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Dattatreya Vajra Kavacham Meaning — Line by Line

श्रीदत्तात्रेय वज्रकवचम्

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Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. Om Dattaatreya Shirah paatu Sahasraabjeshu samsthitah.
  2. Verse 2. Koorcham mano-mayah paatu Ham Ksham dvi-dala-padma-bhooh.
  3. Verse 3. Naasikaam paatu gandhaatmaa mukham paatu rasaatmakah.
  4. Verse 4. Kapolaav-Atri-bhooh paatu paatv-ashesham mam-aatma-vit.
  5. Verse 5. Rakshaa-heenam tu yat-sthaanam varjitam kavachena tu.
  6. Verse 6. Indraadi-dikshu maam paatu Shankha-chakra-gadaa-dharah.
  7. Verse 7. Idam tu kavacham divyam vajra-kalpam mahaadbhutam.
Verse 1#

Om Dattaatreya Shirah paatu Sahasraabjeshu samsthitah.

ॐ दत्तात्रेय शिरः पातु सहस्राब्जेषु संस्थितः। भालं पात्वानसूयेयश्चन्द्रमण्डलमध्यगः॥

Om Dattaatreya Shirah paatu Sahasraabjeshu samsthitah. Bhaalam paatv-Anasuyeyash-Chandra-mandala-madhya-gah.

MeaningOm. May Lord Dattatreya, who abides in the thousand-petalled lotus, protect my head; may the son of Anasuya, who dwells in the centre of the lunar orb, protect my forehead.

Verse 2#

Koorcham mano-mayah paatu Ham Ksham dvi-dala-padma-bhooh.

कूर्चं मनोमयः पातु हं क्षं द्विदलपद्मभूः। ज्योतीरूपोऽक्षिणी पातु पातु शब्दात्मकः श्रुती॥

Koorcham mano-mayah paatu Ham Ksham dvi-dala-padma-bhooh. Jyoti-roopo'kshinee paatu paatu shabdaatmakah shrutee.

MeaningMay he, the very mind, who arises in the two-petalled lotus (with the seeds Ham and Ksham), protect the space between the brows; may he, of the form of light, protect my eyes, and may he who is the essence of sound protect my ears.

Verse 3#

Naasikaam paatu gandhaatmaa mukham paatu rasaatmakah.

नासिकां पातु गन्धात्मा मुखं पातु रसात्मकः। जिह्वां वेदात्मकः पातु दन्तोष्ठौ पातु धार्मिकः॥

Naasikaam paatu gandhaatmaa mukham paatu rasaatmakah. Jihvaam vedaatmakah paatu dantoshthau paatu dhaarmikah.

MeaningMay he who is the essence of smell protect my nose; may he who is the essence of taste protect my mouth; may he who is the essence of the Vedas protect my tongue; and may the righteous one protect my teeth and lips.

Verse 4#

Kapolaav-Atri-bhooh paatu paatv-ashesham mam-aatma-vit.

कपोलावत्रिभूः पातु पात्वशेषं ममात्मवित्। सर्वाङ्गं पातु सर्वेशः सर्वगः सर्वतोमुखः॥

Kapolaav-Atri-bhooh paatu paatv-ashesham mam-aatma-vit. Sarvaangam paatu Sarveshah Sarva-gah sarvato-mukhah.

MeaningMay the son of Atri protect my cheeks, and may the knower of my Self protect all the rest; may the Lord of all, all-pervading and facing every direction, protect my entire body.

Verse 5#

Rakshaa-heenam tu yat-sthaanam varjitam kavachena tu.

रक्षाहीनं तु यत्स्थानं वर्जितं कवचेन तु। तत्सर्वं मे सदा पातु दत्तात्रेयो दिगम्बरः॥

Rakshaa-heenam tu yat-sthaanam varjitam kavachena tu. Tat-sarvam me sadaa paatu Dattaatreyo Digambarah.

MeaningWhatever part has been left without protection and omitted by this armour — may all of that be ever guarded for me by the sky-clad Lord Dattatreya.

Verse 6#

Indraadi-dikshu maam paatu Shankha-chakra-gadaa-dharah.

इन्द्रादिदिक्षु मां पातु शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः। वज्रिणं वारुणीशं च पातु पाशधरो हरिः॥

Indraadi-dikshu maam paatu Shankha-chakra-gadaa-dharah. Vajrinam Vaaruneesham cha paatu paasha-dharo Harih.

MeaningMay the bearer of the conch, discus and mace protect me in the quarters of Indra and the other guardians; may Hari, holding the noose, protect me where the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra) and the lord of the waters (Varuna) reside.

Verse 7#

Idam tu kavacham divyam vajra-kalpam mahaadbhutam.

