durgadevidurga-saptashatimahishasura

Garja Garja Kshanam Mudha (The Devi's Challenge and the Slaying of Mahishasura)

गर्ज गर्ज क्षणं मूढ (देवी की ललकार और महिषासुर-वध)

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 During Navaratri (especially Ashtami and Navami), or on Tuesdays at dawn·📜 Durga Saptashati Chapter 3

Also known as: garja garja kshanam mudha · garja garja madhu yavat pibamyaham · mahishasura vadha verse · devi challenge to mahishasura · durga saptashati chapter 3

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is the climactic moment of the third chapter of the Durga Saptashati — the slaying of the buffalo-demon Mahishasura. The Devi flings her defiant challenge, telling the shape-shifting demon to bellow while he can, for his death is at hand. She then leaps upon him, pins his neck underfoot, strikes him with her trident, and beheads him with her great sword as he is caught half-emerging from his buffalo form. It is from this exploit that she is celebrated forever as Mahishasura-Mardini.

Origin & Story

Durga Saptashati Chapter 3 · Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana) · c. 400–600 CE (Markandeya Purana)

After the Goddess had destroyed Mahishasura's vast armies and his generals, Mahishasura himself, repeatedly changing his shape between buffalo, lion, man and elephant, attacked her. The Devi, intoxicated with the battle, drank the divine madhu, hurled her defiant challenge, and finally pinned him underfoot and severed his head as he tried to escape his buffalo form, ending the hundred-year tyranny of the asuras.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees recount that recalling this scene — the Goddess crushing the shape-shifting demon underfoot — has emboldened the weak and fearful to stand firm against bullies and oppressors, as if borrowing Durga's own conquering valour in their hour of need.

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Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

देव्युवाच गर्ज गर्ज क्षणं मूढ मधु यावत्पिबाम्यहम् । मया त्वयि हतेऽत्रैव गर्जिष्यन्त्याशु देवताः ॥

devyuvāca garja garja kṣaṇaṃ mūḍha madhu yāvatpibāmyaham mayā tvayi hate'traiva garjiṣyantyāśu devatāḥ

Meaning:The Devi said: 'Roar, roar your fill for a moment, O fool, while I drink this wine. When you are slain by me here, the gods themselves shall soon roar in triumph.' The Rishi said: Having spoken thus, she sprang up and, mounting upon that great asura, pressed his neck with her foot and struck him with her trident. Then, pressed down by her foot, he came forth half-out from his own buffalo mouth, wholly overpowered by the Devi's valour. Fighting thus, only half-emerged, that great asura was felled by the Devi, who cut off his head with her great sword.

Verse 2

ऋषिरुवाच एवमुक्त्वा समुत्पत्य सारूढा तं महासुरम् । पादेनाक्रम्य कण्ठे च शूलेनैनमताडयत् ॥

ṛṣiruvāca evamuktvā samutpatya sārūḍhā taṃ mahāsuram pādenākramya kaṇṭhe ca śūlenainamatāḍayat

Verse 3

ततः सोऽपि पदाक्रान्तस्तया निजमुखात्तदा । अर्धनिष्क्रान्त एवासीद्देव्या वीर्येण संवृतः ॥

tataḥ so'pi padākrāntastayā nijamukhāttadā ardhaniṣkrānta evāsīddevyā vīryeṇa saṃvṛtaḥ

Verse 4

अर्धनिष्क्रान्त एवासौ युध्यमानो महासुरः । तया महासिना देव्या शिरश्छित्त्वा निपातितः ॥

ardhaniṣkrānta evāsau yudhyamāno mahāsuraḥ tayā mahāsinā devyā śiraśchittvā nipātitaḥ

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

देव्युवाच🔊devyuvācaThe Devi (Goddess) said

गर्ज गर्ज🔊garja garjaRoar, roar (bellow your fill)

क्षणम्🔊kṣaṇamFor a moment

मूढ🔊mūḍhaO fool, O deluded one

मधु यावत् पिबामि अहम्🔊madhu yāvat pibāmi ahamWhile I drink this wine (madhu)

मया त्वयि हते🔊mayā tvayi hateWhen you are slain by me

अत्र एव🔊atra evaRight here, in this very place

गर्जिष्यन्ति आशु देवताः🔊garjiṣyanti āśu devatāḥThe gods shall soon roar (in triumph)

ऋषिरुवाच🔊ṛṣiruvācaThe Rishi (sage) said

एवम् उक्त्वा समुत्पत्य🔊evam uktvā samutpatyaHaving said this, springing up

सारूढा तं महासुरम्🔊sārūḍhā taṃ mahāsuramMounting upon that great asura

पादेन आक्रम्य कण्ठे🔊pādena ākramya kaṇṭhePressing his neck with her foot

शूलेन एनम् अताडयत्🔊śūlena enam atāḍayatStruck him with her trident

अर्धनिष्क्रान्तः🔊ardha-niṣkrāntaḥOnly half-emerged (from the buffalo's mouth)

महासिना शिरः छित्त्वा निपातितः🔊mahāsinā śiraḥ chittvā nipātitaḥFelled, his head cut off with her great sword

Benefits of Chanting Garja Garja Kshanam Mudha (The Devi's Challenge and the Slaying of Mahishasura)

✦

Invokes the Goddess as Mahishasura-Mardini, the fearless slayer of evil

✦

Instils courage and resolve to confront and overcome one's inner and outer demons

✦

The Devi's defiant words inspire confidence in certain victory over adharma

✦

Recited for protection against enemies and obstacles that change shape and persist

✦

Powerful during Navaratri, especially on Maha Ashtami and Navami

✦

Reminds the devotee that the divine always triumphs over arrogance and tyranny

How to Chant Garja Garja Kshanam Mudha (The Devi's Challenge and the Slaying of Mahishasura)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeDuring Navaratri (especially Ashtami and Navami), or on Tuesdays at dawn

Prefix with the Saptashati seed mantra 'Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vichche' and chant with vigour and devotion, picturing the Goddess astride the demon in her moment of victory. These verses are recited to draw on Durga's conquering energy when facing persistent difficulties. Best chanted as part of the Mahishasura-Mardini narrative or during the third chapter path of the Durga Saptashati.

Frequently Asked Questions

They describe the final slaying of Mahishasura, the buffalo-demon. The Devi challenges him to roar while he can, then leaps upon him, holds down his neck with her foot, strikes him with her trident and beheads him with her sword as he is caught half-emerged from his buffalo form.

Mahishasura had been boasting and bellowing in the pride of his strength, repeatedly changing forms. The Devi's words 'Roar, roar your fill, O fool' are a fearless challenge declaring that his arrogance is about to end and that the gods will soon roar in triumph at his death.

It is the very deed that earns the Goddess the title Mahishasura-Mardini, 'the slayer of Mahishasura'. The popular Mahishasura-Mardini Stotra (Aigiri Nandini) celebrates this same victory described in the third chapter of the Durga Saptashati.