Durga Chalisa — Lyrics in English with Meaning

Namo namo durge sukh karni ।
Namo namo ambe duhkh harni ॥

नमो नमो दुर्गे सुख करनी। नमो नमो अम्बे दुःख हरनी॥

Salutations to Durga, giver of happiness; salutations to Mother Ambe, remover of sorrow.

Nirankar hai jyoti tumhari ।
Tihun lok phaili ujiyari ॥

निरंकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी। तिहूँ लोक फैली उजियारी॥

Your light is formless, and its radiance spreads through all three worlds.

Shashi lalat mukh mahavishala ।
Netra lal bhrikuti vikrala ॥

शशि ललाट मुख महाविशाला। नेत्र लाल भृकुटि विकराला॥

The moon rests on your forehead, your face is vast, your eyes are red and your brows fierce.

Rup matu ko adhik suhave ।
Darash karat jan ati sukh pave ॥

रूप मातु को अधिक सुहावे। दरश करत जन अति सुख पावे॥

The Mother's form is supremely beautiful; devotees feel great joy at her darshan.

Tum sansar shakti lay kina ।
Palan hetu ann dhan dina ॥

तुम संसार शक्ति लय कीना। पालन हेतु अन्न धन दीना॥

All the power of the universe rests in you, and you give food and wealth to sustain it.

Annapurna hui jag pala ।
Tum hi adi sundari bala ॥

अन्नपूर्णा हुई जग पाला। तुम ही आदि सुन्दरी बाला॥

As Annapurna you nourish the world; you are also the primordial beautiful maiden.

Pralaykal sab nashan hari ।
Tum gauri shivashankar pyari ॥

प्रलयकाल सब नाशन हारी। तुम गौरी शिवशंकर प्यारी॥

At the time of dissolution you destroy everything, and you are Gauri, beloved of Shiva.

Shiv yogi tumhare gun gaven ।
Brahma vishnu tumhen nit dhyaven ॥

शिव योगी तुम्हरे गुण गावें। ब्रह्मा विष्णु तुम्हें नित ध्यावें॥

Shiva and the yogis sing your virtues; Brahma and Vishnu meditate on you every day.

Rup saraswati ko tum dhara ।
De subuddhi rishi munin ubara ॥

रूप सरस्वती को तुम धारा। दे सुबुद्धि ऋषि मुनिन उबारा॥

Taking the form of Saraswati you gave good sense to the sages and uplifted them.

Dharyo rup narsinh ko amba ।
Pargat bhai pharkar khamba ॥

धरयो रूप नरसिंह को अम्बा। परगट भई फाड़कर खम्बा॥

O Amba, it was you who took the form of Narasimha and burst out of the pillar.

Raksha kari prahlad bachayo ।
Hiranyaksh ko swarg pathayo ॥

रक्षा करि प्रह्लाद बचायो। हिरण्याक्ष को स्वर्ग पठायो॥

You protected and saved Prahlad and sent the demon to heaven by granting him liberation.

Lakshmi rup dharo jag mahin ।
Shri narayan ang samahin ॥

लक्ष्मी रूप धरो जग माहीं। श्री नारायण अंग समाहीं॥

In the world you took the form of Lakshmi and dwell with Shri Narayan.

Kshirasindhu men karat vilasa ।
Dayasindhu dijai man asa ॥

क्षीरसिन्धु में करत विलासा। दयासिन्धु दीजै मन आसा॥

You live in the ocean of milk; O ocean of compassion, fulfil the hopes of my heart.

Hinglaj men tumhin bhavani ।
Mahima amit na jat bakhani ॥

हिंगलाज में तुम्हीं भवानी। महिमा अमित न जात बखानी॥

At Hinglaj you are Bhavani; your boundless glory cannot be described.

Matangi aru dhumavti mata ।
Bhuvaneshvari bagla sukh data ॥

मातंगी अरु धूमावति माता। भुवनेश्वरी बगला सुख दाता॥

Matangi, Dhumavati, Bhuvaneshwari and Bagalamukhi, givers of happiness — all of them are you.

Shri bhairav tara jag tarini ।
Chhinn bhal bhav duhkh nivarini ॥

श्री भैरव तारा जग तारिणी। छिन्न भाल भव दुःख निवारिणी॥

As Bhairavi, as Tara who carries the world across, and as Chhinnamasta, you remove the sorrows of worldly life.

Kehri vahan soh bhavani ।
Langur vir chalat agvani ॥

केहरि वाहन सोह भवानी। लांगुर वीर चलत अगवानी॥

Bhavani shines riding the lion, and the brave Langur (Hanuman) walks ahead of her.

Kar men khappar khadga virajai ।
Jako dekh kal dar bhajai ॥

कर में खप्पर खड्ग विराजै। जाको देख काल डर भाजै॥

In your hands are the skull-bowl and the sword; at the sight of them even death runs in fear.

Sohai astra aur trishula ।
Jate uthat shatru hiy shula ॥

सोहै अस्त्र और त्रिशूला। जाते उठत शत्रु हिय शूला॥

Your weapons and trident gleam, striking fear into the hearts of enemies.

Nagarkot men tumhin virajat ।
Tihunlok men danka bajat ॥

नगरकोट में तुम्हीं विराजत। तिहुँलोक में डंका बाजत॥

You reside at Nagarkot (Kangra), and your drum of victory sounds through the three worlds.