इदं तु कवचं दिव्यं वज्रकल्पं महाद्भुतम्। दत्तात्रेयस्य योगीन्द्र नारदाय पुरा जगौ॥

Idam tu kavacham divyam vajra-kalpam mahaadbhutam. Dattaatreyasya yogeendra Naaradaaya puraa jagau.

MeaningThis is the divine armour, mighty and wondrous, hard as the thunderbolt — the Vajra Kavacha of Lord Dattatreya, lord of yogis — which was sung of old to the sage Narada.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

ॐ दत्तात्रेय शिरः पातु
Om Dattaatreya Shirah paatu
May Lord Dattatreya protect my head
सहस्राब्जेषु संस्थितः
Sahasraabjeshu samsthitah
He who abides in the thousand-petalled lotus (sahasrara)
भालं पातु
Bhaalam paatu
May he protect my forehead
अनसूयेयः
Anasuyeyah
The son of Anasuya (Dattatreya)
चन्द्रमण्डलमध्यगः
Chandra-mandala-madhya-gah
Who dwells in the centre of the lunar orb (the ajna region)
ज्योतीरूपः अक्षिणी पातु
Jyoti-roopah akshinee paatu
May he, of the form of light, protect my two eyes
शब्दात्मकः श्रुती पातु
Shabdaatmakah shrutee paatu
May he who is the essence of sound protect my two ears
नासिकां पातु गन्धात्मा
Naasikaam paatu gandhaatmaa
May he who is the essence of smell protect my nose
मुखं पातु रसात्मकः
Mukham paatu rasaatmakah
May he who is the essence of taste protect my mouth
जिह्वां वेदात्मकः पातु
Jihvaam vedaatmakah paatu
May he who is the essence of the Vedas protect my tongue
दन्तोष्ठौ पातु धार्मिकः
Dantoshthau paatu dhaarmikah
May the righteous one protect my teeth and lips
कपोलौ अत्रिभूः पातु
Kapolau Atri-bhooh paatu
May the son of Atri protect my cheeks
सर्वाङ्गं पातु सर्वेशः
Sarvaangam paatu Sarveshah
May the Lord of all protect my entire body
सर्वगः सर्वतोमुखः
Sarva-gah sarvato-mukhah
The all-pervading one, who faces in every direction
रक्षाहीनं तु यत्स्थानम्
Rakshaa-heenam tu yat-sthaanam
Whatever part has been left unprotected
वर्जितं कवचेन तु
Varjitam kavachena tu
And omitted by this armour
तत्सर्वं मे सदा पातु
Tat-sarvam me sadaa paatu
May all of that be ever protected for me
दत्तात्रेयो दिगम्बरः
Dattaatreyo Digambarah
By the sky-clad Lord Dattatreya
शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः
Shankha-chakra-gadaa-dharah
The bearer of the conch, discus and mace
कवचं दिव्यं वज्रकल्पम्
Kavacham divyam vajra-kalpam
This divine armour, hard and irresistible as the thunderbolt (vajra)
नारदाय पुरा जगौ
Naaradaaya puraa jagau
Was sung of old (by the sage) to Narada

Origin & History

Source: Datta-sampradaya and Tantric tradition (associated with the Rudrayamala); traditionally revealed to the sage Narada

Author: Traditional (revealed of old to the sage Narada within the Datta tradition)

Period: Ancient (Puranic / Agamic)

The Vajra Kavacham belongs to the rich protective literature of the Datta-sampradaya, in which Lord Dattatreya — the avadhuta union of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva — is invoked as an invincible shield. Cast in the classic form of an anga-rakshana (limb-by-limb protection), it summons the Lord, who pervades the sahasrara, the senses and all the directions, to guard the devotee completely. The tradition holds that this 'thunderbolt armour' was first sung to the celestial sage Narada and has since been recited by Datta devotees for protection from every kind of danger and disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Dattatreya Vajra Kavacham?▼
It is a protective hymn ('kavacha' means armour) addressed to Lord Dattatreya, in which his protection is invoked over every limb, sense and direction. 'Vajra' means thunderbolt, signifying that this armour is unbreakable. It is one of the most revered protective stotras of the Datta tradition.
What does this Kavacha protect?▼
Verse by verse it asks Datta to guard the head, forehead, brow, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, teeth, cheeks and the whole body, and then the eight directions — and finally any part left unmentioned. In this way it forms a complete, all-round shield of the Lord's presence.
Who revealed the Dattatreya Vajra Kavacham?▼
By tradition this 'thunderbolt armour' of Lord Dattatreya was sung of old to the divine sage Narada, and is preserved within the Datta-sampradaya and the Tantric (Rudrayamala) tradition. It has been cherished and transmitted by Datta devotees ever since.
When should it be chanted?▼
It is most auspicious on Thursdays, the day of the Guru, and on Datta Jayanti. Many recite it every morning to protect the day ahead, and also before journeys or during times of fear and danger.

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