraM puNyaM kavachaM sarvadA japEt || 45 ||

protect all that for me, O dEvi, conquering destroyer of all evil.

One should at all times chant this meritorious armor that makes all safe. 

dEvIkavacham 44

राजद्वारॆ महालक्ष्मीर्विजया सतत स्थिता | 
रक्षाहीनं तु यत् स्थानं वर्जितं कवचॆन तु || 44 ||

rAjadvArE mahAlakShmIrvijayA satata sthitA |

rakShAhInaM tu yat sthAnaM varjitaM kavachEna tu || 44 ||

May mahAlakShmI and vijayA be always established at my entry door,

and whatever is left out of the protections of this armor,

dEvIkavacham 43

धनॆश्वरी धनं रक्षॆत् कौमारी कन्यकां तथा | 
पन्थानं सुपथा रक्षॆन्मार्गं क्षॆमङ् करी तथा || 43 ||

dhanEshvarI dhanaM rakShEt kaumArI kanyakAM tathA |

panthAnaM supathA rakShEnmArgaM kShEmaN^ karI tathA || 43 ||

May dhanEshvarI protect my wealth, and kaumArI my maiden daughter.

May supathA protect my roads, and kShEmaN^karI likewise my way.

dEvIkavacham 42

गोत्रमिन्द्राणी मॆ रक्षॆत् पशून् रक्षॆच्च चण्डिका | 

पुत्रान् रक्षॆन्महालक्ष्मीर्भार्यां रक्षतु भैरवी || 42 ||

gotramindrANI mE rakShEt pashUn rakShEchcha chaNDikA |

putrAn rakShEnmahAlakShmIrbhAryAM rakShatu bhairavI || 42 ||

May indrANI protect my cowpen, and chaNDikA my cattle.

May mahAlakShmI protect my children, and bhairavI my wife.

O sol se levanta

[portunhol surenho]

O sol se levanta
sem dor,
sempre jovem,
sempre forte,
y nos da
una parte
da sua magia.

The sun rises
without pain,
always young,
always strong,
and gives us
a part
of its magic.

dEvIkavacham 41

आयू रक्षतु वाराही धर्मं रक्षतु पार्वती | 
यशः कीर्तिं च लक्ष्मीं च सदा रक्षतु वैष्णवी || 41 ||

AyU rakShatu vArAhI dharmaM rakShatu pArvatI |

yashaH kIrtiM cha lakShmIM cha sadA rakShatu vaiShNavI || 41 ||

May vArAhI protect my length of life, may pArvatI protect my piety,

may vaiShNavI always protect my fame, reputation, and prosperity.

dEvIkavacham 40

रसॆ रूपॆ च गन्धॆ च शब्दॆ स्पर्शॆ च योगिनी | 
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव रक्षॆन्नारायणी सदा || 40 ||

rasE rUpE cha gandhE cha shabdE sparshE cha yoginI |

sattvaM rajastamashchaiva rakShEnnArAyaNI sadA || 40 ||

May yoginI abide in taste, form, smell, sound, and touch,

and may nArAyaNI always protect my sattva, rajas, and tamas.

[Note: I've chosen not to translate the names of the three guNas or strands (sattva, rajas, and tamas) of which prakRRiti (nature) is woven according to saMkhya philosophy, because each encompasses several concepts. Sattva is associated with goodness, light, spirit, and harmony; Rajas suggests passion, excess, and materialism; tamas represents darkness, error, and illusion.]

dEvIkavacham 39

प्राणापानौ तथा व्यानमुदानं च समानकम् | 
वज्रहस्ता च मॆ रक्षॆत् प्राणान् कल्याणशोभना || 39 ||

prANApAnau tathA vyAnamudAnaM cha samAnakam |
vajrahastA cha mE rakShEt prANAn kalyANashobhanA || 39 ||

and also my breathing, vital airs, and digestion.
May vajrahastA, beautiful and auspicious, protect my energetic currents.

dEvIkavacham 38

शुक्रं ब्रह्माणी मॆ रक्षॆच्छायां छत्रॆश्वरी तथा | 
अहङ्कारं मनोबुद्धिं रक्षॆन्मॆ धर्मधारिणी || 38 ||

shukraM brahmANI mE rakShEchChAyAM ChatrEshvarI tathA |

ahaN^kAraM manobuddhiM rakShEnmE dharmadhAriNI || 38 ||

May BrahmANI protect my semen, and ChatrEshvarI likewise my shadow.

