SRI DURGA SAPTASATI 

(DEVI MAHATMYAM)

 

HYMN TO THE DIVINE MOTHER

 

 

Sarva mangalamangalye

sive sarvārthā sādhike

sharanye tryambake gouri

Nārāyani namostute

 

I bow to Thee Gouri Narayani,

Who art the cause of the welfare of the world.

Who art good, who grants every wish, in whom one takes refuge,

Who art three-eyed.

 

Chapter 1,  Verses 72-87

 

Brahmā uvaca:

 

Brahma said:

 

tvam svāhā tvam svadhā tvam hi

vasat-kārah svara-ātmikā

sudhā tvam akasare nitye

trithāmātra-ātmikā sthitā

 

You are svaha and svadha. 

You are verily the vasat-karah (vedic sacrifice) and embodiment of svara

You are the nectar of immortality, oh eternal and imperishable One

You are the embodiment of the threefold matra, the Om sound.

 

ardha-mātrā sthitā nityā

an-uccaryāa-visesatah,

tvam eva sā tvam sāvitri

tvam devi-janani parā.

 

You are half a matra, though eternal

You are verily that which cannot be uttered specifically.

You are the Savitra hymn and

The supreme Mother of the devas

 

tvayāetad dhāryate viswam

tvayāetat srjyate jagat,

tvayāetat pālyate devi

tvam atsy ante ca sarvadā.

 

By you this universe is born,

By you this universe is created,

By you it is protected oh Devi

And you always consume it at the end

 

visrstau srsti-rūpā tvam

sthiti-rūpā ca pālane,

tathā samhrti-rūpāante

jagato ‘sya jagan-maye.

 

Oh you who are of the form of the whole world, at the time of creation

You are the form of the creative force, at the time of the sustentation

You are the form of the protective power, and at the time of dissolution of the world, You are the form of the destructive power.

 

mahā-vidyā mahā-māyā

mahā-medhā mahā-smrtih,

mahā-mohā ca bhavati

mahā-devi mahā-asuri.

 

You are the supreme knowledge as well as the great nescience,

The great intellect and contemplation,

As also the great delusion,

The great goddess as also the great demon

 

prakritis tvam ca sarvasya

gunatraya-vibhāvini

kāla-rātrir mahā rātrir

mohā-rātris ca dārunā.

 

You are the primordial cause of everything

Bringing into force the three qualities (sattva, rajas and tamas)

You are the dark might of periodic dissolution

You are the great night of final dissolution and the terrible night of delusion

 

tvam sris tvam isvaris tvam hris

tvam buddhir bodha-laksanā,

lajjā pustis tathā tustih

tvam sāntih khsāntir eva ca.

 

You are the goddess of good fortune, the ruler,

Modesty, intelligence characterized by knowledge,

Bashfulness, nourishment, contentment,

Tranquility and forbearance

 

Khadgini sūlini ghorā

gadini cakrini tathā,

sankhini cāpini bāna

bhusundi parighaāyudhā.

 

Armed with sword, spear, club

Discus, conch, bow, arrows,

Slings and mace

You are terrible

 

saumyā saumya tarāasesa,

saumyebhyas tv ati-sundari,

paraaparānām paramā

tvam eva parama-ishvari.

 

And at the same time pleasing,

You are more pleasing than all the pleasing things and exceedingly beautiful

You are indeed the Supreme Ishvari, beyond high and low.

 

yac ca kin-cit kva-cid vastu

sad a-sad vāakhila-ātmike,

tasya sarvasya yā saktih

sā tvam kim stūyase mayā.

 

And whatever or wherever a thing exists, real or unreal,

Whatever power all that possesses in Yourself

Oh you who are the soul of everything

How can I extol You more than this?

 

yayā tvayā jagat-srastā

jagat-pātāatti yo jagat,

so’pi nidrā-vasam nitah

kas tvām stotum iha isvarah.

 

By You, even He who creates,

sustains and devours the world is put to sleep

Who is here capable of extolling You?

 

Visnu sarira-grahanam

aham isāna eva ca,

kāritās te yato ‘tas tvām

kah stotum saktimān bhavet.

 

Who is capable of praising You,

Who have made all of us Vishnu, myself and Shiva

Take our embodied forms?

 

sā tvam ittham prabhāvaih

svair udārair devi samstută,

mohayaetau dur-ādharsāv

asurau Madhu-Kaitabhau.

 

Oh Devi, being lauded thus,

Bewitch these two unassailable asuras

Madhu and Kaitabha with Your superior powers

 

prabodham ca jagat-svāmi

niyatăm a-cyuto laghu.

 

Let Vishnu, the master of the world

Be quickly awakened from sleep

 

bodhas ca kriyatām asya

hantum etau mahā-asurau.

