Durge Smrita Harasi Meaning — Line by Line

दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

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Meaning — Line by Line

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

Verse 1#

दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि । दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता ॥

durge smṛtā harasi bhītimaśeṣajantoḥ svasthaiḥ smṛtā matimatīva śubhāṃ dadāsi dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi kā tvadanyā sarvopakārakaraṇāya sadārdracittā

MeaningO Durga, when remembered you remove the fear of every creature; remembered by those in well-being, you bestow a most auspicious mind. O remover of poverty, pain and fear, who but you has a heart ever tender to do good to all?

Verse 2#

त्रैलोक्यमेतदखिलं रिपुनाशनेन त्रातं त्वया समरमूर्धनि तेऽपि हत्वा । नीता दिवं रिपुगणा भयमप्यपास्तम् अस्माकमुन्मदसुरारिभवं नमस्ते ॥

trailokyametadakhilaṃ ripunāśanena trātaṃ tvayā samaramūrdhani te'pi hatvā nītā divaṃ ripugaṇā bhayamapyapāstam asmākamunmadasurāribhavaṃ namaste

MeaningThis entire three worlds has been saved by you through the destruction of the foes; having slain them on the front of battle you have led the enemy hosts to heaven, and dispelled too our fear born of the frenzied foes of the gods — salutation to you!

Verse 3#

शूलेन पाहि नो देवि पाहि खड्गेन चाम्बिके । घण्टास्वनेन नः पाहि चापज्यानिःस्वनेन च ॥

śūlena pāhi no devi pāhi khaḍgena cāmbike ghaṇṭāsvanena naḥ pāhi cāpajyāniḥsvanena ca

MeaningProtect us with your spear, O Devi; protect us, O Ambika, with your sword; protect us by the sound of your bell and by the twang of your bowstring.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

दुर्गे

durge

O Durga

स्मृता

smṛtā

when remembered / called to mind

हरसि भीतिम्

harasi bhītiṃ

you remove the fear

अशेषजन्तोः

aśeṣa-jantoḥ

of every creature without exception

स्वस्थैः स्मृता

svasthaiḥ smṛtā

remembered by those in well-being / health

मतिम् अतीव शुभां ददासि

matim atīva śubhāṃ dadāsi

you bestow a most auspicious mind / intelligence

दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि

dāridrya-duḥkha-bhaya-hāriṇi

O remover of poverty, sorrow and fear

का त्वदन्या

kā tvad-anyā

who other than you (is there)?

सर्वोपकारकरणाय

sarva-upakāra-karaṇāya

for doing good to all

सदार्द्रचित्ता

sadā-ārdra-cittā

whose heart is ever tender / compassionate

त्रैलोक्यम् एतत् अखिलम्

trailokyam etat akhilaṃ

this entire three worlds

रिपुनाशनेन त्रातम्

ripu-nāśanena trātaṃ

saved by the destruction of the foes

समरमूर्धनि

samara-mūrdhani

on the front / forefront of battle

नीता दिवम् रिपुगणाः

nītā divaṃ ripu-gaṇāḥ

the hosts of enemies led to heaven

भयम् अपि अपास्तम्

bhayam api apāstam

(our) fear too has been dispelled

नमस्ते

namaste

salutation to you

शूलेन पाहि नः

śūlena pāhi naḥ

protect us with your spear (trident)

खड्गेन च अम्बिके

khaḍgena ca ambike

and with your sword, O Ambika (Mother)

घण्टास्वनेन

ghaṇṭā-svanena

by the sound of your bell

चापज्यानिःस्वनेन

cāpa-jyā-niḥsvanena

by the twang of your bowstring

Origin & History

Source: Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam) Chapter 4 — Shakradi Stuti, verses 16, 22-23; from the Markandeya Purana

Author: Sage Markandeya (traditional)

Period: Ancient (the Devi Mahatmyam is dated to c. 5th-6th century CE)

After the Goddess vanquished the mighty buffalo-demon Mahishasura, who had driven the gods from heaven, Indra and the assembled deities extolled her with the Shakradi Stuti ('the praise by Indra and the gods'). Marvelling that her face was at once gentle as the full moon and terrible to her foes, and that she showed compassion even to the enemies she slew, they sang 'Durge Smrita Harasi' — that her very remembrance removes the fear of all — and begged her protection on every side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'Durge Smrita Harasi Bhitim' mean?▼

It means 'O Durga, when remembered, you remove the fear of every creature.' This single line is among the most quoted of the Devi Mahatmyam, expressing the faith that simply calling the Mother to mind dispels all fear.

Where is this verse from?▼

It is verse 16 of the Shakradi Stuti in Chapter 4 of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam), sung by Indra and the gods after the Goddess slew the buffalo-demon Mahishasura. The protective verses 'Shulena pahi no devi' (v.23) follow in the same hymn.

Why is this verse recited for removing fear and poverty?▼

Because it explicitly names the Goddess as 'daridrya-duhkha-bhaya-harini' — the remover of poverty, sorrow and fear — and promises that her remembrance itself takes away dread. Devotees chant it for protection, prosperity and peace of mind.

What is the fourfold protection asked for?▼

In the verse 'Shulena pahi no devi', the gods ask the Mother to guard them with four things: her spear (shula/trident), her sword (khadga), the sound of her bell (ghanta-svana) and the twang of her bowstring (chapa-jya) — symbolising protection on every front.

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