22 - The Stotra and kavacha of Lakhmi 

Narada said - О great tapas, what type of stotra and kavacha was given by Vishnu, the lord of Lakshmi to Indra, you kindly tell me? 

Narayana said- Indra was performing tapas for the lord at the Pushkara-kshetra. Finding him in a miserable condition the lord appeared before him. Lord HRushikesha said to him, "You ask for a desired boon". He desired for Lakshmi and the same was provided to him. After so giving him the lord Rushikesha asked him a question which was quite beneficial, truthful, essence of all and was to result in pleasure. 

Madhusudana said- О Indra, you receive this kavacha which removes all the miseries, bestows all the fortunes and destroys all the enemies. 

I imparted the knowledge of the same for the first time to Brahma at the time of deluge, by holding with Brahma, was bestowed with all the riches and became the best of all.

All the Manus were adored with all the fortunes, this kavacha which bestows all these fortunes has Brahma as Rushi, Pankti as the metre, Kamala as the god and one has to take a resolve for achieving siddhi, fortune and pleasure. A person who holds this kavacha gets success everywhere. Padma should protect my head, Haripriya should protect my neck, Lakshmi should protect my nose, Kamala should protect both my eyes, Kesavakanta should protect my skull, the lord of the universe should protect my temples, Sampatprada should protect my shoulders, this mantra should protect my back., this mantra should protect my chest and kamkala should protect both my arms. I bow in reverence to you. 

this mantra should protect my feet. this mantra should protect my pelvic region, this mantra should protect all my limbs, this mantra should protect me from all sides. 

О son, I have thus narrated to you the entire kavacha which bestows all the fortunes and wealth. 

The one who holds this kavacha on the right arm adoring his teacher, is always successful everywhere. The goddess of riches and fortunes never leaves his home and follows him like a shadow in all his births but the foolish without being fully aware of the kavacha cannot meet with success even after reciting the same for a lakh of times. 

Narayana said - О sage, after giving this mantra and kavacha to Indra, the lord also gave him the sixteen letter mantra which protects the interest of the entire universe. With this mantra, he enlighted him on the dhydnam which is quite secret, difficult to get, beyond the riches of siddhas and sages and bestowed always the success. 

I adored the goddess who has the complexion of the white jasmine flower, the lustre of the moon, clad in garments sanctified by fire, adorned with gem-studded ornaments, wearing a serene smile on her face, the one who is graceful to all his devotees, seated on a thousand petalled lotus having sound health, is charming, peaceful, beloved of lord Hari and is the mother of the universe. 

О Devendra, with this dhyanam the pleasant Lakshmi should be adored with devotion making offering of sixteen types and then worshipped. О Indra, by reciting of this stotra and the stuti you will get a boon and pleasure thereafter. О Devendra, I am telling you the stotra of Mahalakshmi which bestows welfare, is quite secretive and is difficult to get. You please listen to it. 

Narayana said - О goddess I intend to offer prayers to you though even the lord is unable to eulogise you, you are mysterious, the smallest of all, the form of lustre, everlasting and extremely inexplicable. Who can define you? 

But О mother of the universe, you move at will, are formless but take to human from for the welfare of the devotees. You are beyond mind and speech, therefore, what type of prayer can I offer to you? You are beyond all the Vedas, you are the only cause of crossing the ocean of the universe, you are the goddess of all the riches and agricultural produce and the mother of the yogis, yoga and knowledge, people well-versed in the knowledge of the Vedas. How can I destroy you? 

Without whom the entire universe becomes lifeless and without grace even an infant cannot get any pleasure without the mother. 

You are the mother of the universe, be pleased with me. You protect the helpless people like me; we take refuge under your lotus-like feet. 

I bow in reverence again and again to the mother of the universe who happens" to be foremost shakti; you bestow knowledge, wisdom and everything else. I bow in reverence to you. 

You bestow the worship of the lord and salvation; I bow in reverence to you. You are all knowledgeable and are Mahalakshmi who bestows everything. I bow in reverence to you again and again.

There can be an evil son but an evil mother is unheard of. Can the mother depart leaving aside a sinful son? 

Therefore, О mother, like an infant you appear before me. О ocean of mercy, you always show your grace on the devotees. Be graceful towards us. 

О son, thus I have imparted you the knowledge of the pleasant stotra of Padma which bestows pleasure, salvation and the essence of everything, is quite full of welfare. It grants welfare and riches. 

The one who recites the stotra at the time of adoration, the goddess Mahalakshmi does not depart from that place. 

Thus speaking, the lord disappeared from the scene and with his permission Indra and other gods proceeded to the ocean of milk.