durgadeviyudhishthiramahabharata

Yudhishthira Krita Durga Stotram

युधिष्ठिरकृत दुर्गा स्तोत्रम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning; before a difficult or uncertain undertaking; during Navaratri and on Tuesdays and Fridays·📜 Mahabharata, Virata Parva (Pandava-Pravesha Parva)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Yudhishthira Krita Durga Stotram is the hymn that Yudhishthira, eldest of the Pandavas, recited to Goddess Durga at the beginning of the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata. As the brothers entered upon their year of concealment in the city of Virata, Yudhishthira invoked the Goddess for protection so that they might pass the year unrecognised. He praises her as the daughter born in Nanda's house, the sister of Krishna, the slayer of demons and the unfailing refuge of the devout. Pleased, the Goddess appeared and granted the Pandavas her protection and the boon of victory.

Origin & Story

Mahabharata, Virata Parva (Pandava-Pravesha Parva) · Veda Vyasa (the hymn spoken by Yudhishthira) · 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.

✦ As told in scripture

The Mahabharata relates that the Goddess, appearing before Yudhishthira, promised that by her grace the Pandavas would remain unrecognised in Virata's city and would soon regain their kingdom by vanquishing the Kauravas. Tradition holds that those who recite this hymn with faith receive the same protection — safe passage through danger and the Mother's shelter in their hour of need.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

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 | śilā-taṭa-vinikṣiptām-ākāśaṃ prati gāminīm ||

Meaning:who 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 | divyāmbara-dharāṃ devīṃ khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇīm ||

Meaning:the 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 | tān vai tārayate pāpāt paṅke gām-iva durbalām ||

Meaning:Those 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 | āmantrya darśanākāṅkṣī rājā devīṃ sahānujaḥ ||

Meaning:Then, 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 | bālārka-sadṛśākāre pūrṇa-candra-nibhānane ||

Meaning:Salutations 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 Meaning

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yaśodā-garbha-sambhūtāṃ🔊born from the womb of Yashoda

nārāyaṇa-vara-priyām🔊the beloved who received the boon of Narayana

nanda-gopa-kule jātāṃ🔊born in the household of the cowherd Nanda

maṅgalyāṃ kula-vardhinīm🔊the auspicious one who increases the prosperity of the family

kaṃsa-vidrāvaṇa-karīm🔊she who put Kamsa to flight (terrified him)

asurāṇāṃ kṣayaṅkarīm🔊the destroyer of the Asuras (demons)

śilā-taṭa-vinikṣiptām🔊she who was dashed against the rock (by Kamsa)

ākāśaṃ prati gāminīm🔊rose up into the sky (and revealed her divine form)

vāsudevasya bhaginīṃ🔊the sister of Vasudeva's son (Krishna)

divya-mālya-vibhūṣitām🔊adorned with celestial garlands

divyāmbara-dharāṃ devīṃ🔊the Goddess clad in divine garments

khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇīm🔊the bearer of the sword and the shield

bhārāvataraṇe puṇye🔊in the sacred (mission of) relieving the earth of its burden

ye smaranti sadāśivām🔊those who remember the ever-auspicious Goddess

tān vai tārayate pāpāt🔊she surely delivers them from sin

paṅke gām-iva durbalām🔊as one lifts a weak cow stuck in the mire

stotuṃ pracakrame bhūyaḥ🔊(the king) began once more to praise her

rājā devīṃ sahānujaḥ🔊the king (Yudhishthira), together with his younger brothers, (praised) the Goddess

namo'stu varade kṛṣṇe🔊salutations to You, O bestower of boons, O dark-hued one (Krishna)

kumāri brahmacāriṇi🔊O ever-youthful virgin, O Brahmacharini (practitioner of austerity)

bālārka-sadṛśākāre pūrṇa-candra-nibhānane🔊O You whose form is radiant like the rising sun, with a face like the full moon

Benefits of Chanting युधिष्ठिरकृत दुर्गा स्तोत्रम्

✦

Recited for divine protection during times of danger, concealment and difficulty

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Invokes the Goddess as the slayer of demons and the guardian of the righteous

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Said to deliver the devotee from sin and calamity, as it delivered the Pandavas

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Bestows victory, courage and success in difficult and uncertain undertakings

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A prayer of refuge (sharanagati) blessed by the protection granted to the Pandavas

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Cultivates faith in the Mother as the unfailing shelter of those who remember her

How to Chant युधिष्ठिरकृत दुर्गा स्तोत्रम्

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning; before a difficult or uncertain undertaking; during Navaratri and on Tuesdays and Fridays

As Yudhishthira did when entering Virata's city, recite the hymn with folded hands and a heart seeking the Mother's shelter and protection. It is especially suited to recitation before entering upon any difficult, hidden or dangerous task, or when one feels in need of refuge. Meditate on the Goddess bearing sword and shield, the sister of Krishna and the slayer of demons, and surrender to her as the giver of protection and victory.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete युधिष्ठिरकृत दुर्गा स्तोत्रम् 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 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.

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.

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.

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.