Argala Stotram — Lyrics with Meaning
Argala Stotram is the second of three hymns (Kavach, Argala, Kilak) read before the Durga Saptashati. Spoken by Sage Markandeya, it recalls the Devi's victories, and nearly every verse ends with the prayer Roopam dehi, jayam dehi, yasho dehi, dvisho jahi.
Om asya shri-argala-stotra-mantrasya vishnur rishih, anushtup chhandah, shri-mahalakshmir devata, shri-jagadamba-pritaye saptashati-pathangatvena jape viniyogah | Om namash chandikayai ||
Markandeya uvacha Om jaya tvam devi chamunde jaya bhutapaharini | jaya sarvagate devi kalaratri namo'stu te ||1||
Jayanti mangala kali bhadrakali kapalini | durga kshama shiva dhatri svaha svadha namo'stu te ||2||
Madhu-kaitabha-vidravi-vidhatri-varade namah | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||3||
Mahishasura-nirnashi bhaktanam sukhade namah | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||4||
Raktabija-vadhe devi chanda-munda-vinashini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||5||
Shumbhasyaiva nishumbhasya dhumrakshasya cha mardini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||6||
Vanditanghri-yuge devi sarva-saubhagya-dayini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||7||
Achintya-rupa-charite sarva-shatru-vinashini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||8||
Natebhyah sarvada bhaktya chandike duritapahe | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||9||
Stuvadbhyo bhakti-purvam tvam chandike vyadhi-nashini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||10||
Chandike satatam ye tvam archayantiha bhaktitah | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||11||
Dehi saubhagyam arogyam dehi me paramam sukham | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||12||
Vidhehi dvishatam nasham vidhehi balam uchchakaih | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||13||
Vidhehi devi kalyanam vidhehi paramam shriyam | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||14||
Surasura-shiro-ratna-nighrishta-charane'mbike | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||15||
Vidyavantam yashasvantam lakshmivantam janam kuru | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||16||
Prachanda-daitya-darpaghne chandike pranataya me | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||17||
Chaturbhuje chaturvaktra-samstute parameshvari | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||18||
Krishnena samstute devi shashvad bhaktya sadambike | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||19||
Himachala-suta-natha-samstute parameshvari | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||20||
Indrani-pati-sadbhava-pujite parameshvari | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||21||
Devi prachanda-dordanda-daitya-darpa-vinashini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||22||
Devi bhakta-janoddama-dattanandodaye'mbike | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||23||
Patnim manoramam dehi manovrittanusarinim | tarinim durga-samsara-sagarasya kulodbhavam ||24||
Idam stotram pathitva tu mahastotram pathen narah | sa tu saptashati-sankhya-varam apnoti sampadam ||25|| iti devya argala-stotram sampurnam |
Meaning
Verse 1
Om asya shri-argala-stotra-mantrasya vishnur rishih, anushtup chhandah, shri-mahalakshmir devata, shri-jagadamba-pritaye saptashati-pathangatvena jape viniyogah | Om namash chandikayai ||
This is the formal invocation: the seer is Vishnu, the metre Anushtup and the deity Mahalakshmi. It is chanted as part of the Saptashati reading to please the Mother of the world. Salutations to Chandika.
Verse 2
Markandeya uvacha Om jaya tvam devi chamunde jaya bhutapaharini | jaya sarvagate devi kalaratri namo'stu te ||1||
Sage Markandeya said: Victory to you, O Devi Chamunda! Victory to you who remove the suffering of beings! O all-pervading Devi Kalaratri, I bow to you.
Verse 3
Jayanti mangala kali bhadrakali kapalini | durga kshama shiva dhatri svaha svadha namo'stu te ||2||
Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini, Durga, Kshama, Shiva, Dhatri, Svaha and Svadha — O Devi of these names, I bow to you.
Verse 4
Madhu-kaitabha-vidravi-vidhatri-varade namah | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||3||
Salutations to you who drove away Madhu and Kaitabha and blessed Brahma. Give me beauty, give me victory, give me glory, and destroy my enemies, within and without.
