Durga Chalisa: Meaning
The Durga Chalisa is a Hindi devotional hymn in forty chaupais; its closing line names the poet as Devidas. It praises the Goddess as formless light and as the power behind creation, preservation and dissolution, names her forms (Annapurna, Saraswati, Lakshmi, the Mahavidyas) and shrines (Hinglaj, Nagarkot, Jwalamukhi), recalls her victories over demons, and ends with a personal prayer and the benefits of recitation. The notes explain each chaupai simply.
नमो नमो दुर्गे सुख करनी । नमो नमो अम्बे दुःख हरनी ॥
namo namo durge sukha karanī । namo namo ambe duḥkha haranī ॥
सुख करनी sukha karanī giver of happiness दुःख हरनी duḥkha haranī remover of sorrow सुख देने वाली दुर्गा को नमस्कार, नमस्कार; दुख हरने वाली अम्बे को नमस्कार, नमस्कार।
Salutations, salutations to Durga, giver of happiness; salutations, salutations to Ambe, remover of sorrow.
Salutations, salutations to Durga, giver of happiness; salutations to Amba, remover of sorrow. The Chalisa opens directly with praise, without a doha.
निरंकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी । तिहूँ लोक फैली उजियारी ॥
niraṃkāra hai jyoti tumhārī । tihūm̐ loka phailī ujiyārī ॥
निरंकार niraṃkāra formless उजियारी ujiyārī radiance आपकी ज्योति निराकार है, और उसका प्रकाश तीनों लोकों में फैला है।
Your light is formless, and its brightness spreads through the three worlds.
Your light is formless, and its brightness spreads through the three worlds. The Goddess is first praised as formless light before her forms are described.
शशि ललाट मुख महाविशाला । नेत्र लाल भृकुटि विकराला ॥
śaśi lalāṭa mukha mahāviśālā । netra lāla bhṛkuṭi vikarālā ॥
शशि ललाट śaśi lalāṭa the moon on the forehead भृकुटि bhṛkuṭi brows विकराला vikarālā fearsome आपके ललाट पर चंद्रमा है, मुख अत्यंत विशाल (तेजस्वी) है; नेत्र लाल और भौंहें विकराल हैं।
The moon is on your forehead, your face is radiant and vast; your eyes are red and your brows fierce.
The moon on your forehead, a vast face, red eyes and fearsome brows.
रूप मातु को अधिक सुहावे । दरश करत जन अति सुख पावे ॥
rūpa mātu ko adhika suhāve । daraśa karata jana ati sukha pāve ॥
सुहावे suhāve pleasing दरश daraśa sight, darshan माता का रूप अत्यंत सुहावना है; दर्शन करके भक्त बहुत सुख पाते हैं।
The Mother's form is most lovely; seeing her, devotees feel great joy.
The Mother's form is most lovely; seeing her, people find great joy.
तुम संसार शक्ति लय कीना । पालन हेतु अन्न धन दीना ॥
tuma saṃsāra śakti laya kīnā । pālana hetu anna dhana dīnā ॥
लय laya dissolution पालन pālana sustaining आपने संसार की शक्ति को अपने में धारण किया है, और उसके पालन के लिए अन्न और धन दिया है।
You hold the power of the world within you, and give food and wealth for its sustenance.
You are the power that dissolves the world, and to sustain it you give grain and wealth.
अन्नपूर्णा हुई जग पाला । तुम ही आदि सुन्दरी बाला ॥
annapūrṇā huī jaga pālā । tuma hī ādi sundarī bālā ॥
अन्नपूर्णा annapūrṇā Annapurna, goddess of food आदि ādi primal अन्नपूर्णा बनकर आप जगत का पालन करती हैं; आप ही आदि सुंदरी बाला हैं।
As Annapurna you nourish the world; you are the primal, beautiful maiden.
As Annapurna you nourish the world; you are the primal beautiful maiden.
