durgadeviambikashumbha-nishumbha

Yo Mam Jayati Sangrame (The Devi's Battle Vow)

यो मां जयति सङ्ग्रामे (देवी की प्रतिज्ञा)

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 During Navratri, on Ashtami, or whenever facing a great challenge or confrontation·📜 Durga Saptashati Chapter 5

Also known as: yo mam jayati sangrame · devi pratijna durga saptashati · ambika battle vow · sa me bharta bhavishyati · devi reply to sugriva

📜 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 Devi's fearless battle-vow from Chapter 5 of the Durga Saptashati, spoken with a deep inward smile to the demon-messenger Sugriva. When Shumbha, smitten by her beauty, demands that she become his consort, Ambika (Kaushiki) replies that she is bound by a vow: only the one who conquers her in battle and humbles her pride may win her hand. With these words she throws open the great war of the Devi against Shumbha and Nishumbha.

Origin & Story

Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 · Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana) · Ancient (part of the Markandeya Purana, c. 400–600 CE)

In the Uttama Charita, the asuras Shumbha and Nishumbha have driven the gods from heaven. The Goddess Ambika (Kaushiki), sprung from Parvati's body, dwells radiant upon the Himalaya. The demon-servants Chanda and Munda report her unmatched beauty to Shumbha, who sends the messenger Sugriva to win her with promises of supreme sovereignty. Smiling deeply, the Devi answers with her vow that only the one who defeats her in battle may have her hand — challenging Shumbha or Nishumbha to come and conquer her first, and thereby igniting the great war that ends in their destruction.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that this single fearless vow sealed the fate of Shumbha and Nishumbha: by demanding to be 'won in battle,' the Devi drew the proud demons into a war they could not survive. Devotees facing intimidation recite it believing that, like the Mother, those who stand in calm, righteous strength cannot be overpowered by arrogance.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

देव्युवाच सत्यमुक्तं त्वया नात्र मिथ्या किञ्चित्त्वयोदितम् । त्रैलोक्याधिपतिः शुम्भो निशुम्भश्चापि तादृशः ॥

devyuvāca satyamuktaṃ tvayā nātra mithyā kiñcittvayoditam trailokyādhipatiḥ śumbho niśumbhaścāpi tādṛśaḥ

Meaning:The Devi said: You have spoken the truth; nothing untrue have you said. Shumbha is indeed the lord of the three worlds, and so likewise is Nishumbha. But how can what has been vowed in this matter be made false? Hear the vow which, out of little wisdom, I made long ago: 'He who conquers me in battle, who removes my pride, who is my match in strength in the world — he alone shall be my husband.' So let Shumbha come here, or the mighty Nishumbha; conquering me, let him take my hand at once — why delay?

Verse 2

किं त्वत्र यत्प्रतिज्ञातं मिथ्या तत्क्रियते कथम् । श्रूयतामल्पबुद्धित्वात्प्रतिज्ञा या कृता पुरा ॥

kiṃ tvatra yatpratijñātaṃ mithyā tatkriyate katham śrūyatāmalpabuddhitvātpratijñā yā kṛtā purā

Verse 3

यो मां जयति सङ्ग्रामे यो मे दर्पं व्यपोहति । यो मे प्रतिबलो लोके स मे भर्ता भविष्यति ॥

yo māṃ jayati saṅgrāme yo me darpaṃ vyapohati yo me pratibalo loke sa me bhartā bhaviṣyati

Verse 4

तदागच्छतु शुम्भोऽत्र निशुम्भो वा महाबलः । मां जित्वा किं चिरेणात्र पाणिं गृह्णातु मे लघु ॥

tadāgacchatu śumbho'tra niśumbho vā mahābalaḥ māṃ jitvā kiṃ cireṇātra pāṇiṃ gṛhṇātu me laghu

Word-by-Word Meaning

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देव्युवाच🔊devyuvācaThe Devi (Ambika/Kaushiki) said

सत्यमुक्तं त्वया🔊satyamuktaṃ tvayāWhat you have said is true

मिथ्या किञ्चित्🔊mithyā kiñcitAnything false / untrue

त्रैलोक्याधिपतिः🔊trailokyādhipatiḥLord/sovereign of the three worlds

शुम्भो निशुम्भः🔊śumbho niśumbhaḥShumbha and Nishumbha (the two asura brothers)

प्रतिज्ञातं🔊pratijñātaṃThat which has been vowed/promised

अल्पबुद्धित्वात्🔊alpabuddhitvātOut of little wisdom / girlish simplicity

प्रतिज्ञा ... पुरा🔊pratijñā ... purāThe vow that was made long ago

यो मां जयति सङ्ग्रामे🔊yo māṃ jayati saṅgrāmeHe who conquers me in battle

यो मे दर्पं व्यपोहति🔊yo me darpaṃ vyapohatiHe who removes/dispels my pride

यो मे प्रतिबलो लोके🔊yo me pratibalo lokeHe who is my equal in strength in the world

स मे भर्ता भविष्यति🔊sa me bhartā bhaviṣyatiHe alone shall become my husband

तदागच्छतु🔊tadāgacchatuSo let (him) come here

महाबलः🔊mahābalaḥThe mighty one (Nishumbha)

मां जित्वा🔊māṃ jitvāHaving conquered me

पाणिं गृह्णातु मे लघु🔊pāṇiṃ gṛhṇātu me laghuLet him take my hand at once — why delay?

Benefits of Chanting Yo Mam Jayati Sangrame (The Devi's Battle Vow)

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Invokes the Devi's invincible courage and self-sovereignty in the face of intimidation

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Recited for inner strength to stand firm against arrogance, coercion and adharmic pressure

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Embodies the principle that the divine Mother yields to no one but truth and rightful strength

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Inspires devotees to face their own 'demons' (ego, fear, temptation) with calm fearlessness

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Part of the Uttama Charita of the Saptashati, whose presiding deity is Mahasaraswati

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Strengthens resolve to keep one's vows (pratijna) and act with dignity

How to Chant Yo Mam Jayati Sangrame (The Devi's Battle Vow)

Repetitions9times

Best TimeDuring Navratri, on Ashtami, or whenever facing a great challenge or confrontation

Recite facing an image of Durga/Ambika after lighting a lamp, ideally as part of the fifth chapter of the Durga Saptashati. Chant with a steady, dignified voice, dwelling on the Devi's calm, smiling fearlessness before the demon's threats. Devotees seeking courage in adversity may repeat the central verse 'Yo mam jayati sangrame' as a focused affirmation of fearless resolve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ambika declares: 'He who conquers me in battle, who removes my pride, who is my equal in strength in the world — he alone shall be my husband.' It is both a challenge to Shumbha and Nishumbha and a declaration of her absolute self-sovereignty.

It appears in Chapter 5 of the Durga Saptashati (Devi's Dialogue with the Messenger), verses 67–70, when the asura-messenger Sugriva conveys Shumbha's proposal and the Devi gives her smiling reply.

She speaks with playful irony, calling it a vow made 'alpabuddhitvat' (out of girlish simplicity) — yet it is precisely this vow that forces the demons into the battle in which they are destroyed, revealing her supreme power.

It teaches fearless dignity: the divine Mother cannot be won by wealth, flattery or threats, but only by rightful strength and truth. Devotees draw on it for courage to remain unshaken before arrogance and coercion.