शुक्र कवचम् — Word-by-Word Meaning
शुक्र कवचम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
मृणालकुन्देन्दुपयोजसुप्रभम्
mṛṇāla-kunda-indu-payoja-suprabham
Radiant like the lotus-stalk fibre, jasmine, the moon and the lotus (a fair, white lustre)
पीताम्बरम्
pītāmbaram
Clad in yellow garments
अक्षमालिनम्
akṣamālinam
Holding a rosary (aksha-mala)
समस्तशास्त्रार्थविधिम्
samasta-śāstrārtha-vidhim
Knower of the meaning and method of all scriptures
ध्यायेत्कविम्
dhyāyet kavim
One should meditate on Kavi (the 'seer-poet', Shukracharya)
भार्गवः
bhārgavaḥ
Bhargava — descendant of Bhrigu, a name of Shukra; guarding the head
ग्रहाधिपः
grahādhipaḥ
Lord among the planets; guarding the forehead
दैत्यगुरुः
daityaguruḥ
Preceptor (guru) of the Daityas/Asuras; guarding the eyes
चन्दनद्युतिः
candanadyutiḥ
Of a lustre like sandalwood; guarding the ears
काव्यः
kāvyaḥ
Kavya — son of Kavi, a name of Shukra; guarding the nose
उशनाः
uśanāḥ
Ushanas — the Vedic name of Shukracharya; guarding speech
श्रीकण्ठभक्तिमान्
śrīkaṇṭhabhaktimān
Devoted to Shrikantha (Shiva); guarding the throat
तेजोनिधिः
tejonidhiḥ
Treasury of brilliance; guarding the arms
भृगुसुतः
bhṛgusutaḥ
Son of Bhrigu; guarding the navel
महीप्रियः
mahīpriyaḥ
Beloved of the earth; guarding the middle
विश्वात्मा
viśvātmā
Soul of the universe; guarding the waist
सुरपूजितः
surapūjitaḥ
Worshipped by the gods; guarding the thighs
जाड्यहरः
jāḍyaharaḥ
Remover of dullness/inertia; guarding the knees
ज्ञानवतां वरः
jñānavatāṃ varaḥ
Foremost among the wise; guarding the shins
स्वर्णमालापरिष्कृतः
svarṇamālāpariṣkṛtaḥ
Adorned with a golden garland; guarding all the limbs
न तस्य जायते पीडा भार्गवस्य प्रसादतः
na tasya jāyate pīḍā bhārgavasya prasādataḥ
No affliction arises for him, by the grace of Bhargava (Shukra)
Complete Translation
श्रीगणेश को नमस्कार। इस शुक्र कवच स्तोत्र मन्त्र के ऋषि भारद्वाज हैं, छन्द अनुष्टुप् है, देवता श्री शुक्र हैं; शुक्र की प्रसन्नता के लिए इसका जप किया जाता है।
मनोवांछित अर्थ की सिद्धि के लिए कवि (शुक्र) का ध्यान करना चाहिए — जो मृणाल, कुन्द, चन्द्र एवं कमल के समान सुप्रभ हैं, पीताम्बरधारी हैं, हाथ में अक्षमाला धारण किए हैं, और समस्त शास्त्रों के अर्थ एवं विधि के ज्ञाता महान् हैं।
ॐ। भार्गव मेरे शिर की रक्षा करें, ग्रहाधिप मेरे भाल की; दैत्यगुरु मेरे नेत्रों की रक्षा करें, चन्दनद्युति मेरे कानों की।
काव्य मेरी नासिका की रक्षा करें, दैत्यवन्दित मेरे मुख की; उशनस् मेरी वाणी की रक्षा करें, श्रीकण्ठभक्तिमान् मेरे कण्ठ की।
तेजोनिधि मेरी भुजाओं की रक्षा करें, मनोव्रज मेरी कुक्षि की; भृगुसुत मेरी नाभि की रक्षा करें, महीप्रिय मेरे मध्यभाग की।
विश्वात्मा मेरी कटि की रक्षा करें, सुरपूजित मेरी ऊरुओं की; जाड्यहर मेरे जानुओं की रक्षा करें, ज्ञानवानों में श्रेष्ठ मेरी जङ्घाओं की।
गुणनिधि मेरे गुल्फों की रक्षा करें, वराम्बर मेरे पादों की; स्वर्णमाला से सुशोभित मेरे समस्त अङ्गों की रक्षा करें।
जो इस दिव्य कवच को श्रद्धापूर्वक पढ़ता है — भार्गव (शुक्र) की कृपा से उसे कोई पीड़ा नहीं होती।
इस प्रकार ब्रह्माण्डपुराण में शुक्र कवच सम्पूर्ण हुआ।
Origin & History
Source: Brahmanda Purana (Shukra Kavacham)
Author: Sage Bharadvaja (rishi of the mantra)
Period: Puranic
The Shukra Kavacham is preserved in the Brahmanda Purana, with the sage Bharadvaja 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. Shukra (Venus) is the brilliant son of the sage Bhrigu and the preceptor of the Asuras, master of the Mritasanjivani vidya and lord of love, beauty, art and wealth; this kavacha invokes him by his many names to shield the devotee limb by limb and to bless him with the comforts, harmony and prosperity that Venus governs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shukra Kavacham?▼
The Shukra Kavacham is a protective hymn to the planet Venus (Shukra), found in the Brahmanda Purana. A 'kavacha' is a spiritual armour: each verse asks Shukra — under names such as Bhargava, Kavya and Ushanas — to guard a specific part of the body, surrounding the devotee with Venus's auspicious energy.
What does chanting the Shukra Kavacham give?▼
Because Venus governs love, marriage, beauty, art and wealth, it is chanted for marital happiness, attraction, artistic and creative talent, comforts and prosperity. Its own phalashruti also promises that the faithful reciter suffers no affliction, by the grace of Bhargava (Shukra).
When should the Shukra Kavacham be recited?▼
On Fridays (Shukravara), the weekday ruled by Venus, and during any Navagraha puja, ideally with white or fragrant flowers, white sandal and a lamp. For a remedy it may be recited daily through the period of an adverse Venus dasha or transit, or for delays in marriage.
Who is Shukra?▼
Shukra is the planetary deity of Venus and the guru of the Asuras (Daityas), the wise son of the sage Bhrigu — hence Bhargava, Kavya, Kavi and Ushanas. He is famed as the master of all scriptures and the holder of the Mritasanjivani (the science of reviving the dead), and presides over love, beauty, art and wealth.
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