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Yudhishthira Krita Durga Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

युधिष्ठिरकृत दुर्गा स्तोत्रम्

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Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. yaśodā-garbha-sambhūtāṃ nārāyaṇa-vara-priyām |
  2. Verse 2. kaṃsa-vidrāvaṇa-karīm-asurāṇāṃ kṣayaṅkarīm |
  3. Verse 3. vāsudevasya bhaginīṃ divya-mālya-vibhūṣitām |
  4. Verse 4. bhārāvataraṇe puṇye ye smaranti sadāśivām |
  5. Verse 5. stotuṃ pracakrame bhūyo vividhaiḥ stotra-sambhavaiḥ |
  6. Verse 6. namo'stu varade kṛṣṇe kumāri brahmacāriṇi |
Verse 1#

yaśodā-garbha-sambhūtāṃ nārāyaṇa-vara-priyām |

यशोदागर्भसम्भूतां नारायणवरप्रियाम्। नन्दगोपकुले जातां मङ्गल्यां कुलवर्धिनीम्॥

yaśodā-garbha-sambhūtāṃ nārāyaṇa-vara-priyām | nanda-gopa-kule jātāṃ maṅgalyāṃ kula-vardhinīm ||

Meaning(I bow to her) who was born from the womb of Yashoda, the beloved who received the boon of Narayana, who took birth in the family of the cowherd Nanda, the auspicious one who increases the prosperity of the lineage;

Verse 2#

kaṃsa-vidrāvaṇa-karīm-asurāṇāṃ kṣayaṅkarīm |

कंसविद्रावणकरीमसुराणां क्षयङ्करीम्। शिलातटविनिक्षिप्तामाकाशं प्रति गामिनीम्॥

kaṃsa-vidrāvaṇa-karīm-asurāṇāṃ kṣayaṅkarīm | śilā-taṭa-vinikṣiptām-ākāśaṃ prati gāminīm ||

Meaningwho put Kamsa to flight and brings about the destruction of the Asuras; who, when dashed against the rock, sprang up into the sky (revealing her divine form);

Verse 3#

vāsudevasya bhaginīṃ divya-mālya-vibhūṣitām |

वासुदेवस्य भगिनीं दिव्यमाल्यविभूषिताम्। दिव्याम्बरधरां देवीं खड्गखेटकधारिणीम्॥

vāsudevasya bhaginīṃ divya-mālya-vibhūṣitām | divyāmbara-dharāṃ devīṃ khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇīm ||

Meaningthe sister of Krishna, adorned with celestial garlands, the Goddess clad in divine raiment, bearing the sword and the shield.

Verse 4#

bhārāvataraṇe puṇye ye smaranti sadāśivām |

भारावतरणे पुण्ये ये स्मरन्ति सदाशिवाम्। तान् वै तारयते पापात् पङ्के गामिव दुर्बलाम्॥

bhārāvataraṇe puṇye ye smaranti sadāśivām | tān vai tārayate pāpāt paṅke gām-iva durbalām ||

MeaningThose who remember the ever-auspicious Goddess in the sacred work of relieving the earth of its burden — her, she surely delivers from sin, as one lifts up a weak cow sunk in the mire.

Verse 5#

stotuṃ pracakrame bhūyo vividhaiḥ stotra-sambhavaiḥ |

स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमे भूयो विविधैः स्तोत्रसम्भवैः। आमन्त्र्य दर्शनाकाङ्क्षी राजा देवीं सहानुजः॥

stotuṃ pracakrame bhūyo vividhaiḥ stotra-sambhavaiḥ | āmantrya darśanākāṅkṣī rājā devīṃ sahānujaḥ ||

MeaningThen, longing for her vision, King Yudhishthira together with his younger brothers invoked the Goddess and began once more to praise her with many hymns of praise.

Verse 6#

namo'stu varade kṛṣṇe kumāri brahmacāriṇi |

नमोऽस्तु वरदे कृष्णे कुमारि ब्रह्मचारिणि। बालार्कसदृशाकारे पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानने॥

namo'stu varade kṛṣṇe kumāri brahmacāriṇi | bālārka-sadṛśākāre pūrṇa-candra-nibhānane ||

MeaningSalutations to You, O bestower of boons, O dark-hued Krishna (Goddess), O ever-youthful virgin, O Brahmacharini! O You whose form shines like the rising sun, with a face radiant as the full moon.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

