Durga Saptashloki
The Seven Verses to Goddess Durga
Durga Saptashloki: seven verses to the Goddess, gathered from the Devi Mahatmya, recited for protection and the fulfilment of wishes.
Verses
Indeed, that supreme Goddess, the Divine Mother, forcibly draws even the minds of the wise and delivers them to delusion through Her great Māyā.
Verse 1
O Durgā, when remembered, You remove the fear of every creature; when remembered by those who are tranquil, You bestow the highest wisdom. O remover of poverty, sorrow, and fear, who else but You has a heart ever moist for performing all acts of kindness?
Verse 2
O You who are the most auspicious of all auspicious things, O consort of Śiva, O accomplisher of all aims, O refuge, O three-eyed One, O Gaurī, O Nārāyaṇī, salutations to You.
Verse 3
O Goddess who is intent on protecting the surrendered, the distressed, and the afflicted, O remover of all afflictions, O Nārāyaṇī, salutations to You.
Verse 4
O You who are of all forms, the Lord of all, endowed with all powers, protect us from fears, O Goddess Durgā, O Nārāyaṇī, salutations to You.
Verse 5
When pleased, You remove all diseases; when angered, You destroy all desirable and desired wishes. For those who have taken refuge in You, there is no calamity; those who are surrendered to You attain the highest refuge.
Verse 6
O Queen of the three worlds, You bring complete cessation of all obstacles. In this very manner, You should accomplish the destruction of our enemies. Thus ends the Śrī Durgā Saptaślokī.
Verse 7
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)
Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)
Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering
- Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home
Background
The Durga Saptashloki is a seven-verse prayer drawn from the Devi Mahatmya, also called the Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path, a part of the Markandeya Purana that is traditionally credited to Vyasa. In the Sanskrit Documents text of the Devi Mahatmya its verses occur at 1.55-56, 4.17, 11.10, 11.12, 11.24, 11.29 and 11.39, so the Saptashloki is a compilation, not a separate composition. The best known of them, 'sarva-mangala-mangalye', is Devi Mahatmya 11.10. A dialogue between Shiva and the Goddess is placed before the verses, and the text is recited on Navaratri and before auspicious undertakings.
About this Text
Composed by: Maharishi Vedavyasa · Ancient Vedic Rishi · Traditional antiquity
Traditionally credited as the compiler of the four Vedas and the author of the Mahabharata (within which the Bhagavad Gita appears) and the Puranas — making him one of the most cited authorial figures in the entire Hindu canon, spanning philosophy, epic narrative, and devotional literature.
Did You Know?
A Compact Text
The Durga Saptashloki distils the 700-verse Devi Mahatmya into seven verses, so it can be recited by those who cannot read the whole book.
Where Each Verse Comes From
The seven verses sit in the Devi Mahatmya at 1.55-56, 4.17, 11.10, 11.12, 11.24, 11.29 and 11.39 in the Sanskrit Documents text.
A Divine Dialogue
Before the verses, Shiva asks the Goddess for a simple means of success in the Kali Yuga, and she answers by revealing this prayer.
The Power of Remembrance
The second verse, from Devi Mahatmya 4.17, says that remembering Durga takes away the fear of all beings and gives the settled a good mind.
The Threefold Goddess
Its invocation names Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati as presiding deities and Narayana as the sage (rishi); the metre is Anushtubh.
Refuge and Protection
Verses 3 and 4 salute her as Narayani, refuge of the distressed, verse 5 asks her to save us from fears, and the last verse prays for the calming of every trouble.
Devi
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