durgachandidevidhyana

Ya Chandi Madhu Kaitabha (Chandi Dhyana Shloka)

या चण्डी मधुकैटभ (चण्डी ध्यान श्लोक) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 During Navaratri, before a Durga Saptashati path, and on Tuesdays and Fridays·📜 Traditional dhyana shloka of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam) tradition

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This celebrated single-verse dhyana shloka gathers the entire Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam) into one breath, recalling the three great exploits of the Goddess: as Chandi she slew Madhu and Kaitabha; as Mahishasura-mardini she destroyed the buffalo-demon; and as the supreme Shakti she crushed Dhumralochana, Chanda, Munda, Raktabija, Shumbha and Nishumbha. It closes by praying that the Goddess, sovereign of the universe and present in her countless forms, may protect the devotee. It is widely recited as an invocatory dhyana before the Saptashati and as a powerful protective verse on its own.

Origin & Story

Traditional dhyana shloka of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam) tradition · Traditional · Classical

This verse is one of the best-loved invocatory dhyana shlokas associated with the Durga Saptashati. The Devi Mahatmyam unfolds in three charitas in which the Goddess, prayed to by gods and sages, manifests to destroy a succession of demons — Madhu and Kaitabha, the buffalo-demon Mahishasura, and finally Shumbha and Nishumbha with their generals Dhumralochana, Chanda, Munda and Raktabija. This single verse holds all those victories together and turns them into a prayer for protection, and so it is recited as the meditation verse opening a Chandi Path.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees hold that to recite this one verse with faith is to invoke the full protective force of the entire Saptashati, for it calls upon the Goddess in every form by which she has conquered evil — and the verse ends not in description but in refuge: 'may that Sovereign of the universe, with her nine crore forms, protect me.'

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The Mantra

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yā caṇḍī madhu-kaiṭabhādi-daitya-dalanī yā māhiṣonmūlinī yā dhūmrekṣaṇa-caṇḍa-muṇḍa-mathanī yā rakta-bījāśanī | śaktiḥ śumbha-niśumbha-daitya-dalanī yā siddhi-dātrī parā sā devī nava-koṭi-mūrti-sahitā māṃ pātu viśveśvarī ||

Meaning:She who, as Chandi, destroyed the demons Madhu, Kaitabha and the rest; who uprooted the buffalo-demon Mahishasura; who crushed Dhumralochana, Chanda and Munda; who devoured Raktabija; that Power who slew the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, the supreme bestower of all accomplishment — may that Goddess, the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, together with Her nine crore forms, protect me.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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yā caṇḍī🔊She who is Chandi (the fierce Goddess)

madhu-kaiṭabha-ādi-daitya-dalanī🔊the destroyer of the demons Madhu, Kaitabha and the rest (first charita)

yā māhiṣa-unmūlinī🔊She who uprooted (slew) the buffalo-demon Mahishasura (second charita)

dhūmra-īkṣaṇa-caṇḍa-muṇḍa-mathanī🔊the crusher of Dhumralochana, Chanda and Munda

yā rakta-bīja-aśanī🔊She who devoured the demon Raktabija

śaktiḥ🔊the (supreme) Power, Shakti

śumbha-niśumbha-daitya-dalanī🔊the destroyer of the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha (third charita)

yā siddhi-dātrī parā🔊She who is the supreme bestower of accomplishment (siddhi)

sā devī🔊that Goddess

nava-koṭi-mūrti-sahitā🔊accompanied by Her nine crore (countless) forms

māṃ pātu🔊may She protect me

viśveśvarī🔊the Sovereign Ruler of the universe

Benefits of Chanting या चण्डी मधुकैटभ (चण्डी ध्यान श्लोक)

✦

Condenses the whole Durga Saptashati and its three charitas into a single powerful verse

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Invokes the Goddess as slayer of Madhu-Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Chanda-Munda, Raktabija and Shumbha-Nishumbha

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Recited as the dhyana (meditation verse) before beginning a Saptashati / Chandi Path

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A complete protective prayer in itself, seeking the guard of Vishveshwari and her countless forms

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Bestows courage and victory over enemies and obstacles

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Especially chanted during Navaratri and on Tuesdays and Fridays

How to Chant या चण्डी मधुकैटभ (चण्डी ध्यान श्लोक)

Repetitions9times

Best TimeDuring Navaratri, before a Durga Saptashati path, and on Tuesdays and Fridays

Sit facing east or north before an image of Maa Durga. Recite this dhyana shloka with concentration, visualising the Goddess victorious over each demon named. It is traditionally chanted as the meditation verse at the start of a Chandi Path / Durga Saptashati recitation, and may also be repeated 9 or 108 times on its own as a protective prayer.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete या चण्डी मधुकैटभ (चण्डी ध्यान श्लोक) 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 a famous single-verse dhyana (meditation verse) that summarises the entire Durga Saptashati. In one verse it recalls how the Goddess slew Madhu and Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Dhumralochana, Chanda, Munda, Raktabija, and Shumbha and Nishumbha, and prays for her protection.

The demons named correspond to the three charitas (episodes) of the Devi Mahatmyam: Madhu-Kaitabha in the first, Mahishasura in the second, and Chanda, Munda, Raktabija, Shumbha and Nishumbha in the third. The verse thus encapsulates all three sections of the Saptashati.

It means 'accompanied by nine crore (ninety million) forms' — that is, the Goddess together with her countless manifestations. It expresses that the one Devi is present in innumerable forms throughout the universe.

It is most often recited as the opening dhyana before a Durga Saptashati / Chandi Path, especially during Navaratri. It is also chanted independently as a short, complete prayer for the Goddess's protection.