प्रलयकाल सब नाशन हारी । तुम गौरी शिवशंकर प्यारी ॥
pralayakāla saba nāśana hārī । tuma gaurī śivaśaṃkara pyārī ॥
प्रलयकाल pralayakāla time of dissolution प्रलय के समय आप सबका नाश करने वाली हैं; आप शिवशंकर की प्रिय गौरी हैं।
At the dissolution you destroy all; you are Gauri, beloved of Shiv-Shankar.
At the time of dissolution you destroy all; you are Gauri, beloved of Shiva Shankara.
शिव योगी तुम्हरे गुण गावें । ब्रह्मा विष्णु तुम्हें नित ध्यावें ॥
śiva yogī tumhare guṇa gāveṃ । brahmā viṣṇu tumheṃ nita dhyāveṃ ॥
ध्यावें dhyāveṃ meditate on शिव और योगी आपके गुण गाते हैं; ब्रह्मा और विष्णु नित्य आपका ध्यान करते हैं।
Shiva and the yogis sing your virtues; Brahma and Vishnu always meditate on you.
Shiva and the yogis sing your virtues; Brahma and Vishnu meditate on you daily.
रूप सरस्वती को तुम धारा । दे सुबुद्धि ऋषि मुनिन उबारा ॥
rūpa sarasvatī ko tuma dhārā । de subuddhi ṛṣi munina ubārā ॥
सुबुद्धि subuddhi good understanding आपने सरस्वती का रूप धारण किया, सुबुद्धि देकर ऋषि-मुनियों का उद्धार किया।
You took the form of Saraswati, gave good understanding and uplifted the sages.
You took the form of Saraswati and saved the sages by giving them good understanding.
धरा रूप नरसिंह को अम्बा । परगट भई फाड़कर खम्बा ॥
dharā rūpa narasiṃha ko ambā । paragaṭa bha:ī phāṙakara khambā ॥
खम्बा khambā pillar हे अम्बा, आपने नरसिंह रूप धरा और खंभा फाड़कर प्रकट हुईं।
Mother, you took the form of Narasimha and appeared by tearing open the pillar.
O Mother, you took the form of Narasimha and appeared by splitting the pillar. The Chalisa sees the Goddess as the power behind every avatar.
रक्षा करि प्रह्लाद बचायो । हिरण्याक्ष को स्वर्ग पठायो ॥
rakṣā kari prahlāda bacāyo । hiraṇyākṣa ko svarga paṭhāyo ॥
प्रह्लाद prahlāda Prahlad, the boy devotee आपने रक्षा कर प्रह्लाद को बचाया और हिरण्याक्ष को स्वर्ग भेजा (पाठ में हिरण्याक्ष नाम है; नरसिंह कथा में असुरराज उसका भाई हिरण्यकशिपु है)।
You protected and saved Prahlad, and sent Hiranyaksha to heaven (the text names Hiranyaksha; in the Narasimha story the demon king is his brother Hiranyakashipu).
You protected and saved Prahlad, and sent Hiranyakashipu's line to heaven (the line names Hiranyaksha).
लक्ष्मी रूप धरो जग माहीं । श्री नारायण अंग समाहीं ॥
lakṣmī rūpa dharo jaga māhīṃ । śrī nārāyaṇa aṃga samāhīṃ ॥
समाहीं samāhīṃ dwells within आपने जगत में लक्ष्मी रूप धारण किया और श्री नारायण के अंग में समाई हैं।
You took the form of Lakshmi in the world and dwell in the body of Shri Narayan.
You took the form of Lakshmi in the world and dwell within the body of Shri Narayana.
क्षीरसिन्धु में करत विलासा । दयासिन्धु दीजै मन आसा ॥
kṣīrasindhu meṃ karata vilāsā । dayāsindhu dījai mana āsā ॥
क्षीरसिन्धु kṣīrasindhu the ocean of milk दयासिन्धु dayāsindhu ocean of mercy आप क्षीरसागर में विहार करती हैं; हे दया की सागर, मन की आशा पूरी कीजिए।
You delight in the ocean of milk; ocean of mercy, fulfil the hopes of my heart.
