Durga Chalisa

Salutations again and again to Durga, the bestower of happiness; salutations again and again to Durga, the remover of sorrow.

Your light is formless and radiant; it spreads illumination across all three worlds.

Your forehead shines like the moon, Your face is vast and majestic; Your eyes are red, and Your eyebrows are fierce.

O Mother, Your form is exceedingly beautiful; those who behold You experience immense joy.

You have taken on the power of the world; for its sustenance, You have given food and wealth.

You became Annapurna, the giver of food, and nourished the world; You are the primordial, beautiful maiden.

At the time of dissolution, You are the destroyer of all; You are Gauri, beloved of Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva and the yogis sing Your praises; Brahma and Vishnu meditate upon You always.

You assumed the form of Saraswati; granting wisdom, You saved the sages and ascetics.

O Mother, You took the form of Narasimha; You appeared by tearing apart the pillar.

You protected and saved Prahlada; You sent Hiranyakashipu to heaven, ending his life.

You assumed the form of Lakshmi in the world; You are united with Lord Narayana.

You delight in the ocean of milk; O ocean of compassion, grant the hope of my heart.

In Hinglaj, You are Bhavani; Your glory is boundless and cannot be fully described.

You are Matangi and Mother Dhumavati; You are Bhuvaneshwari and Bagalamukhi, the giver of happiness.

You are Shri Bhairavi and Tara, the savior of the world; O Chhinnamasta, You remove the sorrows of worldly existence.

O Bhavani, riding a lion, You look splendid; brave attendants walk ahead of You.

In Your hand, the skull-bowl and sword shine; seeing them, even Death flees in fear.

Your weapons and trident are resplendent; they cause piercing pain in the hearts of enemies.

You dwell in Nagarkot; Your victory drums resound throughout the three worlds.

You slew the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha; You destroyed Raktabija and Shankha.

The king Mahishasura was extremely arrogant; due to his sins, the earth became troubled.

You assumed the fierce form of Kali; You destroyed him along with his army.

Whenever the saints faced great distress, O Mother, You came to their aid at that very time.

In the immortal city and in Indra's realm, all remain free from sorrow through Your glory.

In the flame of the eternal fire is Your light; men and women always worship You.

Those who sing Your glory with love and devotion; sorrow and poverty never come near them.

Whoever meditates upon You with a focused mind; their cycle of birth and death is ended.

Yogis, gods, and sages proclaim loudly; without Your power, yoga cannot be attained.

Lord Shiva performed great penance; He conquered lust and anger and subdued all.

He meditated day and night on Shiva; at no time did he remember You.

He did not understand the secret of Your power; when his power left him, then he repented in his mind.

He surrendered and proclaimed Your glory: "Victory, victory, victory to Jagadamba Bhavani!"

The primordial Mother of the world became pleased; She bestowed power without any delay.

O Mother, I am surrounded by great suffering; without You, who can remove my sorrow?

Hope and desire torment me greatly; may delusion, pride, and all such vices be destroyed.

O Great Queen, destroy my enemies; I remember You with single-minded focus, O Bhavani.

O compassionate Mother, show Your grace; grant me prosperity and spiritual powers, and make me fulfilled.

As long as I live, may I receive the fruit of Your mercy; I will always sing Your glory.

Whoever recites the Shri Durga Chalisa enjoys all pleasures and attains the supreme state.

Considering Devidas as Your own refuge, O Jagadamba Bhavani, please shower Your grace.