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Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

अर्जुनकृत दुर्गा स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. namaste siddha-senāni ārye mandara-vāsini |
  2. Verse 2. bhadrakāli namas-tubhyaṃ mahākāli namo'stu te |
  3. Verse 3. kātyāyani mahā-bhāge karāli vijaye jaye |
  4. Verse 4. aṭṭa-śūla-praharaṇe khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇi |
  5. Verse 5. mahiṣāsṛk-priye nityaṃ kauśiki pīta-vāsini |
Verse 1#

namaste siddha-senāni ārye mandara-vāsini |

नमस्ते सिद्धसेनानि आर्ये मन्दरवासिनि। कुमारि कालि कापालि कपिले कृष्णपिङ्गले॥

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

MeaningSalutations 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 |

भद्रकालि नमस्तुभ्यं महाकालि नमोऽस्तु ते। चण्डि चण्डे नमस्तुभ्यं तारिणि वरवर्णिनि॥

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

MeaningObeisance 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 |

कात्यायनि महाभागे करालि विजये जये। शिखिपिच्छध्वजधरे नानाभरणभूषिते॥

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

MeaningO 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 |

अट्टशूलप्रहरणे खड्गखेटकधारिणि। गोपेन्द्रस्यानुजे ज्येष्ठे नन्दगोपकुलोद्भवे॥

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

MeaningO 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 |

महिषासृक्प्रिये नित्यं कौशिकि पीतवासिनि। अट्टहासे कोकमुखे नमस्तेऽस्तु रणप्रिये॥

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

MeaningO 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 Breakdown

नमस्ते सिद्धसेनानि
namaste siddha-senāni
salutations to You, the commander of the army of the Siddhas (perfected ones)
आर्ये मन्दरवासिनि
ārye mandara-vāsini
O noble one, who dwells upon the Mandara mountain
कुमारि
kumāri
O ever-youthful virgin (Kumari)
कालि कापालि
kāli kāpāli
O dark one (Kali), bearer of skulls (Kapali)
कपिले कृष्णपिङ्गले
kapile kṛṣṇa-piṅgale
O tawny-hued one, dark and reddish-brown in form
भद्रकालि नमस्तुभ्यं
bhadrakāli namas-tubhyaṃ
O auspicious Bhadrakali, salutations to You
महाकालि नमोऽस्तु ते
mahākāli namo'stu te
O great Mahakali, may my obeisance be unto You
चण्डि चण्डे
caṇḍi caṇḍe
O fierce Chandi, O wrathful one
तारिणि वरवर्णिनि
tāriṇi vara-varṇini
O deliverer (who carries beings across), of most excellent complexion
कात्यायनि महाभागे
kātyāyani mahā-bhāge
O Katyayani, the greatly fortunate and glorious one
करालि विजये जये
karāli vijaye jaye
O fearsome one, O Vijaya (victory) and Jaya (triumph)
शिखिपिच्छध्वजधरे
śikhi-piccha-dhvaja-dhare
O bearer of the banner adorned with peacock feathers
नानाभरणभूषिते
nānā-bharaṇa-bhūṣite
O You who are adorned with manifold ornaments
अट्टशूलप्रहरणे
aṭṭa-śūla-praharaṇe
O wielder of a great and terrible spear (trident)
खड्गखेटकधारिणि
khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇi
O bearer of the sword and shield
गोपेन्द्रस्य अनुजे ज्येष्ठे
gopendrasyānuje jyeṣṭhe
O younger sister of the lord of cowherds (Krishna), O elder one
नन्दगोपकुलोद्भवे
nanda-gopa-kulodbhave
O You who took birth in the house of the cowherd Nanda
महिषासृक्प्रिये नित्यं
mahiṣāsṛk-priye nityaṃ
O You ever pleased by the blood of the buffalo-demon (Mahishasura)
कौशिकि पीतवासिनि
kauśiki pīta-vāsini
O Kaushiki, clad in yellow garments
अट्टहासे कोकमुखे
aṭṭa-hāse koka-mukhe
O You of loud laughter, with a face (fierce) like a wolf
नमस्ते अस्तु रणप्रिये
namas-te'stu raṇa-priye
salutations be unto You, O lover of battle

Origin & History

Source: Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva, Chapter 23 (Bhagavad-Gita Parva, the chapter preceding the Gita)

Author: Veda Vyasa (the hymn spoken by Arjuna at Krishna's bidding)

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Arjuna Krita Durga Stotram?
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.
Why did Krishna ask Arjuna to praise Durga before the war?
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.
What is the benefit of reciting this stotra?
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.
Why is Durga called the sister of Krishna in this stotra?
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).

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