Durga Quotes in Sanskrit With Meaning: Bio, WhatsApp Status and Saptashati Shlokas
When the gods had lost heaven to Mahishasura, their anger became a blaze of light, and the light became a woman with a thousand arms. She laughed, and the mountains shook. Her story is told in the Devi Mahatmya, the 700 verses people recite as the Durga Saptashati — and it is full of lines that sound like a war cry. Here are the Durga shlokas people reach for most for an Instagram bio, a WhatsApp status or a tattoo — each one complete in Sanskrit, never cut in half, with how to read it and its meaning in Hindi and English.
Every shloka comes with its real source and who says it. A few much-shared "Durga quotes" aren't from the Devi Mahatmya at all; we've marked those near the end.
Durga Sanskrit shlokas with meaning
The fiercest first. The Devi Mahatmya is chapters 81–93 of the Markandeya Purana; each source gives the Durga Saptashati chapter and the Markandeya Purana verse number. The Devanagari is checked against two public e-texts of the Markandeya Purana (GRETIL and Sanskrit Wikisource). Your printed Saptashati may number verses a little differently — Gita Press counts some lines separately — but the words are the same.
गर्ज गर्ज क्षणं मूढ मधु यावत्पिबाम्यहम् ।
मया त्वयि हतेऽत्रैव गर्जिष्यन्त्याशु देवताः ॥
मया त्वयि हतेऽत्रैव गर्जिष्यन्त्याशु देवताः ॥
garja garja kṣaṇaṃ mūḍha madhu yāvat pibāmy aham
mayā tvayi hate 'traiva garjiṣyanty āśu devatāḥ
mayā tvayi hate 'traiva garjiṣyanty āśu devatāḥ
“Roar, fool, roar for a moment, while I drink this honey. Once I have killed you, right here, it is the gods who will be roaring.”
रे मूढ़, जब तक मैं यह मधु पीती हूँ, तब तक क्षण भर गरज ले, गरज ले। यहीं मेरे हाथों तेरे मारे जाने पर शीघ्र ही देवता गर्जना करेंगे।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 3 (Markandeya Purana 83.37) · the Goddess to Mahishasura, as he hurls mountains at her
यो मां जयति संग्रामे यो मे दर्पं व्यपोहति ।
यो मे प्रतिबलो लोके स मे भर्ता भविष्यति ॥
यो मे प्रतिबलो लोके स मे भर्ता भविष्यति ॥
yo māṃ jayati saṃgrāme yo me darpaṃ vyapohati
yo me pratibalo loke sa me bhartā bhaviṣyati
yo me pratibalo loke sa me bhartā bhaviṣyati
“Whoever defeats me in battle, whoever breaks my pride, whoever is my match in strength in this world — he shall be my husband.”
जो मुझे युद्ध में जीत ले, जो मेरा अभिमान चूर कर दे, जो संसार में मेरे बराबर बलवान हो — वही मेरा पति होगा।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 5 (Markandeya Purana 85.72) · the Goddess to Shumbha's messenger, who came to claim her for his king
एकैवाहं जगत्यत्र द्वितीया का ममापरा ।
पश्यैता दुष्ट मय्येव विशन्त्यो मद्विभूतयः ॥
पश्यैता दुष्ट मय्येव विशन्त्यो मद्विभूतयः ॥
ekaivāhaṃ jagaty atra dvitīyā kā mamāparā
paśyaitā duṣṭa mayy eva viśantyo madvibhūtayaḥ
paśyaitā duṣṭa mayy eva viśantyo madvibhūtayaḥ
“I alone exist in this world — who else is there besides me? Look, wicked one: these powers of mine are returning into me.”
