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Budha Kavacham Meaning — Line by Line

बुध कवचम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Budha Kavacham with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |
  2. Verse 2. budhastu pustakadharaḥ kuṅkumasya samadyutiḥ |
  3. Verse 3. kaṭiṃ ca pātu me saumyaḥ śirodeśaṃ budhastathā |
  4. Verse 4. ghrāṇaṃ gandhapriyaḥ pātu jihvāṃ vidyāprado mama |
  5. Verse 5. vakṣaḥ pātu varāṅgaśca hṛdayaṃ rohiṇīsutaḥ |
  6. Verse 6. jānunī rauhiṇeyaśca pātu jaṅghe'khilapradaḥ |
  7. Verse 7. etaddhi kavacaṃ divyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam |
  8. Verse 8. āyurārogyaśubhadaṃ putrapautrapravardhanam |
  9. Verse 9. || iti śrībrahmavaivartapurāṇe budhakavacaṃ sampūrṇam ||
Verse 1#

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |

श्रीगणेशाय नमः अस्य श्रीबुधकवचस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य कश्यप ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, बुधो देवता, बुधप्रीत्यर्थं जपे विनियोगः

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ | asya śrībudhakavacastotramantrasya kaśyapa ṛṣiḥ, anuṣṭup chandaḥ, budho devatā, budhaprītyarthaṃ jape viniyogaḥ ||

MeaningSalutations to Sri Ganesha. For this Budha Kavacha hymn, the sage is Kashyapa, the metre is Anushtup, the deity is Budha (Mercury); it is recited to please Budha.

Verse 2#

budhastu pustakadharaḥ kuṅkumasya samadyutiḥ |

बुधस्तु पुस्तकधरः कुङ्कुमस्य समद्युतिः पीताम्बरधरः पातु पीतमाल्यानुलेपनः १॥

budhastu pustakadharaḥ kuṅkumasya samadyutiḥ | pītāmbaradharaḥ pātu pītamālyānulepanaḥ || 1||

MeaningMay Budha, the bearer of a book, lustrous as saffron, clad in yellow garments, adorned with yellow garlands and yellow paste, protect me.

Verse 3#

kaṭiṃ ca pātu me saumyaḥ śirodeśaṃ budhastathā |

कटिं पातु मे सौम्यः शिरोदेशं बुधस्तथा नेत्रे ज्ञानमयः पातु श्रोत्रे पातु निशाप्रियः २॥

kaṭiṃ ca pātu me saumyaḥ śirodeśaṃ budhastathā | netre jñānamayaḥ pātu śrotre pātu niśāpriyaḥ || 2||

MeaningMay the gentle Saumya guard my waist and the head-region; may the one made of knowledge guard my eyes, and the lover of the night guard my ears.

Verse 4#

ghrāṇaṃ gandhapriyaḥ pātu jihvāṃ vidyāprado mama |

घ्राणं गन्धप्रियः पातु जिह्वां विद्याप्रदो मम कण्ठं पातु विधोः पुत्रो भुजौ पुस्तकभूषणः ३॥

ghrāṇaṃ gandhapriyaḥ pātu jihvāṃ vidyāprado mama | kaṇṭhaṃ pātu vidhoḥ putro bhujau pustakabhūṣaṇaḥ || 3||

MeaningMay the fragrance-loving one guard my nose, and the bestower of learning guard my tongue; may the son of the Moon guard my throat, and the book-adorned one my arms.

Verse 5#

vakṣaḥ pātu varāṅgaśca hṛdayaṃ rohiṇīsutaḥ |

वक्षः पातु वराङ्गश्च हृदयं रोहिणीसुतः नाभिं पातु सुराराध्यो मध्यं पातु खगेश्वरः ४॥

vakṣaḥ pātu varāṅgaśca hṛdayaṃ rohiṇīsutaḥ | nābhiṃ pātu surārādhyo madhyaṃ pātu khageśvaraḥ || 4||

MeaningMay the fair-bodied one guard my chest, and the son of Rohini my heart; may the one worshipped by the gods guard my navel, and the lord of the sky-movers my middle.

Verse 6#

jānunī rauhiṇeyaśca pātu jaṅghe'khilapradaḥ |

जानुनी रौहिणेयश्च पातु जङ्घेऽखिलप्रदः पादौ मे बोधनः पातु पातु सौम्योऽखिलं वपुः ५॥

jānunī rauhiṇeyaśca pātu jaṅghe'khilapradaḥ | pādau me bodhanaḥ pātu pātu saumyo'khilaṃ vapuḥ || 5||

MeaningMay the son of Rohini guard my knees, and the giver of all things my shins; may Bodhana guard my feet, and may the gentle Saumya guard my whole body.

