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श्री दुर्गाष्टकम् Meaning — Line by Line

श्री दुर्गाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of श्री दुर्गाष्टकम् with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. katyayani mahamaye khadga-bana-dhanur-dhari |
  2. Verse 2. vasudeva-sute kali vasudeva-sahodari |
  3. Verse 3. yoga-nidre maha-nidre yoga-maye maheshwari |
  4. Verse 4. shankha-chakra-gada-pane sharngadyayudha-bahave |
  5. Verse 5. rig-yajuh-samatharvanash chatuh-samanta-lokini |
  6. Verse 6. vrishninam kula-sambhute vishnu-natha-sahodari |
  7. Verse 7. sarvajne sarvage sharve sarveshe sarva-sakshini |
  8. Verse 8. ashta-bahu mahasattve ashtami-navami-priye |
  9. Verse 9. durgashtakam idam punyam bhaktito yah pathen narah |
Verse 1#

katyayani mahamaye khadga-bana-dhanur-dhari |

कात्यायनि महामाये खड्गबाणधनुर्धरि। खड्गधारिणि चण्डि दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥१॥

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

Meaningहे कात्यायनी, महामाये, खड्ग-बाण-धनुष धारण करने वाली, खड्गधारिणी चण्डी — हे देवि दुर्गे, आपको नमस्कार है!

Verse 2#

vasudeva-sute kali vasudeva-sahodari |

वसुदेवसुते कालि वासुदेवसहोदरि। वसुन्धरे श्रिये दुर्गे दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥२॥

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

Meaningहे वसुदेव की पुत्री काली, वासुदेव (कृष्ण) की सहोदरी, हे वसुन्धरा और श्री-स्वरूपा दुर्गे — हे देवि दुर्गे, आपको नमस्कार है!

Verse 3#

yoga-nidre maha-nidre yoga-maye maheshwari |

योगनिद्रे महानिद्रे योगमाये महेश्वरि। योगसिद्धिकरि शुद्धे दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥३॥

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

Meaningहे योगनिद्रा, हे महानिद्रा, हे योगमाया, महेश्वरी, योगसिद्धि देने वाली, शुद्धस्वरूपा — हे देवि दुर्गे, आपको नमस्कार है!

Verse 4#

shankha-chakra-gada-pane sharngadyayudha-bahave |

शङ्खचक्रगदापाणे शार्ङ्गाद्यायुधबाहवे। पीताम्बरधरे धन्ये दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥४॥

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

Meaningहे शङ्ख, चक्र और गदा धारण करने वाली, शार्ङ्ग आदि आयुधों से युक्त बाहुओं वाली, पीताम्बरधारिणी, धन्ये — हे देवि दुर्गे, आपको नमस्कार है!

Verse 5#

rig-yajuh-samatharvanash chatuh-samanta-lokini |

ऋग्यजुःसामाथर्वाणश्चतुःसामन्तलोकिनि। ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि ब्राह्मि दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥५॥

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

Meaningहे ऋक्, यजुः, साम और अथर्व — चारों वेदस्वरूपा, सब लोकों में व्याप्त, ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी ब्राह्मी — हे देवि दुर्गे, आपको नमस्कार है!

Verse 6#

vrishninam kula-sambhute vishnu-natha-sahodari |

वृष्णीनां कुलसम्भूते विष्णुनाथसहोदरि। वृष्णिरूपधरे धन्ये दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥६॥

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

Meaningहे वृष्णिकुल में जन्म लेने वाली, विष्णुनाथ की सहोदरी, वृष्णिरूपधारिणी, धन्ये — हे देवि दुर्गे, आपको नमस्कार है!

Verse 7#

sarvajne sarvage sharve sarveshe sarva-sakshini |

सर्वज्ञे सर्वगे शर्वे सर्वेशे सर्वसाक्षिणि। सर्वामृतजटाभारे दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥७॥

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

Meaningहे सर्वज्ञे, सर्वव्यापिनी, शर्वे, सर्वेश्वरी, सब की साक्षिणी, समस्त अमृत से युक्त जटा धारण करने वाली — हे देवि दुर्गे, आपको नमस्कार है!

Verse 8#

ashta-bahu mahasattve ashtami-navami-priye |

अष्टबाहु महासत्त्वे अष्टमीनवमीप्रिये। अट्टहासप्रिये भद्रे दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥८॥

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

Meaningहे अष्टभुजा महासत्त्वा, अष्टमी-नवमी तिथि की प्रिया, अट्टहास में रमने वाली, भद्रे — हे देवि दुर्गे, आपको नमस्कार है!

Verse 9#

durgashtakam idam punyam bhaktito yah pathen narah |

दुर्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं भक्तितो यः पठेन्नरः। सर्वकाममवाप्नोति दुर्गालोकं गच्छति॥

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

Meaningजो मनुष्य भक्तिपूर्वक इस पवित्र दुर्गाष्टक का पाठ करता है, वह समस्त कामनाओं को प्राप्त करता है और दुर्गालोक को जाता है।

Word-by-Word Breakdown

कात्यायनि
katyayani
O Katyayani — the Goddess born in the lineage of sage Katyayana
महामाये
mahamaye
O great power of cosmic illusion (Maha-Maya)
खड्गबाणधनुर्धरि
khadga-bana-dhanur-dhari
Bearer of the sword, arrow and bow
चण्डि
chandi
O fierce Chandi
दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते
durga-devi namo'stu te
O Goddess Durga, salutations to you (the refrain ending each verse)
कालि
kali
O Kali (the dark, all-devouring power of time)
वासुदेवसहोदरि
vasudeva-sahodari
Sister of Vasudeva (Krishna) — Yogamaya born to deliver him
वसुन्धरे श्रिये
vasundhare shriye
O bearer of wealth (Earth) and prosperity (Shri/Lakshmi)
योगनिद्रे
yoga-nidre
O Yoganidra — the cosmic sleep of Vishnu
योगमाये
yoga-maye
O Yogamaya — the divine power of yogic illusion
योगसिद्धिकरि
yoga-siddhi-kari
Granter of success in yoga and spiritual attainment
शङ्खचक्रगदापाणे
shankha-chakra-gada-pane
Holding conch, discus and mace in your hands
पीताम्बरधरे
pitambara-dhare
Clad in yellow silken garments
ऋग्यजुःसामाथर्वाण
rig-yajuh-samatharvana
You are the four Vedas — Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva
ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि
brahma-svarupini
One whose very form is Brahman / the sacred Veda
वृष्णीनां कुलसम्भूते
vrishninam kula-sambhute
Born in the clan of the Vrishnis (Krishna's lineage)
सर्वज्ञे सर्वगे
sarvajne sarvage
O all-knowing, all-pervading one
सर्वसाक्षिणि
sarva-sakshini
The witness of all (omniscient observer)
अष्टबाहु
ashta-bahu
The eight-armed Goddess
अष्टमीनवमीप्रिये
ashtami-navami-priye
Fond of the eighth and ninth lunar days (the Durga-puja tithis)
दुर्गालोकं स गच्छति
durga-lokam sa gacchati
He attains the abode of Durga (Devi-loka)

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Shakta hymn (Durga stotra literature)

Author: Unknown (traditional)

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Durga Ashtakam?
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'.
Why is Durga called Vasudeva-sahodari here?
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.
When is the best time to recite it?
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.
What does reciting it grant?
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.

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