इस संसार में मैं अकेली ही हूँ; मेरे सिवा दूसरी कौन है? रे दुष्ट, देख — ये मेरी ही विभूतियाँ मुझमें ही समा रही हैं।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 10 (Markandeya Purana 90.3) · the Goddess to Shumbha, who taunted her for fighting with other goddesses' help
शूलेन पाहि नो देवि पाहि खड्गेन चाम्बिके ।
घण्टास्वनेन नः पाहि चापज्यानिःस्वनेन च ॥
घण्टास्वनेन नः पाहि चापज्यानिःस्वनेन च ॥
śūlena pāhi no devi pāhi khaḍgena cāmbike
ghaṇṭāsvanena naḥ pāhi cāpajyāniḥsvanena ca
ghaṇṭāsvanena naḥ pāhi cāpajyāniḥsvanena ca
“Protect us with your spear, Devi; protect us with your sword, Ambika. Protect us with the ring of your bell and the twang of your bowstring.”
हे देवि, शूल से हमारी रक्षा करो; हे अम्बिके, खड्ग से रक्षा करो। घण्टे की ध्वनि और धनुष की डोरी की टंकार से हमारी रक्षा करो।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 4 (Markandeya Purana 84.24) · the gods, after Mahishasura is slain
असुरासृग्वसापङ्कचर्चितस्ते करोज्ज्वलः ।
शुभाय खड्गो भवतु चण्डिके त्वां नता वयम् ॥
शुभाय खड्गो भवतु चण्डिके त्वां नता वयम् ॥
asurāsṛgvasāpaṅkacarcitas te karojjvalaḥ
śubhāya khaḍgo bhavatu caṇḍike tvāṃ natā vayam
śubhāya khaḍgo bhavatu caṇḍike tvāṃ natā vayam
“Your sword, smeared with the blood and fat of the asuras and gleaming in your hand — may it be for our good, Chandika. We bow to you.”
असुरों के रक्त और चर्बी के कीचड़ से सना, तुम्हारे हाथ में चमकता खड्ग हमारा कल्याण करे। हे चण्डिके, हम तुम्हें प्रणाम करते हैं।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 11 (Markandeya Purana 91.28) · the gods, after Shumbha is slain
केनोपमा भवतु तेऽस्य पराक्रमस्य
रूपं च शत्रुभयकार्यतिहारि कुत्र ।
चित्ते कृपा समरनिष्ठुरता च दृष्टा
त्वय्येव देवि वरदे भुवनत्रयेऽपि ॥
रूपं च शत्रुभयकार्यतिहारि कुत्र ।
चित्ते कृपा समरनिष्ठुरता च दृष्टा
त्वय्येव देवि वरदे भुवनत्रयेऽपि ॥
kenopamā bhavatu te 'sya parākramasya
rūpaṃ ca śatrubhayakāry atihāri kutra
citte kṛpā samaraniṣṭhuratā ca dṛṣṭā
tvayy eva devi varade bhuvanatraye 'pi
rūpaṃ ca śatrubhayakāry atihāri kutra
citte kṛpā samaraniṣṭhuratā ca dṛṣṭā
tvayy eva devi varade bhuvanatraye 'pi
“What could compare with this valour of yours? Where else is a form so lovely that strikes such fear into enemies? Mercy in the heart and ruthlessness in battle — in all three worlds, giver of boons, these are seen together only in you.”
तुम्हारे इस पराक्रम की तुलना किससे हो? शत्रुओं को भय देने वाला, फिर भी अत्यन्त मनोहर ऐसा रूप और कहाँ है? हृदय में कृपा और युद्ध में निष्ठुरता — हे वरदायिनी देवि, तीनों लोकों में ये दोनों केवल तुममें ही दिखाई देते हैं।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 4 (Markandeya Purana 84.22) · the gods, praising her after the battle
इत्थं यदा यदा बाधा दानवोत्था भविष्यति ।
तदा तदावतीर्याहं करिष्याम्यरिसंक्षयम् ॥
तदा तदावतीर्याहं करिष्याम्यरिसंक्षयम् ॥
itthaṃ yadā yadā bādhā dānavotthā bhaviṣyati
tadā tadāvatīryāhaṃ kariṣyāmy arisaṃkṣayam
tadā tadāvatīryāhaṃ kariṣyāmy arisaṃkṣayam
“And so, whenever trouble rises from the demons, I will come down and destroy the enemy.”
