durgakatyayanidevishakti

Durga Ashtakam

श्री दुर्गाष्टकम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Navaratri (especially Ashtami and Navami), Fridays, and at dawn·📜 Traditional Shakta hymn (Durga stotra literature)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Durga Ashtakam ('Katyayani Mahamaye') is a popular eight-verse hymn saluting Goddess Durga in her many aspects — Katyayani, Kali, Yogamaya, the four Vedas and the eight-armed slayer of demons. Each verse closes with the refrain 'Durga-devi namo'stu te' — 'O Goddess Durga, salutations to you'. The closing phalashruti promises that whoever recites it with devotion gains all desires and reaches the abode of Durga.

Origin & Story

Traditional Shakta hymn (Durga stotra literature) · Unknown (traditional) · Puranic era

The Durga Ashtakam belongs to the rich body of devotional octets composed in praise of the Divine Mother. It draws its imagery from the Devi Mahatmya and the Bhagavata: Durga as Katyayani who slays Mahishasura, as Yogamaya born sister to Krishna, as the four Vedas embodied, and as the eight-armed warrior Goddess worshipped on the Ashtami and Navami of Navaratri. Its compact form has made it a favourite for daily recitation and for the great autumn Navaratri festival.

✦ As told in scripture

Worshippers recite the Durga Ashtakam on Maha-Ashtami night when the Goddess is believed to be most present; countless devotees attest that earnest recitation through Navaratri turned away grave difficulties and fulfilled long-cherished prayers, in keeping with the hymn's promise that the reciter 'obtains all his desires'.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

katyayani mahamaye khadga-bana-dhanur-dhari | khadga-dharini chandi durga-devi namo'stu te ||1||

Meaning:O Katyayani, great power of illusion, bearer of sword, arrow and bow, sword-wielding fierce Chandi — O Goddess Durga, salutations to you!

Verse 2

vasudeva-sute kali vasudeva-sahodari | vasundhare shriye durge durga-devi namo'stu te ||2||

Meaning:O Kali born as the daughter of Vasudeva, sister of Vasudeva (Krishna), O bearer of the earth's wealth and of Shri, O Durga — O Goddess Durga, salutations to you!

Verse 3

yoga-nidre maha-nidre yoga-maye maheshwari | yoga-siddhi-kari shuddhe durga-devi namo'stu te ||3||

Meaning:O Yoganidra, O great sleep, O Yogamaya, supreme sovereign, granter of success in yoga, ever-pure one — O Goddess Durga, salutations to you!

Verse 4

shankha-chakra-gada-pane sharngadyayudha-bahave | pitambara-dhare dhanye durga-devi namo'stu te ||4||

Meaning:O holder of conch, discus and mace, with the Sharnga bow and other weapons in your arms, clad in yellow silk, O blessed one — O Goddess Durga, salutations to you!

Verse 5

rig-yajuh-samatharvanash chatuh-samanta-lokini | brahma-svarupini brahmi durga-devi namo'stu te ||5||

Meaning:You are the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas, present in all the worlds around; O embodiment of Brahman, O Brahmi — O Goddess Durga, salutations to you!

Verse 6

vrishninam kula-sambhute vishnu-natha-sahodari | vrishni-rupa-dhare dhanye durga-devi namo'stu te ||6||

Meaning:O you born in the clan of the Vrishnis, sister of Lord Vishnu, who took the form among the Vrishnis, O blessed one — O Goddess Durga, salutations to you!

Verse 7

sarvajne sarvage sharve sarveshe sarva-sakshini | sarvamrita-jata-bhare durga-devi namo'stu te ||7||

Meaning:O all-knowing, all-pervading Sharva, Lord of all, witness of all, you who bear the matted locks dripping with all nectar — O Goddess Durga, salutations to you!

Verse 8

ashta-bahu mahasattve ashtami-navami-priye | attahasa-priye bhadre durga-devi namo'stu te ||8||

Meaning:O eight-armed one of great might, fond of the eighth and ninth lunar days, delighting in the loud laughter (attahasa), O auspicious Bhadra — O Goddess Durga, salutations to you!