May dharmadhAriNI protect my ego, mind, and intellect.

dEvIkavacham 37

पद्मावती पद्मकोशॆ कफॆ चूडामणिस्तथा | 
ज्वालामुखी नखज्वालामभॆद्या सर्वसन्धिषु || 37 ||

padmAvatI padmakoshE kaphE chUDAmaNistathA |

jvAlAmukhI nakhajvAlAmabhEdyA sarvasandhiShu || 37 ||

May padmAvatI abide in my lungs, and chUDAmaNi likewise in my phlegm.

May jvAlAmukhI protect the sheen of my nails, and abhEdyA be in all my joints.

dEvIkavacham 36

रक्तमज्जावसामांसान्यस्थिमॆदांसि पार्वती | 
अन्त्राणि कालरात्रिश्च पित्तं च मुकुटॆश्वरी || 36 ||

raktamajjAvasAmAMsAnyasthimEdAMsi pArvatI |

antrANi kAlarAtrishcha pittaM cha mukuTEshvarI || 36 ||

May pArvatI protect my blood, marrow, lymph,flesh, bones,and fat.

May kAlarAtri protect my intestines, and mukuTEshvarI my bile.

dEvIkavacham 35

नखान् दंष्ट्रकराली च कॆशांश्चैवोर्ध्वकॆशिनी | 
रोमकूपॆषु कौमारी त्वचं योगीश्वरी तथा || 35 ||

nakhAn daMShTrakarAlI cha kEshAMshchaivordhvakEshinI |
romakUpEShu kaumArI tvachaM yogIshvarI tathA || 35 ||

May daMShTrakarAlI protect my toenails, and urdhvakEshinI my hair.
May kaumArI abide in my pores, and yogIshvarI likewise protect my skin.

dEvIkavacham 34

गुल्फयोर्नारसिंही च पादपृष्ठॆ तु कौशिकी | 
पादाङ् गुलीः श्रीधरी च तलं पातालवासिनी || 34 ||

gulphayornArasiMhI cha pAdapRRiShThE tu kaushikI |

pAdAN^ gulIH shrIdharI cha talaM pAtAlavAsinI || 34 ||

May nArasiMhI abide in my ankles, and kaushikI in my heels,

shrIdharI in my toes, and pAtAlavAsinI protect the soles of my feet.

[Note: I had to insert a visible space into "pAdAN^gulIH" to get proper vowel placement.]

dEvIkavacham 33

कट्यां भगवती रक्षॆदूरू मॆ मॆघवाहना | 
जङ्घॆ महाबला रक्षॆत् जानू माधवनायिका || 33 ||

kaTyAM bhagavatI rakShEdUrU mE mEghavAhanA |

jaN^ghE mahAbalA rakShEt jAnU mAdhavanAyikA || 33 ||

May bhagavatI protect my hips, MEghavAhanA my thighs, |

mahAbalA my lower legs, and mAdhavanAyikA my knees. || 33 ||

dEvIkavacham 32

नाभौ च कामिनी रक्षॆद् गुह्यं गुह्यॆश्वरी तथा | 
मॆढ्रं रक्षतु दुर्गन्धा पायुं मॆ गुह्यवाहिनी॥ 32 ||

nAbhau cha kAminI rakShEd guhyaM guhyEshvarI tathA |

mEDhraM rakShatu durgandhA pAyuM mE guhyavAhinI.

And may kAminI protect my navel, likewise guhyEshvarI my privates.

May durgandhA protect my penis, and guhyavAhinI my anus.

[Note: A woman reciter of this anga would replace "mEDhraM" (penis) with "yoniM" (womb, vagina).]

dEvIkavacham 31

स्तनौ रक्षॆन्महादॆवी मनःशोकविनाशिनी | 
हृदयॆ ललिता दॆवी उदरॆ शूलधारिनी || 31 ||

stanau rakShEnmahAdEvI manaHshokavinAshinI |

hRRidayE lalitA dEvI udarE shUladhArinI || 31 ||

May mahAdEvI protect my breasts, and shokavinAshinI my mind.

