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Saptashloki Durga Meaning — Line by Line

सप्तश्लोकी दुर्गा

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. oṃ asya śrīdurgāsaptaślokīstotramantrasya nārāyaṇa ṛṣiḥ,
  2. Verse 2. śiva uvāca —
  3. Verse 3. devyuvāca —
  4. Verse 4. oṃ jñānināmapi cetāṃsi devī bhagavatī hi sā |
  5. Verse 5. durge smṛtā harasi bhītimaśeṣajantoḥ
  6. Verse 6. sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike |
  7. Verse 7. śaraṇāgatadīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe |
  8. Verse 8. sarvasvarūpe sarveśe sarvaśaktisamanvite |
  9. Verse 9. rogānaśeṣānapahaṃsi tuṣṭā
  10. Verse 10. sarvābādhāpraśamanaṃ trailokyasyākhileśvari |
Verse 1#

oṃ asya śrīdurgāsaptaślokīstotramantrasya nārāyaṇa ṛṣiḥ,

अस्य श्रीदुर्गासप्तश्लोकीस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य नारायण ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, श्रीमहाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वत्यो देवताः, श्रीदुर्गाप्रीत्यर्थं सप्तश्लोकीदुर्गापाठे विनियोगः

oṃ asya śrīdurgāsaptaślokīstotramantrasya nārāyaṇa ṛṣiḥ, anuṣṭup chandaḥ, śrīmahākālī-mahālakṣmī-mahāsarasvatyo devatāḥ, śrīdurgāprītyarthaṃ saptaślokīdurgāpāṭhe viniyogaḥ |

MeaningOm. For this hymn-mantra of the Durga Saptashloki, the seer is Narayana, the metre is Anushtup, the deities are Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati; it is recited for the pleasure of Sri Durga.

Verse 2#

śiva uvāca —

शिव उवाच देवि त्वं भक्तसुलभे सर्वकार्यविधायिनि कलौ हि कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमुपायं ब्रूहि यत्नतः

śiva uvāca — devi tvaṃ bhaktasulabhe sarvakāryavidhāyini | kalau hi kāryasiddhyarthamupāyaṃ brūhi yatnataḥ ||

MeaningShiva said: O Goddess, easily attained by devotees, accomplisher of all tasks — in this age of Kali, kindly tell me with care the means to attain success.

Verse 3#

devyuvāca —

देव्युवाच शृणु देव प्रवक्ष्यामि कलौ सर्वेष्टसाधनम् मया तव स्नेहेनाप्यम्बास्तुतिः प्रकाश्यते

devyuvāca — śṛṇu deva pravakṣyāmi kalau sarveṣṭasādhanam | mayā tava ca snehenāpyambāstutiḥ prakāśyate ||

MeaningThe Goddess said: Listen, O Lord, I shall declare the means to fulfil every desire in the Kali age. Out of love for you, the praise of the Mother is now revealed.

Verse 4#

oṃ jñānināmapi cetāṃsi devī bhagavatī hi sā |

ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवी भगवती हि सा बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति १॥

oṃ jñānināmapi cetāṃsi devī bhagavatī hi sā | balādākṛṣya mohāya mahāmāyā prayacchati || 1||

Meaning1. That Divine Goddess Bhagavati, the great Mahamaya, forcibly seizes even the minds of the wise and casts them into delusion.

Verse 5#

durge smṛtā harasi bhītimaśeṣajantoḥ

दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता २॥

durge smṛtā harasi bhītimaśeṣajantoḥ svasthaiḥ smṛtā matimatīva śubhāṃ dadāsi | dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi kā tvadanyā sarvopakārakaraṇāya sadārdracittā || 2||

Meaning2. O Durga, when remembered you remove the fear of every creature; remembered by the well, you bestow a most auspicious mind. O remover of poverty, sorrow and fear — who other than you is ever tender-hearted to do good to all?

Verse 6#

sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike |

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ३॥

sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike | śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo'stu te || 3||

Meaning3. O auspiciousness of all auspicious things, O benevolent Shiva, accomplisher of all aims, O refuge, three-eyed Gauri, O Narayani — salutations to you.

Verse 7#

śaraṇāgatadīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe |

शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ४॥

śaraṇāgatadīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe | sarvasyārtihare devi nārāyaṇi namo'stu te || 4||

Meaning4. O you ever-devoted to rescuing the meek and the afflicted who take refuge, O remover of everyone's distress, O Narayani — salutations to you.

Verse 8#

sarvasvarūpe sarveśe sarvaśaktisamanvite |

सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ५॥

sarvasvarūpe sarveśe sarvaśaktisamanvite | bhayebhyastrāhi no devi durge devi namo'stu te || 5||

Meaning5. O you who are the very form of all, ruler of all, endowed with all power — protect us from all fears, O Goddess Durga; salutations to you.