Verse 9

durgashtakam idam punyam bhaktito yah pathen narah | sarva-kamam avapnoti durga-lokam sa gacchati ||

Meaning:Whoever, full of devotion, recites this holy Durga Ashtakam obtains all his desires and attains the abode of Durga.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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katyayani🔊O Katyayani — the Goddess born in the lineage of sage Katyayana

mahamaye🔊O great power of cosmic illusion (Maha-Maya)

khadga-bana-dhanur-dhari🔊Bearer of the sword, arrow and bow

chandi🔊O fierce Chandi

durga-devi namo'stu te🔊O Goddess Durga, salutations to you (the refrain ending each verse)

kali🔊O Kali (the dark, all-devouring power of time)

vasudeva-sahodari🔊Sister of Vasudeva (Krishna) — Yogamaya born to deliver him

vasundhare shriye🔊O bearer of wealth (Earth) and prosperity (Shri/Lakshmi)

yoga-nidre🔊O Yoganidra — the cosmic sleep of Vishnu

yoga-maye🔊O Yogamaya — the divine power of yogic illusion

yoga-siddhi-kari🔊Granter of success in yoga and spiritual attainment

shankha-chakra-gada-pane🔊Holding conch, discus and mace in your hands

pitambara-dhare🔊Clad in yellow silken garments

rig-yajuh-samatharvana🔊You are the four Vedas — Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva

brahma-svarupini🔊One whose very form is Brahman / the sacred Veda

vrishninam kula-sambhute🔊Born in the clan of the Vrishnis (Krishna's lineage)

sarvajne sarvage🔊O all-knowing, all-pervading one

sarva-sakshini🔊The witness of all (omniscient observer)

ashta-bahu🔊The eight-armed Goddess

ashtami-navami-priye🔊Fond of the eighth and ninth lunar days (the Durga-puja tithis)

durga-lokam sa gacchati🔊He attains the abode of Durga (Devi-loka)

Benefits of Chanting श्री दुर्गाष्टकम्

✦

A complete, concise salutation to Durga in her principal forms — ideal for daily worship

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The phalashruti promises fulfilment of all righteous desires (sarva-kama)

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Recitation is said to lead the devotee to Durga-loka, the Goddess's abode

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Especially powerful when chanted on Ashtami and Navami during Navaratri

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Invokes Durga as Yogamaya — granter of success in yoga and spiritual practice

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Affords protection, courage and the destruction of inner and outer enemies

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Short enough to memorise, making consistent devotion easy

How to Chant श्री दुर्गाष्टकम्

Repetitions8times

Best TimeNavaratri (especially Ashtami and Navami), Fridays, and at dawn

Sit before an image of Durga, light a lamp and offer red flowers and kumkum. Recite the eight verses with devotion, dwelling on the refrain 'Durga-devi namo'stu te' at the close of each, and conclude with the phalashruti. Recitation is most fruitful during Navaratri — particularly on the eighth (Ashtami) and ninth (Navami) days, which the hymn itself names as dear to the Goddess. Eight or nine recitations daily through Navaratri is a traditional practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete श्री दुर्गाष्टकम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn (ashtakam) addressed to Goddess Durga, beginning 'Katyayani Mahamaye'. Each verse praises a different aspect of the Goddess and ends with the salutation 'Durga-devi namo'stu te'.

In the Bhagavata tradition the Goddess took birth as Yogamaya, the sister of Krishna (Vasudeva's son), to protect him at his birth and announce the doom of Kamsa. So she is hailed as 'sister of Vasudeva/Vishnu', the same Yogamaya and Maha-Maya.

During Navaratri, and most especially on Ashtami and Navami — the eighth and ninth lunar days — which the hymn names as beloved of the Goddess (ashtami-navami-priye). It is also recited on Fridays and at dawn through the year.

The phalashruti (fruit-verse) declares that whoever recites this holy Durga Ashtakam with devotion 'obtains all his desires and goes to the abode of Durga' — promising both worldly fulfilment and ultimate residence with the Mother.