You sport in the ocean of milk; ocean of mercy, fulfil the hope of my heart.
हिंगलाज में तुम्हीं भवानी । महिमा अमित न जात बखानी ॥
hiṃgalāja meṃ tumhīṃ bhavānī । mahimā amita na jāta bakhānī ॥
हिंगलाज hiṃgalāja Hinglaj, a shrine of the Goddess हिंगलाज में आप ही भवानी हैं; आपकी असीम महिमा का वर्णन नहीं हो सकता।
At Hinglaj you are Bhavani; your boundless glory cannot be described.
You are Bhavani at Hinglaj (a shrine in Balochistan); your boundless glory cannot be told.
मातंगी अरु धूमावति माता । भुवनेश्वरी बगला सुख दाता ॥
mātaṃgī aru dhūmāvati mātā । bhuvaneśvarī bagalā sukha dātā ॥
मातंगी mātaṃgī Matangi धूमावति dhūmāvati Dhumavati बगला bagalā Bagalamukhi आप मातंगी और धूमावती माता, भुवनेश्वरी और बगला हैं, जो सुख देने वाली हैं।
You are Matangi and Mother Dhumavati, Bhuvaneshvari and Bagala, givers of happiness.
Mother Matangi and Dhumavati, Bhuvaneshwari and Bagala, givers of happiness. These are among the ten Mahavidyas, the great wisdom-goddesses.
श्री भैरव तारा जग तारिणी । छिन्न भाल भव दुःख निवारिणी ॥
śrī bhairava tārā jaga tāriṇī । chinna bhāla bhava duḥkha nivāriṇī ॥
तारिणी tāriṇī who carries across छिन्न भाल chinna bhāla the severed-headed one (Chhinnamasta) आप श्री भैरवी और जग को तारने वाली तारा हैं, और संसार के दुख दूर करने वाली छिन्नमस्ता हैं।
You are Shri Bhairavi and Tara who carries the world across, and Chhinnamasta who removes the sorrows of worldly life.
Bhairavi and Tara, who carry the world across; Chhinnamasta, who removes the sorrow of worldly life. More of the Mahavidyas.
केहरि वाहन सोह भवानी । लांगुर वीर चलत अगवानी ॥
kehari vāhana soha bhavānī । lāṃgura vīra calata agavānī ॥
केहरि kehari lion अगवानी agavānī going ahead भवानी सिंह पर सवार शोभित हैं, और वीर लांगुर आगे-आगे चलते हैं।
Bhavani shines riding the lion, and the heroic Langur goes before her.
Bhavani looks splendid riding the lion; the hero Langur (Hanuman, or Bhairav in some traditions) goes before her.
कर में खप्पर खड्ग विराजै । जाको देख काल डर भाजे ॥
kara meṃ khappara khaḍga virājai । jāko dekha kāla ḍara bhāje ॥
खप्पर khappara skull-cup खड्ग khaḍga sword आपके हाथों में खप्पर और खड्ग विराजते हैं, जिन्हें देखकर काल भी डरकर भागता है।
The skull-bowl and sword shine in your hands; seeing them, even Death flees in fear.
In her hands shine the skull-cup and the sword; seeing them, even death flees in fear.
सोहै अस्त्र और त्रिशूला । जाते उठत शत्रु हिय शूला ॥
sohai astra aura triśūlā । jāte uṭhata śatru hiya śūlā ॥
शूला śūlā sharp pain अस्त्र और त्रिशूल आपको शोभा देते हैं, जिनसे शत्रुओं के हृदय में पीड़ा उठती है।
Weapons and the trident adorn you, which strike pain into the hearts of enemies.
Weapons and the trident adorn her, at which pain rises in the enemy's heart.