Verse 5
Mahishasura-nirnashi bhaktanam sukhade namah | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||4||
Salutations to you who destroyed Mahishasur and give happiness to devotees. Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 6
Raktabija-vadhe devi chanda-munda-vinashini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||5||
O Devi who slew Raktabija and destroyed Chanda and Munda! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 7
Shumbhasyaiva nishumbhasya dhumrakshasya cha mardini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||6||
O crusher of Shumbh, Nishumbh and Dhumraksha! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 8
Vanditanghri-yuge devi sarva-saubhagya-dayini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||7||
O Devi whose two feet are worshipped by all, giver of every good fortune! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 9
Achintya-rupa-charite sarva-shatru-vinashini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||8||
O you whose form and deeds are beyond imagining, destroyer of all enemies! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 10
Natebhyah sarvada bhaktya chandike duritapahe | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||9||
O Chandika, you remove the sins and troubles of those who always bow to you with devotion. Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 11
Stuvadbhyo bhakti-purvam tvam chandike vyadhi-nashini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||10||
O Chandika, you take away the ailments of those who praise you with devotion. Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 12
Chandike satatam ye tvam archayantiha bhaktitah | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||11||
O Chandika, to those who always worship you here with devotion — and to me — give beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 13
Dehi saubhagyam arogyam dehi me paramam sukham | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||12||
Give me good fortune and good health, and give me the highest happiness. Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 14
Vidhehi dvishatam nasham vidhehi balam uchchakaih | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||13||
Bring an end to those who hate, and grant me great strength. Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 15
Vidhehi devi kalyanam vidhehi paramam shriyam | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||14||
O Devi, grant me well-being and the finest prosperity. Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 16
Surasura-shiro-ratna-nighrishta-charane'mbike | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||15||
O Ambika, when gods and demons bow to you, the jewels of their crowns touch your feet. Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 17
Vidyavantam yashasvantam lakshmivantam janam kuru | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||16||
Make your devotee learned, honoured and prosperous. Give beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 18
Prachanda-daitya-darpaghne chandike pranataya me | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||17||
O Chandika, who crushed the pride of fierce demons, I bow before you — give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 19
Chaturbhuje chaturvaktra-samstute parameshvari | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||18||
O four-armed supreme Goddess, praised by four-faced Brahma! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 20
Krishnena samstute devi shashvad bhaktya sadambike | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||19||
O Devi Ambika, ever praised with constant devotion by Lord Vishnu (Krishna)! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 21
Himachala-suta-natha-samstute parameshvari | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||20||
O supreme Goddess, praised by Shiv, the lord of the Himalaya's daughter! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 22
Indrani-pati-sadbhava-pujite parameshvari | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||21||
O supreme Goddess, worshipped with a sincere heart by Indra, husband of Indrani! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 23
Devi prachanda-dordanda-daitya-darpa-vinashini | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||22||
O Devi, who with your mighty arms shattered the pride of the demons! Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 24
Devi bhakta-janoddama-dattanandodaye'mbike | rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi ||23||
O Devi Ambika, you give boundless joy to your devotees. Give me beauty, victory and glory, and destroy my enemies.
Verse 25
Patnim manoramam dehi manovrittanusarinim | tarinim durga-samsara-sagarasya kulodbhavam ||24||
Grant me a pleasing life partner, in harmony with my mind, from a good family, who helps me cross the hard ocean of worldly life.
Verse 26
Idam stotram pathitva tu mahastotram pathen narah | sa tu saptashati-sankhya-varam apnoti sampadam ||25|| iti devya argala-stotram sampurnam |
One who reads this hymn and then the great hymn, the Durga Saptashati, is said to receive the finest blessings, as many as the Saptashati's verses. Here ends the Devi's Argala Stotram.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
When should Argala Stotram be recited?
Traditionally it is read before the Durga Saptashati, after the Devi Kavach and before the Kilak. It is most recited during Navratri, but it can also be read on its own daily.
What does Argala mean?
Argala means the bolt or latch of a door. The hymn is believed to unbolt the door of the Devi's grace by removing obstacles on the spiritual path.
Which text is Argala Stotram from?
It is printed among the opening parts of the Durga Saptashati, read along with the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana. Its speaker is Sage Markandeya.