Shumbh nishumbh danav tum mare ।
Raktabij shankhan sanhare ॥

शुम्भ निशुम्भ दानव तुम मारे। रक्तबीज शंखन संहारे॥

You killed the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh and destroyed countless demons like Raktabeej.

Mahishasur nrip ati abhimani ।
Jehi agh bhar mahi akulani ॥

महिषासुर नृप अति अभिमानी। जेहि अघ भार मही अकुलानी॥

The demon king Mahishasur was very arrogant; the earth groaned under the weight of his sins.

Rup karal kalika dhara ।
Sen sahit tum tihi sanhara ॥

रूप कराल कालिका धारा। सेन सहित तुम तिहि संहारा॥

Taking the terrible form of Kali, you destroyed him along with his army.

Pari garh santan par jab jab ।
Bhai sahay matu tum tab tab ॥

परी गाढ़ सन्तन पर जब जब। भई सहाय मातु तुम तब तब॥

Whenever the saints faced hardship, Mother, you came to their aid.

Amarpuri aru basav loka ।
Tab mahima sab rahen ashoka ॥

अमरपुरी अरु बासव लोका। तब महिमा सब रहें अशोका॥

The city of the gods and Indra's realm stay free of sorrow only by your glory.

Jvala men hai jyoti tumhari ।
Tumhen sada pujen nar-nari ॥

ज्वाला में है ज्योति तुम्हारी। तुम्हें सदा पूजें नर-नारी॥

Your flame burns at Jwala Devi, and men and women worship you always.

Prem bhakti se jo yash gaven ।
Duhkh daridra nikat nahin aven ॥

प्रेम भक्ति से जो यश गावें। दुःख दारिद्र निकट नहिं आवें॥

Sorrow and poverty never come near those who sing your glory with love and devotion.

Dhyave tumhen jo nar man lai ।
Janma-maran takau chhuti jai ॥

ध्यावे तुम्हें जो नर मन लाई। जन्म-मरण ताकौ छुटि जाई॥

Whoever meditates on you with a focused mind is freed from the cycle of birth and death.

Jogi sur muni kahat pukari ।
Yog na ho bin shakti tumhari ॥

जोगी सुर मुनि कहत पुकारी। योग न हो बिन शक्ति तुम्हारी॥

Yogis, gods and sages proclaim that yoga is impossible without your power.

Shankar acharaj tap kino ।
Kam aru krodh jiti sab lino ॥

शंकर आचारज तप कीनो। काम अरु क्रोध जीति सब लीनो॥

The teacher Shankar performed austerities and conquered desire and anger.

Nishidin dhyan dharo shankar ko ।
Kahu kal nahin sumiro tumko ॥

निशिदिन ध्यान धरो शंकर को। काहु काल नहिं सुमिरो तुमको॥

Day and night he meditated on Shiva, but never once remembered you.

Shakti rup ka maram na payo ।
Shakti gai tab man pachhitayo ॥

शक्ति रूप का मरम न पायो। शक्ति गई तब मन पछितायो॥

He did not grasp the secret of Shakti; when his power left him, he regretted it.

Sharanagat hui kirti bakhani ।
Jai jai jai jagadamb bhavani ॥

शरणागत हुई कीर्ति बखानी। जय जय जय जगदम्ब भवानी॥

Then he took refuge in you and sang your glory: victory, victory, victory to Jagadamba Bhavani!

Bhai prasann adi jagadamba ।
Dai shakti nahin kin vilamba ॥

भई प्रसन्न आदि जगदम्बा। दई शक्ति नहिं कीन विलम्बा॥

The primordial Mother was pleased and returned his power without delay.

Moko matu kasht ati ghero ।
Tum bin kaun harai duhkh mero ॥

मोको मातु कष्ट अति घेरो। तुम बिन कौन हरै दुःख मेरो॥

Mother, great troubles surround me; who but you can take away my sorrow?

Asha trishna nipat sataven ।
Moh madadik sab binshave ॥

आशा तृष्णा निपट सतावें। मोह मदादिक सब बिनशावें॥

Hopes and cravings torment me; destroy my attachment, pride and all such faults.

Shatru nash kijai maharani ।
Sumiraun ikchit tumhen bhavani ॥

शत्रु नाश कीजै महारानी। सुमिरौं इकचित तुम्हें भवानी॥

O great Queen, destroy my enemies; O Bhavani, I remember you with a single-pointed mind.

Karo kripa he matu dayala ।
Riddhi-siddhi dai karhu nihala ॥

करो कृपा हे मातु दयाला। ऋद्धि-सिद्धि दै करहु निहाला॥

Be gracious, kind Mother, and bless me with prosperity and success.

Jab lagi jiun daya phal paun ।
Tumharo yash main sada sunaun ॥

जब लगि जिऊँ दया फल पाऊँ। तुम्हरो यश मैं सदा सुनाऊँ॥

As long as I live may I receive your mercy, and may I always tell of your glory.

Shri durga chalisa jo koi gavai ।
Sab sukh bhog parampad pavai ॥

श्री दुर्गा चालीसा जो कोई गावै। सब सुख भोग परमपद पावै॥

Whoever sings the Shri Durga Chalisa enjoys every happiness and reaches the highest state.

Devidas sharan nij jani ।
Karhu kripa jagadamb bhavani ॥

देवीदास शरण निज जानी। करहु कृपा जगदम्ब भवानी॥

Knowing Devidas to be in your refuge, O Jagadamba Bhavani, be gracious to him.