Sarvasya Buddhirupena — Narayani Namostute (Cosmic Forms of the Mother) — Word-by-Word Meaning
सर्वस्य बुद्धिरूपेण — नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते (देवी के विश्वरूप)
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
सर्वस्य ... जनस्य हृदि संस्थिते
sarvasya ... janasya hṛdi saṃsthite
O you who abide in the heart of all people
बुद्धिरूपेण
buddhirūpeṇa
In the form of intelligence (buddhi)
स्वर्गापवर्गदे
svargāpavargade
O bestower of heaven (svarga) and liberation (apavarga)
नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते
nārāyaṇi namo'stu te
O Narayani, salutation be to you!
कलाकाष्ठादिरूपेण
kalākāṣṭhādirūpeṇa
In the form of kala, kashtha and the other divisions of time
परिणामप्रदायिनि
pariṇāmapradāyini
O you who bring about all transformations (change)
विश्वस्योपरतौ शक्ते
viśvasyoparatau śakte
O power capable of the dissolution of the universe
सृष्टिस्थितिविनाशानां
sṛṣṭisthitivināśānāṃ
Of creation, preservation and destruction
शक्तिभूते सनातनि
śaktibhūte sanātani
O you who are their (eternal) power, O eternal One
गुणाश्रये गुणमये
guṇāśraye guṇamaye
O abode of the gunas and embodiment of the gunas
शरणागत
śaraṇāgata
Those who have taken refuge in you
दीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे
dīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe
O you devoted to rescuing the lowly and the suffering
सर्वस्यार्तिहरे
sarvasyārtihare
O remover of the affliction of all
देवि
devi
O Goddess (Devi)
Complete Translation
O you who abide in the heart of all people as intelligence (buddhi), O bestower of heaven and liberation, O Devi Narayani, salutation be to you! O you who, in the form of moments and divisions of time (kala, kashtha and the rest), bring about all transformations, O power capable of the dissolution of the universe, O Narayani, salutation be to you! O you who are the eternal power of creation, preservation and destruction, O abode of the gunas and embodiment of the gunas, O Narayani, salutation be to you! O you who are devoted to rescuing the distressed and suffering who take refuge in you, O remover of all afflictions, O Devi Narayani, salutation be to you!
Origin & History
Source: Durga Saptashati Chapter 11
Author: Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana)
Period: Ancient (part of the Markandeya Purana, c. 400–600 CE)
After the Goddess slays the great asura Shumbha, Indra and the gods — their faces beaming with joy — extol her in the Narayani Stuti. These opening 'Narayani Namostute' verses salute her cosmic and inner aspects: the intelligence dwelling in every heart that grants heaven and liberation, the power that is time and works all change, the eternal Shakti of creation, preservation and dissolution and the abode of the gunas, and the ever-compassionate protector of the lowly and suffering who take refuge in her.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Narayani Namostute' mean?▼
It means 'O Narayani, salutation be to you.' Narayani is the Shakti of Narayana (Vishnu) and a name of the supreme Goddess. Each verse of this part of the Narayani Stuti closes with this surrendering salutation.
What does it mean that the Devi abides 'as buddhi in every heart'?▼
It means the Goddess is the very faculty of intelligence and discrimination present within all beings. By her grace the mind awakens, and she grants both svarga (heaven) and apavarga (liberation) — fulfilment in this world and release beyond it.
Where do these verses occur in the Durga Saptashati?▼
They are the opening 'Narayani Namostute' verses of the Narayani Stuti in Chapter 11 (verses 7, 8, 10 and 11), sung by Indra and the gods after the slaying of Shumbha, immediately around the famous 'Sarva-mangala-mangalye' verse.
How do these differ from the Matrika-forms verses of the same stuti?▼
These verses praise the Goddess in her cosmic and inner aspects — intelligence, time, the gunas, and refuge for the suffering — whereas the later verses ('Hamsayukta Vimanasthe' onward) salute her specific Mother-forms (Brahmani, Maheshwari, Chamunda, and the rest).
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