नगरकोट में तुम्हीं विराजत । तिहुंलोक में डंका बाजत ॥
nagarakoṭa meṃ tumhīṃ virājata । tihuṃloka meṃ ḍaṃkā bājata ॥
नगरकोट nagarakoṭa Nagarkot (Kangra), a Devi shrine डंका ḍaṃkā drum (of fame) नगरकोट में आप ही विराजती हैं; तीनों लोकों में आपका डंका बजता है।
You reside at Nagarkot; your drum of victory sounds through the three worlds.
You reside at Nagarkot (Kangra); your drum of fame sounds in the three worlds.
शुम्भ निशुम्भ दानव तुम मारे । रक्तबीज शंखन संहारे ॥
śumbha niśumbha dānava tuma māre । raktabīja śaṃkhana saṃhāre ॥
रक्तबीज raktabīja Raktabija, whose blood spawned new demons आपने शुम्भ और निशुम्भ दानवों को मारा, और रक्तबीज तथा शंखों का संहार किया।
You killed the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, and destroyed Raktabija and the Shankhas.
You killed the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, and destroyed Raktabija and Shankha.
महिषासुर नृप अति अभिमानी । जेहि अघ भार मही अकुलानी ॥
mahiṣāsura nṛpa ati abhimānī । jehi agha bhāra mahī akulānī ॥
अभिमानी abhimānī proud अघ agha sin मही mahī the earth महिषासुर अत्यंत अभिमानी राजा था, जिसके पापों के भार से पृथ्वी व्याकुल थी।
Mahishasura was an arrogant king, under the weight of whose sins the earth was distressed.
King Mahishasura was very proud; the earth was distressed by the weight of his sins.
रूप कराल कालिका धारा । सेन सहित तुम तिहि संहारा ॥
rūpa karāla kālikā dhārā । sena sahita tuma tihi saṃhārā ॥
कालिका kālikā Kalika (Kali) आपने कालिका का विकराल रूप धरकर उसे सेना सहित मार डाला।
Taking the fearsome form of Kalika, you destroyed him along with his army.
Taking the terrible form of Kalika, you destroyed him together with his army.
परी गाढ़ सन्तन पर जब जब । भई सहाय मातु तुम तब तब ॥
parī gāṙha santana para jaba jaba । bha:ī sahāya mātu tuma taba taba ॥
गाढ़ gāṙha hardship जब-जब संतों पर संकट पड़ा, तब-तब माता आप सहायक बनीं।
Whenever hardship fell on the saints, Mother, you came to their aid.
Whenever hardship fell on the saints, then you, Mother, came to help.
अमरपुरी अरु बासव लोका । तब महिमा सब रहें अशोका ॥
amarapurī aru bāsava lokā । taba mahimā saba raheṃ aśokā ॥
बासव bāsava Indra अशोका aśokā free of sorrow अमरपुरी और इंद्रलोक, सब आपकी महिमा से शोकरहित रहते हैं।
The city of the immortals and Indra's realm all remain free of sorrow by your glory.
Through your glory the city of the immortals and the world of Indra remain free of sorrow.
ज्वाला में है ज्योति तुम्हारी । तुम्हें सदा पूजें नर-नारी ॥
jvālā meṃ hai jyoti tumhārī । tumheṃ sadā pūjeṃ nara-nārī ॥
ज्वाला jvālā flame (Jwalamukhi shrine) ज्वाला (जी) में आपकी ज्योति है; नर-नारी सदा आपकी पूजा करते हैं।
Your light shines in the flame at Jwala; men and women always worship you.
Your light is in the flame (at Jwalamukhi); men and women always worship you.
प्रेम भक्ति से जो यश गावै । दुःख दारिद्र निकट नहिं आवें ॥
prema bhakti se jo yaśa gāvai । duḥkha dāridra nikaṭa nahiṃ āveṃ ॥
दारिद्र dāridra poverty जो प्रेम और भक्ति से आपका यश गाता है, दुख और दरिद्रता उसके निकट नहीं आते।
Whoever sings your glory with love and devotion, sorrow and poverty do not come near them.
