Saptashloki Durga | 7 Powerful Shlokas of Goddess Durga
Saptashloki Durga is a powerful collection of seven sacred verses dedicated to Goddess Durga. Traditionally recited as a prayer for divine protection, strength, courage, and peace, these shlokas offer a meaningful way to deepen your spiritual practice. Listen to the authentic chant, follow along with the verses, and immerse yourself in the devotion and grace of Maa Durga. In this lesson: • Seven sacred Durga shlokas • Authentic Sanskrit chanting • Spiritual meaning and devotion • A peaceful practice for prayer and reflection Listen. Chant. Understand. Connect Within.
Commentary
श्री दुर्गा सप्तश्लोकी | Durga Saptashloki
Seven Verses from the Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati)
About This Stotra
Durga Saptashloki ("Seven Verses of Durga") is a set of seven shlokas drawn from different chapters of the Devi Mahatmyam — the 700-verse text also known as Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path, which forms the scriptural core of Navaratri worship.
Tradition holds that these seven verses were given by the Goddess herself in answer to a question from Shiva: what could a devotee recite, in an age when reciting all 700 verses is impractical, to receive the same grace as the full text? Each shloka carries its own blessing — release from fear, protection from poverty and sorrow, refuge for the distressed, freedom from disease, and destruction of obstacles. Together they are treated as a condensed, complete form of the Devi Mahatmyam suitable for daily chanting, especially during Navaratri.
The viniyoga (dedication) that opens the stotra names Sage Narayana as the seer, the Anushtup and related metres as the chandas, and the three great goddesses — Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati — as the presiding deities.
विनियोगः | Viniyoga
Devanagari
ॐ अस्य श्रीदुर्गासप्तश्लोकीस्तोत्रमहामन्त्रस्य नारायण ऋषिः ।
अनुष्टुपादीनि छन्दांसि । श्रीमहाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वत्यो देवताः ।
श्री जगदम्बाप्रीत्यर्थं पाठे विनियोगः ॥
తెలుగు
ఓం అస్య శ్రీదుర్గాసప్తశ్లోకీస్తోత్రమహామంత్రస్య నారాయణ ఋషిః ।
అనుష్టుపాదీని ఛందాంసి । శ్రీమహాకాళీమహాలక్ష్మీమహాసరస్వత్యో దేవతాః ।
శ్రీ జగదంబాప్రీత్యర్థం పాఠే వినియోగః ॥
ಕನ್ನಡ
ಓಂ ಅಸ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀದುರ್ಗಾಸಪ್ತಶ್ಲೋಕೀಸ್ತೋತ್ರಮಹಾಮಂತ್ರಸ್ಯ ನಾರಾಯಣ ಋಷಿಃ ।
ಅನುಷ್ಟುಪಾದೀನಿ ಛಂದಾಂಸಿ । ಶ್ರೀಮಹಾಕಾಲೀಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಮಹಾಸರಸ್ವತ್ಯೋ ದೇವತಾಃ ।
ಶ್ರೀ ಜಗದಂಬಾಪ್ರೀತ್ಯರ್ಥಂ ಪಾಠೇ ವಿನಿಯೋಗಃ ॥
English
Om asya shri-durgaa-sapta-shlokii-stotra-mahaa-mantrasya naaraayana rrshih |
Anushtupaadiini chandaamsi | Shrii-mahaakaalii-mahaalakshmii-mahaasarasvatyo devataah |
Shrii jagad-ambaa-priityartham paatthe viniyogah ||
Interpretation: This declares the pedigree of the mantra before it is chanted — Sage Narayana is its seer, Anushtup and related metres are its rhythm, and Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati are its presiding deities. The stotra is recited for the pleasure and grace of Jagadamba, the Mother of the Universe.
श्लोक १ | Shloka 1
Devanagari
ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवी भगवती हि सा ।
बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति ॥१॥
తెలుగు
జ్ఞానినామపి చేతాంసి దేవీ భగవతీ హి సా ।
బలాదాకృష్య మోహాయ మహామాయా ప్రయచ్ఛతి ॥౧॥
ಕನ್ನಡ
ಜ್ಞಾನಿನಾಮಪಿ ಚೇತಾಂಸಿ ದೇವೀ ಭಗವತೀ ಹಿ ಸಾ ।
ಬಲಾದಾಕೃಷ್ಯ ಮೋಹಾಯ ಮಹಾಮಾಯಾ ಪ್ರಯಚ್ಛತಿ ॥೧॥
English
Jnyaaninaam-api cetaamsi devii bhagavatii hi saa |
Balaad-aakrshya mohaaya mahaa-maayaa prayacchati ||1||
Meaning & Interpretation: Even the minds of the wise — those who have progressed far on the spiritual path — are not beyond Her reach. Devi Bhagavati, in Her form as Mahamaya, can by Her own power draw even a Jnani's mind toward delusion. This opening verse establishes the sheer scale of Her power: she is the force underlying both bondage and liberation, and no being, however evolved, stands outside Her sway. It is often read as a reminder of humility — that wisdom itself is Her gift, not an escape from Her.