May the dEvI lalitA abide in my heart, and shUladhArinI in my stomach. || 31 ||

October 19 2017 CE

Not all of life is poetry--some is comfortable as prose. I've been up for about an hour, and have already taken a selfie in excellent light from a bathroom window of the beach house, made my ma-te, and rescued a frog that had been trapped in the beach house for a couple of weeks, but we had never been able to locate the origin of his croaking. He was a little guy, with sticky feet. I edited said selfie, and settled back to admire the ocean, which is too high at the moment to allow walking on the beach. The clouds promise rain, which we had also yesterday. Even so, Betty (our sweet dog) and I had a wonderful walk. In the course of the walk, I found an amazing moth on the beach, unable to fly. I photographed it, and we moved on.

What will this new day bring? Life at the beach is like nothing else, but I'll also be translating (which is also like nothing else). I'm halfway through a very unique text, and the work is its own reward. Hopefully, when the tide goes out we'll get another wonderful beach walk. Life, too, is its own reward. A wonderful day to all of you.

dEvIkavacham 30

हस्तयोर्दण्डिनी रक्षॆदम्बिका चाङ् गुलीषु च | 

नखाञ्छूलॆश्वरी रक्षॆत् कुक्षौ रक्षॆन्नरॆश्वरी || 30 ||

hastayordaNDinI rakShEdambikA chAN^gulIShu cha |

nakhAJNChUlEshvarI rakShEt kukShau rakShEnnarEshvarI || 30 ||

May daNDinI protect my hands,and may ambikA abide in my fingers.

May ShUlEshvarI protect my nails, and narEshvarI my belly.

[Note: In the Devanagari I had to insert a space in "chAN^gulIShu", making it "chAN^ gulIShu"

 to get it to print the sound correctly.]

dEvIkavacham 29

नीलग्रीवा बहिः कण्ठॆ नलिकां नलकूबरी | 
स्कन्धयोः खड्गिनी रक्षॆद् बाहू मॆ वज्रधारिणी || 29 ||

nIlagrIvA bahiH kaNThE nalikAM nalakUbarI |

skandhayoH khaDginI rakShEd bAhU mE vajradhAriNI || 29 ||

May nIlagrIvA abide outside my throat, and nalakUbarI within.

May khaDginI protect my shoulders, and vajradhAriNI my arms.

dEvIkavacham 28

कामाक्षी चिबुकं रक्षॆद्वाचं मॆ सर्वमङ्गला | 
ग्रीवायां भद्रकाली च पृष्ठवंशो धनुर्धरी || 28 ||

kAmAkShI chibukaM rakShEdvAchaM mE sarvamaN^galA |

grIvAyAM bhadrakAlI cha pRRiShThavaMsho dhanurdharI || 28 ||

May kAmAkShI protect my chin, sarvamaN^galA my voice,

bhadrakAlI the back of my neck, and dhanurdharI my spine.

dEvIkavacham 27

दन्तान् रक्षतु कौमारी कण्ठदॆशॆ तु चण्डिका | 
घण्टिकां चित्रघण्टा च महामाया च तालुकॆ || 27 ||

dantAn rakShatu kaumArI kaNThadEshE tu chaNDikA |

ghaNTikAM chitraghaNTA cha mahAmAyA cha tAlukE || 27 ||

May kaumArI protect my teeth, and chaNDikA my throat.

May chitraghaNTA protect my uvula, and mahAmAyA abide in my palate.

dEvIkavacham 26

नासिकायां सुगन्धा च उत्तरोष्ठॆ च चर्चिका | 

अधरॆ चामृताबाला जिह्वायां च सरस्वती || 26 ||

nAsikAyAM sugandhA cha uttaroShThE cha charchikA |

adharE chAmRRitAbAlA jihvAyAM cha sarasvatI || 26 ||

And may sugandhA protect my nostrils, and may charchikA abide on my upper lip,

amRRitAbAlA on my lower lip, and may sarasvatI protect my tongue.

dEvIkavacham 25

शङ्खिनी चक्षुषोर्मध्यॆ श्रोत्रयोर्द्वारवासिनी | 
कपोलौ कालिका रक्षॆत् कर्णमूलॆ तु शङ्करी || 25 ||

shaN^khinI chakShuShormadhyE shrotrayordvAravAsinI |

kapolau kAlikA rakShEt karNamUlE tu shaN^karI || 25 ||

May shaN^khinI abide between my eyes, and on my ears dvAravAsinI.