इस प्रकार जब-जब दानवों के कारण संकट उत्पन्न होगा, तब-तब मैं अवतार लेकर शत्रुओं का संहार करूँगी।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 11 (Markandeya Purana 91.51) · the Goddess's promise to the gods
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śaktirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namaḥ
namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namaḥ
“To the Goddess who dwells in every being as power — salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.”
जो देवी सब प्राणियों में शक्ति के रूप में स्थित है, उसे नमस्कार, उसे नमस्कार, उसे नमस्कार, बार-बार नमस्कार।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 5 (Markandeya Purana 85.18) · the gods' hymn on the Himalaya, when Shumbha and Nishumbha had taken heaven
अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दनुते
गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते ।
भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥
गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते ।
भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥
ayi girinandini nanditamedini viśvavinodini nandanute
girivaravindhyaśirodhinivāsini viṣṇuvilāsini jiṣṇunute
bhagavati he śitikaṇṭhakuṭumbini bhūrikuṭumbini bhūrikṛte
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute
girivaravindhyaśirodhinivāsini viṣṇuvilāsini jiṣṇunute
bhagavati he śitikaṇṭhakuṭumbini bhūrikuṭumbini bhūrikṛte
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute
“O daughter of the mountain, who gladdens the earth and delights the universe, praised by Nandi; who lives on the peak of the great Vindhya, Vishnu's joy, praised by Indra; O Goddess, wife of the blue-throated Shiva, mother of a vast family, doer of great deeds — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura, lovely one with braided hair, daughter of the mountain.”
हे पर्वतराज की पुत्री, पृथ्वी को आनन्दित करने वाली, विश्व को प्रसन्न करने वाली, नन्दी द्वारा स्तुत; विन्ध्य पर्वत के शिखर पर निवास करने वाली, विष्णु को आनन्द देने वाली, इन्द्र द्वारा स्तुत; हे भगवती, नीलकण्ठ शिव की गृहिणी, विशाल परिवार वाली, महान कार्य करने वाली — हे महिषासुर का मर्दन करने वाली, सुन्दर जटाओं वाली शैलपुत्री, तुम्हारी जय हो, जय हो।
Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, verse 1 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (the attribution is disputed) — a separate hymn, not part of the Devi Mahatmya
सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते ।
भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
sarvasvarūpe sarveśe sarvaśaktisamanvite
bhayebhyas trāhi no devi durge devi namo 'stu te
bhayebhyas trāhi no devi durge devi namo 'stu te
“You who are the form of everything, ruler of all, holder of every power — save us from our fears, Devi. Durga, Devi, salutation to you.”
हे सर्वस्वरूपा, सबकी स्वामिनी, सब शक्तियों से युक्त देवि, भयों से हमारी रक्षा करो। हे दुर्गे, हे देवि, तुम्हें नमस्कार है।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 11 (Markandeya Purana 91.24) · the gods, after Shumbha is slain
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike
śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te
śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te
“The auspiciousness in all that is auspicious, the kind one who brings every aim to fulfilment, our refuge, three-eyed Gauri — Narayani, salutation to you.”
सब मंगलों का मंगल, कल्याणकारिणी, सब मनोरथ पूरे करने वाली, शरण देने वाली, तीन नेत्रों वाली गौरी — हे नारायणि, तुम्हें नमस्कार है।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 11 (Markandeya Purana 91.9) · the gods' Narayani hymn
शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे ।
सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
śaraṇāgatadīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe
sarvasyārtihare devi nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te
sarvasyārtihare devi nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te
“You who are wholly given to rescuing the helpless and the suffering who come to you for refuge, who take away everyone's pain — Devi, Narayani, salutation to you.”