Verse 9#

rogānaśeṣānapahaṃsi tuṣṭā

रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् त्वामाश्रितानां विपन्नराणां त्वामाश्रिता ह्याश्रयतां प्रयान्ति ६॥

rogānaśeṣānapahaṃsi tuṣṭā ruṣṭā tu kāmān sakalānabhīṣṭān | tvāmāśritānāṃ na vipannarāṇāṃ tvāmāśritā hyāśrayatāṃ prayānti || 6||

Meaning6. When pleased, you destroy all diseases; when displeased, you fulfil every cherished desire. Those who take refuge in you fall into no misfortune — indeed, those who take refuge in you themselves become a refuge for others.

Verse 10#

sarvābādhāpraśamanaṃ trailokyasyākhileśvari |

सर्वाबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम् ७॥

sarvābādhāpraśamanaṃ trailokyasyākhileśvari | evameva tvayā kāryamasmadvairivināśanam || 7||

Meaning7. O Mistress of all the three worlds, just as you have quelled every affliction, so too may you accomplish the destruction of our enemies.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

ज्ञानिनाम्
jñāninām
of the wise / the knowledgeable ones
अपि चेतांसि
api cetāṃsi
even the minds (of)
देवी भगवती
devī bhagavatī
the Divine Goddess Bhagavati
बलात् आकृष्य
balāt ākṛṣya
forcibly drawing away
मोहाय
mohāya
towards delusion
महामाया
mahāmāyā
the great cosmic illusion (Mahamaya)
दुर्गे स्मृता
durge smṛtā
O Durga, when remembered
हरसि भीतिम्
harasi bhītim
you remove fear
अशेषजन्तोः
aśeṣajantoḥ
of every living being
दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि
dāridrya-duḥkha-bhaya-hāriṇi
O remover of poverty, sorrow and fear
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये
sarva-maṅgala-māṅgalye
O auspiciousness of all that is auspicious
शिवे
śive
O benevolent one (consort of Shiva)
सर्वार्थसाधिके
sarvārtha-sādhike
O accomplisher of all goals
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके
śaraṇye tryambake
O refuge, O three-eyed one
नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते
nārāyaṇi namo'stu te
O Narayani (Shakti of Narayana), salutations to you
शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे
śaraṇāgata-dīnārta-paritrāṇa-parāyaṇe
O you devoted to protecting the helpless and the suffering who seek refuge
सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे
sarvasvarūpe sarveśe
O you who are the form of all, the ruler of all
भयेभ्यः त्राहि नः
bhayebhyaḥ trāhi naḥ
protect us from all fears
रोगान् अशेषान् अपहंसि
rogān aśeṣān apahaṃsi
you destroy all diseases (when pleased)
सर्वाबाधाप्रशमनम्
sarvābādhā-praśamanam
the quelling of all afflictions/obstacles
अस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम्
asmad-vairi-vināśanam
the destruction of our enemies

Origin & History

Source: Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati / Chandi), part of the Markandeya Purana

Author: Sage Markandeya (the verses are spoken within a Shiva–Devi dialogue)

Period: Ancient (Devi Mahatmya c. 5th–6th century CE; verses earlier)

The Saptashloki is framed by a conversation between Lord Shiva and the Divine Mother. Shiva asks her to reveal the simplest and most certain means by which beings of the Kali age can attain their goals. In response, the Goddess discloses seven verses drawn from the Devi Mahatmya as the supreme distillation of her glory — a 'short Saptashati' that carries the protective force of the entire scripture for those unable to recite the whole.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Saptashloki Durga?
Saptashloki Durga is a prayer of seven verses selected from the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati). It is presented as Shiva's question and the Goddess's answer about the easiest path to spiritual success in the Kali age, and is regarded as the concentrated essence of all 700 verses.
Can I recite Saptashloki Durga instead of the full Durga Saptashati?
Yes. Traditionally these seven verses are recommended precisely for devotees who lack the time or ability to recite the complete 700-verse Saptashati. Chanting them daily with faith is said to grant the same protective grace of the Mother.
When is the best time to chant Saptashloki Durga?
It is especially powerful during Navratri and on Ashtami and Navami, as well as on Tuesdays and Fridays. For daily practice, dawn after bathing is ideal.
What do the famous verses 'Sarva Mangala Mangalye' and 'Sharanagata Dinarta' mean?
These verses, also found in the Durga Saptashati, salute the Goddess as Narayani — the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, the fulfiller of every aim, and the ever-watchful protector of the helpless and the suffering who come to her for refuge.

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