May kAlikA protect my cheeks, and shaN^karI my inner ears.

dEvIkavacham 24

nEtrayoshchitranEtrA cha yamaghaNTA tu pArshvakE |

trinEtrA cha trishUlEna bhruvormadhyE cha chaNDikA || 24 ||

nEtrayoshchitranEtrA cha yamaghaNTA tu pArshvakE |

trinEtrA cha trishUlEna bhruvormadhyE cha chaNDikA || 24 ||

May chitranEtrA abide in my eyes, and yamaghaNTA in my nose;

and trinEtrA with her trident, and chaNDikA between my eyebrows.

dEvIkavacham 23

शिखां मॆ द्योतिनी रक्षॆदुमा मूर्ध्नि व्यवस्थिता | 
मालाधरी ललाटॆ च भ्रुवौ रक्षॆद्यशस्विनी || 23 ||

shikhAM mE dyotinI rakShEdumA mUrdhni vyavasthitA |

mAlAdharI lalATE cha bhruvau rakShEdyashasvinI || 23 ||

May dyotinI protect my topknot, and umA live atop my head,

and mAlAdharI on my forehead. May yashasvinI protect my eyebrows.

dEvIkavacham 22

जया मामग्रतः पातु विजया पातु पृष्ठतः | 
अजिता वामपार्श्वॆ तु दक्षिणॆ चापराजिता || 22 ||

jayA mAmagrataH pAtu vijayA pAtu pRRiShThataH |

ajitA vAmapArshvE tu dakShiNE chAparAjitA || 22 ||

May jayA protect me in front, and vijayA behind;

ajitA on my left side, and aparAjitA on my right.

dEvIkavacham 21

ऊर्ध्वं ब्रह्माणी मॆ रक्षॆदधस्ताद्वैष्णवी तथा | 

एवं दश दिशो रक्षॆच्चामुण्डा शववाहना || 21 ||

UrdhvaM brahmANI mE rakShEdadhastAdvaiShNavI tathA |

evaM dasha disho rakShEchchAmuNDA shavavAhanA || 21 ||

May brahmANI protect me above, and also vaiShNavI below.

Thus, may chAmuNDA guard the ten directions, riding on a corpse.

dEvIkavacham 20

प्रतीच्यां वारूणी रक्षॆद्वायव्यां मृगवाहिनी | 
उदीच्यां पातु कौबॆरी ईशान्यां शूलधारिणी || 20

pratIchyAM vArUNI rakShEdvAyavyAM mRRigavAhinI |

udIchyAM pAtu kaubErI IshAnyAM shUladhAriNI || 20

May vArUNI protect (me) in the west, and in the northwest mRRigavAhinI;

may kaubErI protect (me) in the north, and shUladhAriNI in the northeast.

dEvIkavacham 19

प्राच्यां रक्षतु मामैन्द्री आग्नॆय्यामग्निदॆवता | 
दक्षिणॆऽवतु  वाराही नैर् ऋत्यां खड्गधारिणी || 19 ||

[Note: Those of you who have the original Devanagari can see that there is one place where my Devanagari orthography is not quite right. It was the best I could do, using Itrans and Parivartan for Chrome. Although it looks strange, it approximates the correct sound. If anyone is able to figure it out better, please let me know. Thanks.]

prAchyAM rakShatu mAmaindrI AgnEyyAmagnidEvatA |

dakShiNE.avatu  vArAhI nair RRityAM khaDgadhAriNI || 19 ||

May aindrI protect me in the east, and agnidEvatA in the southeast;

may vArAhI defend me in the south, and khaDgadhAriNI in the southwest.

Queen of the Universe

Thank you,
Queen of the Universe,
for my nakedness,
which is full of
pleasure and beauty.
Thank you,
Mother of All,
for animating me
with the gift
of life,
and sharing
the gift of
consciousness.
Thank you for sun
and wind and
rain on my skin.
Thank you for darkness and light,
for my first breath
and my last,
and for all the breaths
in between.
Thank you for
the joy of love,
and even for
the sorrow of loss,
which makes us
appreciate what
we had and
what we have,
Thank you for being
Mother to us all
in this
magnificent
Universe.

dEvIkavacham 18

महाबलॆ महोत्साहॆ महाभयविनाशिनि | 
त्राहि मां दॆवि दुष्प्रॆक्ष्यॆ शत्रूणां भयवर्धिनि || 18 ||

mahAbalE mahotsAhE mahAbhayavinAshini |

trAhi mAM dEvi duShprEkShyE shatrUNAM bhayavardhini || 18 ||

O you of great strength and great energy, great destroyer of fear,

protect me, O Devi, who are hard for our enemies to look at, because you increase their fear.