श्लोक २ | Shloka 2
Devanagari
दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः
स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि ।
दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या
सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता ॥२॥
తెలుగు
దుర్గే స్మృతా హరసి భీతిమశేషజన్తోః
స్వస్థైః స్మృతా మతిమతీవ శుభాం దదాసి ।
దారిద్ర్యదుఃఖభయహారిణి కా త్వదన్యా
సర్వోపకారకరణాయ సదార్ద్రచిత్తా ॥౨॥
ಕನ್ನಡ
ದುರ್ಗೇ ಸ್ಮೃತಾ ಹರಸಿ ಭೀತಿಮಶೇಷಜನ್ತೋಃ
ಸ್ವಸ್ಥೈಃ ಸ್ಮೃತಾ ಮತಿಮತೀವ ಶುಭಾಂ ದದಾಸಿ ।
ದಾರಿದ್ರ್ಯದುಃಖಭಯಹಾರಿಣಿ ಕಾ ತ್ವದನ್ಯಾ
ಸರ್ವೋಪಕಾರಕರಣಾಯ ಸದಾರ್ದ್ರಚಿತ್ತಾ ॥೨॥
English
Durge smrtaa harasi bhiitim-ashesha-jantoh
svasthaih smrtaa matim-atiiva shubhaam dadaasi |
daaridrya-duhkha-bhaya-haarinni kaa tvad-anyaa
sarvopakaara-karannaaya sadaardra-cittaa ||2||
Meaning & Interpretation: O Durga, when remembered, You remove the fear of every being; when kept in a settled mind, You grant an exceptionally auspicious understanding. Who else but You removes poverty, sorrow, and fear so completely? Your heart is forever soft with compassion, ready to help in every way. This verse is chanted as a direct appeal for protection and clarity — it moves from Her cosmic power in verse 1 to Her intimate, personal care for the devotee who simply remembers Her.
श्लोक ३ | Shloka 3
Devanagari
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥३॥
తెలుగు
సర్వమంగళమాంగల్యే శివే సర్వార్థసాధికే ।
శరణ్యే త్ర్యంబకే గౌరి నారాయణి నమోఽస్తు తే ॥౩॥
ಕನ್ನಡ
ಸರ್ವಮಂಗಲಮಾಂಗಲ್ಯೇ ಶಿವೇ ಸರ್ವಾರ್ಥಸಾಧಿಕೇ ।
ಶರಣ್ಯೇ ತ್ರ್ಯಂಬಕೇ ಗೌರಿ ನಾರಾಯಣಿ ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು ತೇ ॥೩॥
English
Sarva-manggala-maangalye shive sarvaartha-saadhike |
Sharannye try-ambake gauri naaraayanni namostu te ||3||
Meaning & Interpretation: Salutations to You, O Narayani — You who are the auspiciousness within all that is auspicious, the embodiment of well-being itself, and the One who fulfils every genuine goal of life (dharma, artha, kama, and moksha). You are the refuge-giver, three-eyed, radiant Gauri. This is one of the most widely chanted verses of the stotra on its own; it is a compact salutation covering Her role as source of all good fortune and final refuge.
श्लोक ४ | Shloka 4
Devanagari
शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे ।
सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥४॥
తెలుగు
శరణాగతదీనార్తపరిత్రాణపరాయణే ।
సర్వస్యార్తిహరే దేవి నారాయణి నమోఽస్తు తే ॥౪॥
ಕನ್ನಡ
ಶರಣಾಗತದೀನಾರ್ತಪರಿತ್ರಾಣಪರಾಯಣೇ ।
ಸರ್ವಸ್ಯಾರ್ತಿಹರೇ ದೇವಿ ನಾರಾಯಣಿ ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು ತೇ ॥೪॥
English
Sharannaagata-diina-aarta-paritraanna-paraayanne |
Sarvasyaarti-hare devi naaraayanni namostu te ||4||
Meaning & Interpretation: Salutations to You, O Devi Narayani — You are wholly devoted to protecting all who come to You in distress, whether they are helpless or in deep suffering, and You remove the anguish of every being who seeks You. Where verse 3 praised Her cosmic majesty, this verse turns to Her role as protector of the vulnerable — those who are poor, afflicted, or without recourse.