Verse 7#

etaddhi kavacaṃ divyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam |

एतद्धि कवचं दिव्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् सर्वरोगप्रशमनं सर्वदुःखनिवारणम् ६॥

etaddhi kavacaṃ divyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam | sarvarogapraśamanaṃ sarvaduḥkhanivāraṇam || 6||

MeaningThis divine armour destroys all sins, pacifies all diseases, and removes all sorrows.

Verse 8#

āyurārogyaśubhadaṃ putrapautrapravardhanam |

आयुरारोग्यशुभदं पुत्रपौत्रप्रवर्धनम् यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत् ७॥

āyurārogyaśubhadaṃ putrapautrapravardhanam | yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi sarvatra vijayī bhavet || 7||

MeaningIt bestows long life, health and auspiciousness, and increases sons and grandsons; whoever recites or even hears it becomes victorious everywhere.

Verse 9#

|| iti śrībrahmavaivartapurāṇe budhakavacaṃ sampūrṇam ||

इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्तपुराणे बुधकवचं सम्पूर्णम्

|| iti śrībrahmavaivartapurāṇe budhakavacaṃ sampūrṇam ||

MeaningThus ends the Budha Kavacham in the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

बुधः
budhaḥ
Budha — the planet Mercury, lord of intellect (buddhi)
पुस्तकधरः
pustakadharaḥ
Bearer of a book (symbol of learning and scriptures)
कुङ्कुमस्य समद्युतिः
kuṅkumasya samadyutiḥ
Of a lustre like saffron / kunkuma
पीताम्बरधरः
pītāmbaradharaḥ
Clad in yellow / golden garments
पीतमाल्यानुलेपनः
pītamālyānulepanaḥ
Adorned with yellow garlands and yellow anointing paste
पातु
pātu
May he protect / guard
सौम्यः
saumyaḥ
Saumya — 'the gentle/benign one', a name of Mercury (son of Soma/Moon)
ज्ञानमयः
jñānamayaḥ
Made of knowledge — guarding the eyes
निशाप्रियः
niśāpriyaḥ
Dear to the night — guarding the ears
विद्याप्रदः
vidyāpradaḥ
Bestower of learning / knowledge — guarding the tongue
विधोः पुत्रः
vidhoḥ putraḥ
Son of the Moon (Vidhu / Chandra) — guarding the throat
रोहिणीसुतः
rohiṇīsutaḥ
Son of Rohini — guarding the heart
सुराराध्यः
surārādhyaḥ
Worshipped by the gods — guarding the navel
खगेश्वरः
khageśvaraḥ
Lord among the celestial bodies (sky-movers) — guarding the middle
रौहिणेयः
rauhiṇeyaḥ
The son of Rohini — guarding the knees
अखिलप्रदः
akhilapradaḥ
Giver of everything — guarding the shins
बोधनः
bodhanaḥ
Bodhana — 'the awakener / illuminator', a name of Mercury, guarding the feet
सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
sarvapāpapraṇāśanam
Destroyer of all sins
सर्वरोगप्रशमनम्
sarvarogapraśamanam
Pacifier of all diseases
आयुरारोग्यशुभदम्
āyurārogyaśubhadam
Bestowing long life, health and auspiciousness
सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत्
sarvatra vijayī bhavet
He becomes victorious everywhere

Origin & History

Source: Brahma-Vaivarta Purana (Budha Kavacham)

Author: Sage Kashyapa (rishi of the mantra)

Period: Puranic

The Budha Kavacham is preserved in the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana, with the sage Kashyapa named as its rishi and Anushtup as its metre. It belongs to the family of planetary (Navagraha) armour-hymns recited for graha-shanti, the pacification of the nine planets. Budha (Mercury) is, in Puranic lore, the son of Chandra (the Moon) and Tara and the lord of intellect, speech and learning; depicted bearing a book and robed in yellow, he is invoked through this kavacha to shield the devotee limb by limb and to bless him with wisdom, health and success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Budha Kavacham?
The Budha Kavacham is a protective hymn to the planet Mercury (Budha), found in the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana. A 'kavacha' is a spiritual armour: each verse asks Budha to guard a specific part of the body, surrounding the devotee with Mercury's benign, intelligent energy.
What does chanting the Budha Kavacham give?
Because Mercury governs intellect, speech, learning and commerce, it is chanted for sharp memory, wisdom, eloquence and success in study, business and examinations. Its own phalashruti also promises freedom from sin and disease, long life, health, progeny and victory in all undertakings.
When should the Budha Kavacham be recited?
On Wednesdays (Budhavara), the weekday ruled by Mercury, and during any Navagraha puja, ideally with green or yellow flowers, green moong and a lamp. For a remedy it may be recited daily through the period of an adverse Mercury dasha or transit.
Who is Budha and why is he called the son of the Moon?
Budha is the planetary deity of Mercury, born of Chandra (the Moon) and Tara, and nursed by Rohini — hence the names Saumya ('son of Soma'), Rohineya and Rauhineya. He is depicted bearing a book and clad in yellow, the gentle (saumya) lord of intelligence and learning.

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