durgadeviarjunamahabharata

Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram

Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning at dawn (brahma-muhurta); before any important undertaking, journey or contest; during Navaratri·📜 Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva, Chapter 23 (Bhagavad-Gita Parva, the chapter preceding the Gita)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram is the hymn to Goddess Durga that Arjuna recited on the eve of the Kurukshetra war, at the command of Sri Krishna, as told in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata (Chapter 23 — the section immediately preceding the Bhagavad Gita). Krishna asks Arjuna to invoke Durga for victory; Arjuna descends from his chariot, folds his hands, and praises the Goddess by her many fierce and auspicious names. Pleased, the Goddess appears and grants him assured victory. It is treasured as a powerful prayer for triumph, courage and protection before any great undertaking.

Origin & Story

Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva, Chapter 23 (Bhagavad-Gita Parva, the chapter preceding the Gita) · Veda Vyasa (the hymn spoken by Arjuna at Krishna's bidding) · Itihasa (Epic) period

On the field of Kurukshetra, as the great armies of the Pandavas and Kauravas stood arrayed for war, Lord Krishna turned to Arjuna and said, 'For the destruction of your enemies, invoke the Goddess Durga.' Arjuna at once stepped down from the chariot and, with folded hands, praised the Goddess by her many names — Siddha-senani, Kali, Bhadrakali, Mahakali, Chandi, Katyayani, Vijaya, Kaushiki, and the slayer of Mahishasura. Pleased by his devotion, the Goddess appeared before him in the heavens, granted him the boon of certain victory, and vanished. Reassured of triumph, Arjuna took up his bow — and it was then that the immortal teaching of the Bhagavad Gita began.

✦ As told in scripture

The Mahabharata records that the Goddess, manifesting in the sky, told Arjuna, 'In a short time you shall conquer your foes, O Pandava; you have Narayana himself as your aid, and you are invincible even to the gods.' Tradition holds that any sincere devotee who recites this hymn at dawn gains the same shelter of the Goddess — freedom from fear, and victory in every righteous endeavour.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

namaste siddha-senāni ārye mandara-vāsini | kumāri kāli kāpāli kapile kṛṣṇa-piṅgale ||

Meaning:Salutations to You, commander of the host of the Siddhas, O noble one who dwells on Mount Mandara — O Kumari, O Kali, O Kapali, O tawny one, O dark-and-reddish-hued goddess.

Verse 2

bhadrakāli namas-tubhyaṃ mahākāli namo'stu te | caṇḍi caṇḍe namas-tubhyaṃ tāriṇi vara-varṇini ||

Meaning:Obeisance to You, O auspicious Bhadrakali; salutations to You, O great Mahakali; obeisance to You, O fierce Chandi, O wrathful one, O deliverer of the fairest form.

Verse 3

kātyāyani mahā-bhāge karāli vijaye jaye | śikhi-piccha-dhvaja-dhare nānā-bharaṇa-bhūṣite ||

Meaning:O Katyayani, greatly blessed, O fearsome one, O Vijaya, O Jaya; O bearer of the peacock-feather banner, adorned with every kind of ornament.

Verse 4

aṭṭa-śūla-praharaṇe khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇi | gopendrasyānuje jyeṣṭhe nanda-gopa-kulodbhave ||

Meaning:O wielder of the dreadful spear, O bearer of sword and shield, O younger sister of Krishna the lord of cowherds, O eldest one, born in the family of the cowherd Nanda.

Verse 5

mahiṣāsṛk-priye nityaṃ kauśiki pīta-vāsini | aṭṭa-hāse koka-mukhe namas-te'stu raṇa-priye ||

Meaning:O You who ever delight in the blood of the buffalo-demon, O Kaushiki clad in yellow, O You of loud laughter and fierce wolf-like face — salutations to You, O lover of battle!

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

namaste siddha-senāni🔊salutations to You, the commander of the army of the Siddhas (perfected ones)

ārye mandara-vāsini🔊O noble one, who dwells upon the Mandara mountain

kumāri🔊O ever-youthful virgin (Kumari)

kāli kāpāli🔊O dark one (Kali), bearer of skulls (Kapali)

kapile kṛṣṇa-piṅgale🔊O tawny-hued one, dark and reddish-brown in form

bhadrakāli namas-tubhyaṃ🔊O auspicious Bhadrakali, salutations to You

mahākāli namo'stu te🔊O great Mahakali, may my obeisance be unto You

caṇḍi caṇḍe🔊O fierce Chandi, O wrathful one

tāriṇi vara-varṇini🔊O deliverer (who carries beings across), of most excellent complexion

kātyāyani mahā-bhāge🔊O Katyayani, the greatly fortunate and glorious one

karāli vijaye jaye🔊O fearsome one, O Vijaya (victory) and Jaya (triumph)

śikhi-piccha-dhvaja-dhare🔊O bearer of the banner adorned with peacock feathers

nānā-bharaṇa-bhūṣite🔊O You who are adorned with manifold ornaments

aṭṭa-śūla-praharaṇe🔊O wielder of a great and terrible spear (trident)

khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇi🔊O bearer of the sword and shield

gopendrasyānuje jyeṣṭhe🔊O younger sister of the lord of cowherds (Krishna), O elder one

nanda-gopa-kulodbhave🔊O You who took birth in the house of the cowherd Nanda

mahiṣāsṛk-priye nityaṃ🔊O You ever pleased by the blood of the buffalo-demon (Mahishasura)

kauśiki pīta-vāsini🔊O Kaushiki, clad in yellow garments

aṭṭa-hāse koka-mukhe🔊O You of loud laughter, with a face (fierce) like a wolf

namas-te'stu raṇa-priye🔊salutations be unto You, O lover of battle

Benefits of Chanting Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram

✦

Recited before battles and great undertakings for assured victory, as granted to Arjuna

✦

Invokes the protection of Goddess Durga in her fierce, demon-slaying forms

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Bestows courage, fearlessness and strength to face every difficulty

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Said to free the devotee who rises at dawn and recites it from all fear and danger

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Removes obstacles and the influence of enemies and hostile forces

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A direct prayer from the Mahabharata, blessed by the very victory of the Pandavas

How to Chant Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning at dawn (brahma-muhurta); before any important undertaking, journey or contest; during Navaratri

As Arjuna did, stand or sit facing the rising sun, fold your hands, and recite the verses with full faith and a warrior's resolve. According to the Mahabharata, one who rises at dawn and recites this hymn is freed from fear at all times and gains victory. It is especially powerful when chanted before a difficult task, examination, journey, or any contest, with the mind surrendered to the Goddess as the giver of victory.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is the prayer to Goddess Durga offered by Arjuna at the start of the Kurukshetra war, on the instruction of Lord Krishna. It is recorded in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata (Chapter 23), in the section that comes just before the Bhagavad Gita, and is also known as the Durga Stava.

As the two armies stood ready, Krishna told Arjuna to invoke the Goddess Durga for victory over his foes. Arjuna alighted from the chariot and recited this hymn; pleased with his devotion, the Goddess appeared in the sky and assured him of triumph, after which the Bhagavad Gita was spoken.

The Mahabharata itself states that whoever rises early and recites this hymn to the Goddess is freed from all fear and gains victory, prosperity and protection. It is traditionally chanted before battles, journeys, examinations and any great undertaking to win success and overcome obstacles.

The hymn identifies the Goddess with Yoganidra, who took birth in the household of the cowherd Nanda as the daughter exchanged for the infant Krishna. This is why she is praised as the younger sister of Krishna (Gopendra) and as one 'born in the family of Nanda the cowherd' (Nandagopakulodbhava).