यशोदागर्भसम्भूतां
yaśodā-garbha-sambhūtāṃ
born from the womb of Yashoda
नारायणवरप्रियाम्
nārāyaṇa-vara-priyām
the beloved who received the boon of Narayana
नन्दगोपकुले जातां
nanda-gopa-kule jātāṃ
born in the household of the cowherd Nanda
मङ्गल्यां कुलवर्धिनीम्
maṅgalyāṃ kula-vardhinīm
the auspicious one who increases the prosperity of the family
कंसविद्रावणकरीम्
kaṃsa-vidrāvaṇa-karīm
she who put Kamsa to flight (terrified him)
असुराणां क्षयङ्करीम्
asurāṇāṃ kṣayaṅkarīm
the destroyer of the Asuras (demons)
शिलातटविनिक्षिप्ताम्
śilā-taṭa-vinikṣiptām
she who was dashed against the rock (by Kamsa)
आकाशं प्रति गामिनीम्
ākāśaṃ prati gāminīm
rose up into the sky (and revealed her divine form)
वासुदेवस्य भगिनीं
vāsudevasya bhaginīṃ
the sister of Vasudeva's son (Krishna)
दिव्यमाल्यविभूषिताम्
divya-mālya-vibhūṣitām
adorned with celestial garlands
दिव्याम्बरधरां देवीं
divyāmbara-dharāṃ devīṃ
the Goddess clad in divine garments
खड्गखेटकधारिणीम्
khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇīm
the bearer of the sword and the shield
भारावतरणे पुण्ये
bhārāvataraṇe puṇye
in the sacred (mission of) relieving the earth of its burden
ये स्मरन्ति सदाशिवाम्
ye smaranti sadāśivām
those who remember the ever-auspicious Goddess
तान् वै तारयते पापात्
tān vai tārayate pāpāt
she surely delivers them from sin
पङ्के गाम् इव दुर्बलाम्
paṅke gām-iva durbalām
as one lifts a weak cow stuck in the mire
स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमे भूयः
stotuṃ pracakrame bhūyaḥ
(the king) began once more to praise her
राजा देवीं सहानुजः
rājā devīṃ sahānujaḥ
the king (Yudhishthira), together with his younger brothers, (praised) the Goddess
नमोऽस्तु वरदे कृष्णे
namo'stu varade kṛṣṇe
salutations to You, O bestower of boons, O dark-hued one (Krishna)
कुमारि ब्रह्मचारिणि
kumāri brahmacāriṇi
O ever-youthful virgin, O Brahmacharini (practitioner of austerity)
बालार्कसदृशाकारे पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानने
bālārka-sadṛśākāre pūrṇa-candra-nibhānane
O You whose form is radiant like the rising sun, with a face like the full moon

Origin & History

Source: Mahabharata, Virata Parva (Pandava-Pravesha Parva)

Author: Veda Vyasa (the hymn spoken by Yudhishthira)

Period: Itihasa (Epic) period

Having completed twelve years of forest exile, the Pandavas were bound to spend a thirteenth year in concealment, during which their discovery would have cost them another twelve years of banishment. As they approached the city of King Virata to live there in disguise, Yudhishthira, the eldest and most righteous of the brothers, turned his mind to the Divine Mother and invoked the Goddess Durga for protection. He glorified her as the daughter born in the house of Nanda the cowherd, the sister of Krishna, the one who terrified Kamsa and slays the Asuras, the auspicious bearer of sword and shield, and the unfailing refuge who lifts her devotees from the mire of sin. Pleased with his devotion, the Goddess appeared before him, granted the Pandavas her protection through the difficult year, and assured them of final victory and the recovery of their kingdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Yudhishthira Krita Durga Stotram?▼
It is the hymn to Goddess Durga recited by Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, at the start of the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata, as the Pandavas began their year of concealment (agyatavasa) in the kingdom of Virata. He invoked the Goddess for protection, and she appeared and blessed them.
Why did Yudhishthira pray to Durga at this time?▼
The Pandavas had to spend a thirteenth year incognito, and discovery would have meant another long exile. Before entering the city of Virata, Yudhishthira prayed to the Goddess Durga — the protector of the righteous — to shield them and let them pass the year unrecognised. Pleased, the Goddess granted them safety and assured victory.
Why is the Goddess described as born in Nanda's house and the sister of Krishna?▼
The hymn identifies Durga with Yoganidra, the divine Maya, who took birth as the daughter of Yashoda and Nanda and was exchanged for the infant Krishna. When Kamsa tried to dash her against a rock, she rose into the sky in her divine form. Hence she is praised as Krishna's sister, born in Nanda's family, and the one who terrified Kamsa.
Where in the Mahabharata is this stotra found?▼
It is found at the beginning of the Virata Parva (the Book of Virata) of the Mahabharata, in the section describing the Pandavas' entry into the kingdom of Virata for their year of concealment. It is sometimes called the Durga Nakshatra Malika Stuti.

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