Whoever sings your glory with loving devotion, sorrow and poverty do not come near.
ध्यावे तुम्हें जो नर मन लाई । जन्म-मरण ताकौ छुटि जाई ॥
dhyāve tumheṃ jo nara mana lāī । janma-maraṇa tākau chuṭi jāī ॥
जन्म-मरण janma-maraṇa birth and death जो मन लगाकर आपका ध्यान करता है, उसका जन्म-मरण छूट जाता है।
Whoever meditates on you with a devoted mind is freed from birth and death.
Whoever meditates on you with a focused mind is freed from birth and death.
जोगी सुर मुनि कहत पुकारी । योग न हो बिन शक्ति तुम्हारी ॥
jogī sura muni kahata pukārī । yoga na ho bina śakti tumhārī ॥
योग yoga yoga, union योगी, देवता और मुनि पुकारकर कहते हैं कि आपकी शक्ति के बिना योग नहीं होता।
Yogis, gods and sages proclaim that there is no yoga without your power.
Yogis, gods and sages proclaim: without your power (shakti) there can be no yoga.
शंकर आचारज तप कीनो । काम अरु क्रोध जीति सब लीनो ॥
śaṃkara ācāraja tapa kīno । kāma aru krodha jīti saba līno ॥
आचारज ācāraja teacher (acharya) शंकराचार्य ने तप किया और काम तथा क्रोध सबको जीत लिया।
Shankaracharya performed austerity and conquered desire and anger.
Shankaracharya performed austerities and conquered desire and anger. The story that follows is a traditional legend about the Advaita teacher.
निशिदिन ध्यान धरो शंकर को । काहु काल नहिं सुमिरो तुमको ॥
niśidina dhyāna dharo śaṃkara ko । kāhu kāla nahiṃ sumiro tumako ॥
निशिदिन niśidina day and night उन्होंने दिन-रात शंकर का ध्यान किया और कभी आपका स्मरण नहीं किया।
Day and night he meditated on Shankar, and never remembered you.
Day and night he meditated on Shankara, and never remembered you.
शक्ति रूप को मरम न पायो । शक्ति गई तब मन पछितायो ॥
śakti rūpa ko marama na pāyo । śakti ga:ī taba mana pachitāyo ॥
मरम marama secret, essence उन्होंने शक्ति रूप का मर्म नहीं जाना; जब शक्ति चली गई, तब मन में पछताए।
He did not grasp the secret of Shakti; when his power left him, he repented.
He did not understand the mystery of Shakti; when his strength left him, he regretted it.
शरणागत हुई कीर्ति बखानी । जय जय जय जगदम्ब भवानी ॥
śaraṇāgata huī kīrti bakhānī । jaya jaya jaya jagadamba bhavānī ॥
शरणागत śaraṇāgata one who takes refuge उन्होंने शरण में आकर आपकी कीर्ति का बखान किया: "जय जय जय जगदम्ब भवानी!"
He took refuge in you and praised your glory: "Victory, victory, victory to Jagadamba Bhavani!"
He took refuge in you and praised your glory: victory, victory, victory to Jagadamba Bhavani.
भई प्रसन्न आदि जगदम्बा । दई शक्ति नहिं कीन विलम्बा ॥
bha:ī prasanna ādi jagadambā । da:ī śakti nahiṃ kīna vilambā ॥
जगदम्बा jagadambā Mother of the world आदि जगदम्बा प्रसन्न हुईं और बिना देर किए उन्हें शक्ति दे दी।
The primal Jagadamba was pleased and restored his power without delay.
The primal Mother of the world was pleased and gave him back his power without delay.
