Durga Saptashloki — Lyrics with Meaning
Durga Saptashloki gathers seven chosen verses from the Durga Saptashati. Tradition says the Devi revealed it when Lord Shiv asked for a simple path for the Kali Yug. Devotees who cannot read the full Saptashati recite it daily or during Navratri.
Shiva uvacha Devi tvam bhakta-sulabhe sarva-karya-vidhayini | kalau hi karya-siddhyartham upayam bruhi yatnatah ||
Devyuvacha Shrinu deva pravakshyami kalau sarveshta-sadhanam | maya tavaiva snehenapyamba-stutih prakashyate ||
Om asya shri-durga-saptashloki-stotra-mantrasya narayana rishih, anushtup chhandah, shri-mahakali-mahalakshmi-mahasarasvatyo devatah, shri-durga-prityartham saptashloki-durga-pathe viniyogah |
Jnaninam api chetamsi devi bhagavati hi sa | baladakrishya mohaya mahamaya prayachchhati ||1||
Durge smrita harasi bhitim ashesha-jantoh svasthaih smrita matim ativa shubham dadasi | daridrya-duhkha-bhaya-harini ka tvadanya sarvopakara-karanaya sadardra-chitta ||2||
Sarva-mangala-mangalye shive sarvartha-sadhike | sharanye tryambake gauri narayani namo'stu te ||3||
Sharanagata-dinarta-paritrana-parayane | sarvasyarti-hare devi narayani namo'stu te ||4||
Sarva-svarupe sarveshe sarva-shakti-samanvite | bhayebhyas trahi no devi durge devi namo'stu te ||5||
Roganasheshan apahamsi tushta rushta tu kaman sakalan abhishtan | tvam ashritanam na vipan naranam tvam ashrita hyashrayatam prayanti ||6||
Sarvabadha-prashamanam trailokyasyakhileshvari | evam eva tvaya karyam asmad-vairi-vinashanam ||7|| iti shri-durga-saptashloki sampurna |
Meaning
Verse 1
Shiva uvacha Devi tvam bhakta-sulabhe sarva-karya-vidhayini | kalau hi karya-siddhyartham upayam bruhi yatnatah ||
Shiv said: O Devi, you are easily reached by devotees and you accomplish every task. Please tell me a way for people in the Kali Yug to succeed in their efforts.
Verse 2
Devyuvacha Shrinu deva pravakshyami kalau sarveshta-sadhanam | maya tavaiva snehenapyamba-stutih prakashyate ||
The Devi said: Listen, O lord. Out of love for you, I now reveal this hymn to the Mother, a means for every good wish in the Kali Yug.
Verse 3
Om asya shri-durga-saptashloki-stotra-mantrasya narayana rishih, anushtup chhandah, shri-mahakali-mahalakshmi-mahasarasvatyo devatah, shri-durga-prityartham saptashloki-durga-pathe viniyogah |
This is the formal invocation: the seer of this hymn is Narayan, the metre is Anushtup, and the deities are Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. It is recited to please Goddess Durga.
Verse 4
Jnaninam api chetamsi devi bhagavati hi sa | baladakrishya mohaya mahamaya prayachchhati ||1||
The divine Mahamaya pulls even the minds of the wise by force and places them under the spell of attachment.
Verse 5
Durge smrita harasi bhitim ashesha-jantoh svasthaih smrita matim ativa shubham dadasi | daridrya-duhkha-bhaya-harini ka tvadanya sarvopakara-karanaya sadardra-chitta ||2||
O Durga, when remembered you take away the fear of every being, and to those who remember you calmly you give a truly good mind. Remover of poverty, sorrow and fear, who but you has a heart always soft with the wish to help all?
Verse 6
Sarva-mangala-mangalye shive sarvartha-sadhike | sharanye tryambake gauri narayani namo'stu te ||3||
O most auspicious of all that is auspicious, kind one who fulfils every aim, giver of refuge, three-eyed Gauri, Narayani — I bow to you.
Verse 7
Sharanagata-dinarta-paritrana-parayane | sarvasyarti-hare devi narayani namo'stu te ||4||
You are ever devoted to saving the helpless and suffering who come to you for shelter; O Devi Narayani, who removes everyone's pain, I bow to you.
Verse 8
Sarva-svarupe sarveshe sarva-shakti-samanvite | bhayebhyas trahi no devi durge devi namo'stu te ||5||
O Devi, present in every form, ruler of all, filled with every power — protect us from all fears. O Goddess Durga, I bow to you.
Verse 9
Roganasheshan apahamsi tushta rushta tu kaman sakalan abhishtan | tvam ashritanam na vipan naranam tvam ashrita hyashrayatam prayanti ||6||
When pleased you remove every illness, and when displeased you take away all that is desired. Those who take refuge in you face no ruin; indeed they become a refuge for others.
Verse 10
Sarvabadha-prashamanam trailokyasyakhileshvari | evam eva tvaya karyam asmad-vairi-vinashanam ||7|| iti shri-durga-saptashloki sampurna |
O ruler of all, in this same way please calm every obstacle in the three worlds and destroy our enemies. Here ends the Durga Saptashloki.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
When should Durga Saptashloki be recited?
It can be recited daily during morning or evening worship. It is especially popular during Navratri, on Ashtami and on Fridays.
How should I recite Durga Saptashloki?
After bathing, light a lamp before the Devi, read the Shiv–Devi dialogue and the invocation, then the seven shlokas. Many devotees recite it once, three times or seven times.
Where do the Saptashloki verses come from?
All seven verses are taken from the Durga Saptashati (the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana), so it is seen as a short form of the full Saptashati.