शरण में आए दीनों और दुखियों की रक्षा में सदा लगी रहने वाली, सबकी पीड़ा हरने वाली हे देवि नारायणि, तुम्हें नमस्कार है।
Devi Mahatmya ch. 11 (Markandeya Purana 91.11) · the gods' Narayani hymn
दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः
स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि ।
दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या
सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता ॥
स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि ।
दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या
सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता ॥
durge smṛtā harasi bhītim aśeṣajantoḥ
svasthaiḥ smṛtā matim atīva śubhāṃ dadāsi
dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi kā tvadanyā
sarvopakārakaraṇāya sadārdracittā
svasthaiḥ smṛtā matim atīva śubhāṃ dadāsi
dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi kā tvadanyā
sarvopakārakaraṇāya sadārdracittā
“Durga, remembered in danger, you take away the fear of every creature; remembered by those at ease, you give a mind full of good. Remover of poverty, sorrow and fear — who but you has a heart always soft with the wish to help everyone?”
हे दुर्गे, संकट में स्मरण करने पर तुम सब प्राणियों का भय हर लेती हो, और सुख में स्मरण करने पर अत्यन्त शुभ बुद्धि देती हो। दरिद्रता, दुख और भय हरने वाली, तुम्हारे सिवा और कौन है जिसका हृदय सबका उपकार करने के लिए सदा दया से भरा रहता हो?
Devi Mahatmya ch. 4 (Markandeya Purana 84.17) · the gods, after Mahishasura is slain
Famous "Durga quotes" that aren't from the Devi Mahatmya
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ॐ जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनीGenuine Sanskrit and recited by millions — it opens the Argala Stotra, which Durga Saptashati books print before the main text. But it isn't in the thirteen chapters of the Devi Mahatmya itself (Markandeya Purana 81–93); we searched them.Argala Stotra · printed with the Saptashati, not part of the Devi Mahatmya
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अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनिOften thought to be from the Durga Saptashati. It's the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, a separate, later hymn traditionally credited to Adi Shankaracharya — a credit scholars dispute. Its first verse is above, marked as such.Mahishasura Mardini Stotram · not the Devi Mahatmya
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माँ सदा सहायतेThe short line on our own Mahishasuramardini poster. It's a devotional phrase — "Maa is always there to help" — not a verse from any scripture we know of.Devotional phrase · not scripture
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जय माता दीThe greeting of pilgrims to Vaishno Devi, in Punjabi rather than Sanskrit. A heartfelt cry, but not a line from the Devi Mahatmya or any Purana.Popular greeting · not scripture
Questions people ask
What is the most famous Durga shloka?
“या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता, नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः” — from the gods' hymn in chapter 5 of the Devi Mahatmya. In the same hymn the Goddess is praised as dwelling in all beings as intelligence, hunger, forgiveness, faith, mother and more. Close behind is “सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये” from chapter 11.
Which Durga shloka is the most fierce?
“गर्ज गर्ज क्षणं मूढ” — “roar, fool, roar for a moment, while I drink” — which the Goddess says to Mahishasura just before she pins him under her foot (Saptashati ch. 3). For pure resolve, many choose her vow in chapter 5: “यो मां जयति संग्रामे” — only one who defeats her in battle may claim her.
Is the Durga Saptashati the same as the Devi Mahatmya?
Yes. Saptashati means "seven hundred" — the Devi Mahatmya's roughly 700 verses, which are chapters 81 to 93 of the Markandeya Purana. Recitation books add other hymns around it, like the Kavacha, Argala and Keelaka.
Is "Ayi Giri Nandini" from the Durga Saptashati?
No. It's the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, a separate hymn traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. It tells the same battle, but it isn't part of the Devi Mahatmya.
Where do these meanings come from?
The Sanskrit is from the Markandeya Purana as given in the GRETIL and Sanskrit Wikisource e-texts. The English and Hindi meanings are our own close renderings.
The whole battle, on one wall
