Durge Durghata Bhari Meaning — Line by Line

दुर्गे दुर्घट भारी

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Durge Durghata Bhari with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

दुर्गे दुर्घट भारी तुजवीण संसारीं । अनाथनाथे अंबे करुणा विस्तारीं ॥ वारीं वारीं जन्ममरणातें वारीं । हारीं पडलो आतां संकट निवारीं ॥

Durge Durghata Bhari Tujavin Samsari | Anathanathe Ambe Karuna Vistari || Vari Vari Janma-Maranate Vari | Hari Padalo Aata Sankat Nivari ||

MeaningO Durga, this worldly life is full of insurmountable troubles without you; O Mother, refuge of the helpless, spread out your compassion. Again and again ward off birth and death for me — I am utterly defeated; now remove this calamity.

Verse 2#

जय देवी जय देवी जय महिषासुरमथनी । सुरवरईश्वरवरदे तारक संजीवनी ॥ धृ ॥

Jai Devi Jai Devi Jai Mahishasura-Mathani | Suravara-Ishwara-Varade Taraka Sanjivani || Dhru ||

MeaningVictory, victory to you, O Goddess, slayer of Mahishasura! Bestower of boons to the foremost gods and lords, saviour who grants new life and ferries us across.

Verse 3#

त्रिभुवनभुवनीं पाहतां तुजऐसी नाहीं । चारी श्रमले परंतु न बोलवे कांहीं ॥ साही विवाद करितां पडिले प्रवाहीं । ते तूं भक्तांलागीं पावसि लवलाहीं ॥

Tribhuvana-Bhuvani Pahata Tuj-Aisi Nahi | Chari Shramale Parantu Na Bolave Kahi || Sahi Vivad Karita Padile Pravahi | Te Tu Bhaktanlagi Paavasi Lavalahi ||

MeaningIn all the worlds of the three realms there is none like you. The four Vedas grew weary, yet could say nothing (that captured you); the six (philosophies) too, debating, were swept away in the current — yet you come swiftly to your devotees.

Verse 4#

प्रसन्नवदने प्रसन्न होसी निजदासां । क्लेशांपासुनि सोडवीं तोडीं भवपाशां ॥ अंबे तुजवांचून कोण पुरवील आशा । नरहरि तल्लिन झाला पदपंकजलेशा ॥

Prasanna-Vadane Prasanna Hosi Nijadasa | Kleshanpasuni Sodavi Todi Bhavapasha || Ambe Tujavanchun Kon Puravil Asha | Narahari Tallin Zhala Padapankaja-Lesha ||

MeaningWith your gracious, smiling face you are pleased with your own servants; free us from afflictions, cut the bonds of worldly existence. O Mother, who but you will fulfil my hopes? Narahari is wholly absorbed in even a particle of the dust of your lotus feet.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

दुर्गे

Durge

O Durga (the Goddess hard to approach, remover of distress)

दुर्घट भारी

Durghata Bhari

Greatly difficult / full of insurmountable troubles

तुजवीण संसारीं

Tujavin Samsari

Without you, in this worldly existence

अनाथनाथे अंबे

Anathanathe Ambe

O Mother, refuge of the helpless

करुणा विस्तारीं

Karuna Vistari

Spread out / extend your compassion

जन्ममरणातें वारीं

Janma-Maranate Vari

Ward off (the cycle of) birth and death

संकट निवारीं

Sankat Nivari

Remove this calamity / danger

जय देवी

Jai Devi

Victory to you, O Goddess

महिषासुरमथनी

Mahishasura-Mathani

Slayer of the buffalo-demon Mahishasura

सुरवरईश्वरवरदे

Suravara-Ishwara-Varade

Bestower of boons even to the foremost gods and lords

तारक संजीवनी

Taraka Sanjivani

Saviour who gives (new) life, who ferries across

त्रिभुवनभुवनीं

Tribhuvana-Bhuvani

In all the worlds of the three realms

तुजऐसी नाहीं

Tuj-Aisi Nahi

There is none like you

चारी श्रमले

Chari Shramale

The four (Vedas) grew weary (trying to describe you)

प्रसन्नवदने

Prasanna-Vadane

O you of the gracious, smiling face

तोडीं भवपाशां

Todi Bhavapasha

Cut asunder the bonds of worldly existence

अंबे तुजवांचून

Ambe Tujavanchun

O Mother, apart from you

कोण पुरवील आशा

Kon Puravil Asha

Who will fulfil (my) hopes?

नरहरि तल्लिन झाला

Narahari Tallin Zhala

Narahari (the poet) is wholly absorbed

पदपंकजलेशा

Padapankaja-Lesha

In even a particle (of the dust) of your lotus feet

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Marathi Devi aarti (sant-sahitya)

Author: Traditional (signed 'Narahari' in the final verse)

Period: Medieval

Durge Durghata Bhari belongs to the rich tradition of Marathi aartis sung in the evening worship of the Mother Goddess. Its devotee confesses that worldly life is an impassable difficulty without Her grace and recalls how even the four Vedas and six systems of philosophy fail to fathom Her, yet She rushes to the aid of those who love Her. The closing 'Narahari' signature is the poet's seal, surrendering himself to a mere speck of dust from Her lotus feet. The aarti is especially associated with Bhavani of Tuljapur, the revered kuladevata of countless Maharashtrian families.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Goddess is 'Durge Durghata Bhari' addressed to?▼

It is addressed to the Mother Goddess in Her form as Durga / Bhavani / Ambe — the slayer of Mahishasura. In Maharashtra it is sung in honour of Devi, including Tuljapur Bhavani, the family goddess (kuladevata) of many Marathi households and of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

What does the name 'Durga' mean here?▼

Durga means 'the one difficult to reach' and also 'remover of distress (durga)'. The opening line plays on this: life is 'durghata' (full of difficulty) without Her, and She alone can remove that difficulty.

Who composed this aarti?▼

It is a traditional Marathi aarti bearing the signature 'Narahari' in its final verse, by which the poet declares himself absorbed in the dust of the Goddess's lotus feet. It has been sung in Devi worship for centuries.

When is it best to sing it?▼

It is sung in daily morning and evening aarti before the Goddess, and most especially during the nine nights of Navaratri and on visits to Shakti shrines like Tuljapur, Kolhapur and Saptashrungi.

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