मोको मातु कष्ट अति घेरो । तुम बिन कौन हरै दुःख मेरो ॥
moko mātu kaṣṭa ati ghero । tuma bina kauna harai duḥkha mero ॥
घेरो ghero surrounded माता, मुझे भारी कष्ट ने घेर रखा है; आपके बिना मेरा दुख कौन हरेगा?
Mother, great suffering surrounds me; who but you can take away my sorrow?
The poet turns to his own need: Mother, great trouble surrounds me; who but you will take away my sorrow?
आशा तृष्णा निपट सतावे । मोह मदादिक सब विनशावै ॥
āśā tṛṣṇā nipaṭa satāve । moha madādika saba vinaśāvai ॥
तृष्णा tṛṣṇā craving मदादिक madādika pride and the rest आशा और तृष्णा मुझे बहुत सताती हैं; मोह, मद आदि मुझे नष्ट कर रहे हैं।
Hope and craving torment me endlessly; delusion, pride and the rest are destroying me.
Hope and craving torment me terribly; destroy delusion, pride and all the rest.
शत्रु नाश कीजै महारानी । सुमिरौं इकचित तुम्हें भवानी ॥
śatru nāśa kījai mahārānī । sumirauṃ ikacita tumheṃ bhavānī ॥
इकचित ikacita single-mindedly हे महारानी, शत्रुओं का नाश कीजिए; हे भवानी, मैं एकचित्त होकर आपका स्मरण करता हूँ।
Great Queen, destroy my enemies; Bhavani, I remember you with single-minded devotion.
Destroy my enemies, great queen; I remember you single-mindedly, Bhavani.
करो कृपा हे मातु दयाला । ऋद्धि-सिद्धि दे करहु निहाला ॥
karo kṛpā he mātu dayālā । ṛddhi-siddhi de karahu nihālā ॥
निहाला nihālā fulfilled, content हे दयालु माता, कृपा कीजिए; ऋद्धि-सिद्धि देकर मुझे निहाल कीजिए।
Show mercy, compassionate Mother; bless me with prosperity and success.
Be gracious, kind Mother; give prosperity and success and make me content.
जब लगि जिऊँ दया फल पाऊँ । तुम्हरो यश मैं सदा सुनाऊँ ॥
jaba lagi jiūm̐ dayā phala pāūm̐ । tumharo yaśa maiṃ sadā sunāūm̐ ॥
यश yaśa glory जब तक जीऊँ, आपकी दया का फल पाऊँ और सदा आपका यश सुनाऊँ।
As long as I live, may I receive the fruit of your mercy and always sing your glory.
As long as I live may I receive the fruit of your mercy, and always tell your glory.
दुर्गा चालीसा जो नित गावै । सब सुख भोग परमपद पावै ॥
durgā cālīsā jo nita gāvai । saba sukha bhoga paramapada pāvai ॥
परमपद paramapada the highest state जो नित्य दुर्गा चालीसा गाता है, वह सब सुख भोगकर परम पद पाता है।
Whoever sings the Durga Chalisa daily enjoys every happiness and attains the highest state.
Whoever sings the Durga Chalisa daily enjoys every happiness and attains the highest state.
देवीदास शरण निज जानी । करहु कृपा जगदम्ब भवानी ॥
devīdāsa śaraṇa nija jānī । karahu kṛpā jagadamba bhavānī ॥
देवीदास devīdāsa Devidas, the poet देवीदास आपको अपनी शरण जानकर विनती करते हैं: हे जगदम्ब भवानी, कृपा कीजिए।
Devidas, knowing you as his refuge, prays: show mercy, Jagadamba Bhavani.
Knowing Devidas (the poet) to be one who has taken refuge in you, be gracious, Jagadamba Bhavani.
Sources & checks
- Commentary by
- SanatanVani editorial process
- Checked by
- SanatanVani editorial process
- Sources
- Durga, Wikipedia (2026)
- Mahavidya, Wikipedia (2026)