 

And rouse up his nature to slay

These two great asuras

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 5   Verses 10-40

 

Devā ucuh:

 

namo Devyai mahā-devyai

sivāyai sa-tatam namah,

namah Prakrtyai bhadrāyai

niyatāh pranatāh sma tām.

 

Salutations to the Divine Mother

who is ever auspicious. 

Salutations to Her who is the primordial cause and the sustaining power

With deference, we make obeisance to Her.

 

raudrāyai namo nityāyai

Gauryai dhātryai namo namah,

jyotsnāyai ca indu-rūpinyai

sukhāyai sa-tatam namah

 

Salutations to Her who is terrible, to Her who is eternal.

Salutation to Gauri, the supporter (of the universe).

Salutation always to Her who is of the form of the moon and moon-light

And happiness itself.

 

kalyānai pranata vrddhyai

siddhyai kurmo namo namah,

nairrtyai bhubhrtam laksmyai

Sarvanyai te namo namah

 

We bow to Her who is welfare

Salutations to Her who is prosperity and success.

Salutation to the consort of Shiva who is Herself the good fortune

As well as misfortune of kings.

 

Durgāyai durga-pārāyai

sārāyai sarva-kārinyai,

khyātyai tathā eva krshnāyai

dhūmrāyai sa-tatam namah

 

Salutation always to Durga who takes one across in difficulties,

Who is essence, who is the author of everything;

Who is knowledge of discrimination;

And who is blue-black and also smoke like in complexion.

 

atisaumya-atiraudrāyai

namas thasyai namo namah,

namo jagat-pratisthāyai

Devyai krtyai namo namah

 

We prostrate before Her

Who is at once most gentle and most terrible;

Salutation to Her who is the supporter of the world.

Salutation to the Devi who is of the form of volition.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Vishnu-māyeti sabditā,

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings and is called Vishnumaya.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Chētanēty-abhidhiyathe

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namo namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings as awareness.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Buddhi-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of intellect.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Nidrā-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of sleep.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Kshudhā-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of hunger.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Chhāyā-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of shadow.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Sakti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of vigour.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Trishna-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of craving.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Kshanti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of forbearance.

 

 

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Jāti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of class.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Lajjā-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of shyness.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Sānti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of peace.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Sraddhā-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of faith.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Kānti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of brilliance.

 

 

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Laksmi-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of affluence.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Vritti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of thought-movement.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Smriti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of memory.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Dayā-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of compassion.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Tushti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of contentment.

 

 

 

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Matru-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of mother.

 

yā devi sarva-bhūtesu

Bhrānti-rupena samsthithā

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the Devi

Who abides in all beings in the form of delusion.

(Truth and error are both obverse and reverse forms of the goddess).

 

indriyanam adhishtatree

bhūtānām chākhulesu yā

bhūtesu satatam tasyai

Vyāptijai devyai namō namah

 

Salutation again and again to the all-pervading Devi

Who constantly presides over the senses of all beings and (governs) all the elements.

 

Chiti-rūpena yā kritsnam

Etad-vyāpya sthitā jagat

namas thasyai namas thasyai

namas thasyai namō namah

 

Salutations again and again to Her

Who pervading the entire world abides in the form of consciousness.

 

sthuthā suraih pūrvam abheeshta-samsrayāt

tathā surendrena dinesu sevitā,

Karōthu sā nah subha-hetur isvari

subhāni bhadrāny-abhihantu chāpadah

 

Invoked of yore by the devas for the sake of their desired object,

And adored by the lord of the devas every day,

May she, the Ishvari, the source of all good,

Accomplish for us all auspicious things and put an end to our calamities!

 

yā sampratam ca ud:dbhatadaitya-tāpitair

asmābhir isā ca surair namasyate

yā ca smrtā tat-ksanam eva hanti nah

sarva-āpado bhakti vinamra-mūrtibhih

 

And who is now again, reverenced by us, devas,

Tormented by arrogant asuras and

Who, called to mind by us obeisant with devotion,

Destroys, this very moment, all our calamities.

 

yadaksharam pari bhrastam

mātrā hinancha yadbhavet

purnam bhavatu tat sarvam

tat prasādān maheshwari

 

If there be any missing letter or meter, let this be completed,

O Supreme Goddess (Maheswari), by thy grace.

 

Sarva-svarupe sarvaishe

Sarvashakti-samanvite,

Bhaebhyas trahi no devi

Durge devi namo’stu te

 

Oh Queen of all, You who exist in the form of all,

And possess every might

Save us from error oh Devi

Salutation be to You, Devi Durga

 

Om bhavatāpa pranāshinyai

ānandaghana murtaye

Jnānabhakti pradāinyai

mātastubhyam namonamah.

 

Mother, I bow to Thee again and again,

destroyer of worldly sufferings, 

embodiment of bliss,

dispenser of wisdom and  devotion.