Durga Dwadasanama Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

दुर्गा द्वादशनाम स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

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

Verse 1#

ॐ दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिशमनी दुर्गापद्विनिवारिणी। दुर्गमच्छेदिनी दुर्गसाधिनी दुर्गनाशिनी॥

om durgā durgārti-śamanī durgāpad-vinivāriṇī | durgama-cchedinī durga-sādhinī durga-nāśinī ||

MeaningOm. Durga; the queller of the suffering born of difficulties; the averter of hard-to-overcome calamities; She who cuts through the impassable; the accomplisher of the unattainable; the destroyer of every difficulty.

Verse 2#

दुर्गतोद्धारिणी दुर्गनिहन्त्री दुर्गमापहा। दुर्गमज्ञानदा दुर्गदैत्यलोकदवानला॥

durgato-ddhāriṇī durga-nihantrī durgamāpahā | durgama-jñāna-dā durga-daitya-loka-davānalā ||

MeaningShe who uplifts those fallen into distress; the slayer of hardship; the remover of the impassable; the giver of hard-won wisdom; a blazing forest-fire to the world of invincible demons.

Verse 3#

दुर्गमा दुर्गमालोका दुर्गमात्मस्वरूपिणी। दुर्गमार्गप्रदा दुर्गमविद्या दुर्गमाश्रिता॥

durgamā durgamālokā durgamātma-svarūpiṇī | durgamārga-pradā durgama-vidyā durgamāśritā ||

MeaningThe inaccessible One; hard even to behold; whose very form is the unreachable Self; the revealer of the difficult path; the hard-to-attain sacred knowledge; the refuge of those who turn to Her.

Verse 4#

नामावलिमिमां यस्तु दुर्गाया मम मानवः। पठेत्सर्वभयान्मुक्तो भविष्यति न संशयः॥

nāmāvalim imāṃ yastu durgāyā mama mānavaḥ | paṭhet sarva-bhayān mukto bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ||

MeaningWhatever person recites this garland of the twelve names of Durga shall be freed from all fears — of this there is no doubt.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

दुर्गा

durgā

Durga — the invincible One, hard to reach, remover of difficulties; the Divine Mother (1st name)

दुर्गार्तिशमनी

durgārti-śamanī

She who quells the suffering (arti) born of difficulties (2nd name)

दुर्गापद्विनिवारिणी

durgāpad-vinivāriṇī

She who wards off hard-to-overcome calamities (3rd name)

दुर्गमच्छेदिनी

durgama-cchedinī

She who cuts through the impassable and insurmountable (4th name)

दुर्गसाधिनी

durga-sādhinī

She who accomplishes what is difficult to attain (5th name)

दुर्गनाशिनी

durga-nāśinī

She who destroys difficulties and dangers (6th name)

दुर्गतोद्धारिणी

durgato-ddhāriṇī

She who lifts up those fallen into distress (7th name)

दुर्गनिहन्त्री

durga-nihantrī

She who slays the demon of difficulty and all hardship (8th name)

दुर्गमापहा

durgamāpahā

She who removes the impassable obstacle (9th name)

दुर्गमज्ञानदा

durgama-jñāna-dā

She who grants the hard-to-attain wisdom (10th name)

दुर्गदैत्यलोकदवानला

durga-daitya-loka-davānalā

She who is a forest-fire to the world of invincible demons (11th name)

दुर्गमा

durgamā

The inaccessible One (12th name)

दुर्गमात्मस्वरूपिणी

durgamātma-svarūpiṇī

She whose very nature is the unreachable supreme Self

दुर्गमार्गप्रदा

durga-mārga-pradā

She who reveals the difficult path to liberation

नामावलिम् इमां यः पठेत्

nāmāvalim imāṃ yaḥ paṭhet

whoever recites this garland of names

सर्वभयान्मुक्तो भविष्यति

sarva-bhayān mukto bhaviṣyati

shall be freed from all fears

न संशयः

na saṃśayaḥ

there is no doubt about this

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Devi stotra (recited within the Durga Saptashati / Devi Mahatmyam tradition)

Author: Traditional (Puranic)

Period: Ancient / Classical

The Durga Dwadasanama — the 'twelve names of Durga' — is a beloved protective hymn of the Shakta tradition, recited alongside the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam). Its names recall the Mother as the conqueror of every 'durga' — every fort, every difficulty, every danger that is hard to cross — and as the slayer of demons and the giver of liberating wisdom. Devotees in every age of hardship have turned to this brief litany, trusting its own vow that its recitation frees one from all fear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Durga Dwadasanama Stotram?▼

It is a hymn listing the twelve (dwadasha) sacred names of Goddess Durga. Each name begins with 'Durga' and praises Her power to overcome difficulty, slay demons and protect Her devotees. It is a short, much-loved protective prayer of the Devi tradition.

What does the hymn promise its reciter?▼

Its closing verse declares that whoever recites this garland of Durga's names 'shall be freed from all fears — of this there is no doubt' (sarva-bhayan mukto bhavishyati na samshayah). For this reason it is recited especially in times of danger and distress.

How is it related to the Durga Dwatrimsha Namamala?▼

Both are litanies of Durga's names whose words begin with 'Durga'. The Dwadasanama lists twelve names, while the Dwatrimsha Namamala lists thirty-two. The twelve-name version is shorter and especially convenient for daily recitation.

When should it be chanted?▼

It may be recited daily, but is especially powerful during Navaratri and on Tuesdays and Fridays. Traditionally it is chanted at once in any moment of sudden fear, illness, calamity or danger to invoke the Mother's protection.

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