श्लोक ५ | Shloka 5
Devanagari
सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते ।
भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥५॥
తెలుగు
సర్వస్వరూపే సర్వేశే సర్వశక్తిసమన్వితే ।
భయేభ్యస్త్రాహి నో దేవి దుర్గే దేవి నమోఽస్తు తే ॥౫॥
ಕನ್ನಡ
ಸರ್ವಸ್ವರೂಪೇ ಸರ್ವೇಶೇ ಸರ್ವಶಕ್ತಿಸಮನ್ವಿತೇ ।
ಭಯೇಭ್ಯಸ್ತ್ರಾಹಿ ನೋ ದೇವಿ ದುರ್ಗೇ ದೇವಿ ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು ತೇ ॥೫॥
English
Sarva-svaruupe sarveshe sarva-shakti-samanvite |
Bhayebhyas-traahi no devi durge devi namostu te ||5||
Meaning & Interpretation: Salutations to You, O Devi Durga — You who exist as the form underlying everything, who rules over all, and who is endowed with every power. O Devi, protect us from all our fears. This is a direct plea for protection, naming Her as the one totality from which all other divine forms and powers emerge — so there is nowhere fear can hide that is beyond Her reach.
श्लोक ६ | Shloka 6
Devanagari
रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा
रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् ।
त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां
त्वामाश्रिता ह्याश्रयतां प्रयान्ति ॥६॥
తెలుగు
రోగానశేషానపహంసి తుష్టా
రుష్టా తు కామాన్ సకలానభీష్టాన్ ।
త్వామాశ్రితానాం న విపన్నరాణాం
త్వామాశ్రితా హ్యాశ్రయతాం ప్రయాంతి ॥౬॥
ಕನ್ನಡ
ರೋಗಾನಶೇಷಾನಪಹಂಸಿ ತುಷ್ಟಾ
ರುಷ್ಟಾ ತು ಕಾಮಾನ್ ಸಕಲಾನಭೀಷ್ಟಾನ್ ।
ತ್ವಾಮಾಶ್ರಿತಾನಾಂ ನ ವಿಪನ್ನರಾಣಾಂ
ತ್ವಾಮಾಶ್ರಿತಾ ಹ್ಯಾಶ್ರಯತಾಂ ಪ್ರಯಾಂತಿ ॥೬॥
English
Rogaan-asheshaan-apahamsi tushttaa
rushttaa tu kaamaan sakalaan-abhiishttaan |
Tvaam-aashritaanaam na vipan-naraannaam
tvaam-aashritaa hy-aashraya-taam prayaanti ||6||
Meaning & Interpretation: When pleased with a devotee, You remove all their illnesses without exception; but if displeased, You can withhold even their most cherished desires. Yet those who have taken refuge in You never truly come to ruin — for those who take Your refuge ultimately attain the highest refuge of all. This verse holds both sides of Devi's power together: grace that heals, and a warning against complacency, closing on the assurance that surrender to Her is never in vain.
श्लोक ७ | Shloka 7
Devanagari
सर्वाबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि ।
एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम् ॥७॥
తెలుగు
సర్వాబాధాప్రశమనం త్రైలోక్యస్యాఖిలేశ్వరి ।
ఏవమేవ త్వయా కార్యమస్మద్వైరివినాశనమ్ ॥౭॥
ಕನ್ನಡ
ಸರ್ವಾಬಾಧಾಪ್ರಶಮನಂ ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯಸ್ಯಾಖಿಲೇಶ್ವರಿ ।
ಏವಮೇವ ತ್ವಯಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಮಸ್ಮದ್ವೈರಿವಿನಾಶನಮ್ ॥೭॥
English
Sarvaa-baadhaa-prashamanam trai-lokyasyaakhile-shvari |
Evam-eva tvayaa kaaryam-asmad-vairi-vinaashanam ||7||
Meaning & Interpretation: O Ruler of all three worlds, please calm every affliction that troubles us; and in the same way, let our inner and outer enemies be destroyed by You. This closing verse is a final, practical prayer — for the removal of obstacles (physical, mental, and circumstantial) and for the defeat of whatever opposes the devotee's well-being, whether that is understood as literal adversaries or as inner enemies like fear, greed, and delusion.
Overall Theme
Read as a sequence, the seven verses move through a complete arc:
- Her unmatched power (even over the wise)
- Her personal compassion (removing fear, poverty, sorrow)
- Her cosmic majesty (source of all auspiciousness)
- Her protection of the helpless
- Her totality (all forms, all power)
- Her conditional grace (heals when pleased, a call to sincere devotion)
- Her final function (removing affliction, ending conflict)
This is why the Saptashloki is treated as a self-contained essence of the entire Devi Mahatmyam — in seven verses, it moves from Her transcendent nature to Her role as an intimate protector, ending with a concrete prayer for peace and the removal of obstacles. It is commonly chanted during Navaratri, on Fridays and Tuesdays associated with Devi worship, and as a shorter alternative when reciting the full Durga Saptashati (700 verses) is not practical.
Sanskrit text sourced from the Devi Mahatmyam (chapters 1, 4, and 11), rendered here in Devanagari, Telugu, and Kannada scripts with Roman transliteration.