Durga · दुर्गा
श्री दुर्गा चालीसा
Durga Chalisa
Navratri, Tuesdays, Fridays, Durga Saptashati paath
40-chaupai chalisa to Mother Durga — popular opening dohas and key chaupais. Recited at Devi mandirs through Navratri.
Opening
देवनागरी
नमो नमो दुर्गे सुख करनी।
नमो नमो अंबे दुख हरनी॥
निरंकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी।
तिहूँ लोक फैली उजियारी॥
Transliteration
Namo namo Durge sukh karani
Namo namo Ambe dukh harani
Nirankar hai jyoti tumhari
Tihu lok phaili ujiyari
Meaning
Salutations, Mother Durga, giver of joy. Salutations, Mother Ambe, remover of grief. Your light is the formless flame; its brightness fills the three worlds.
· · ·
Verse 2
देवनागरी
शशि लिलाट मुख महा विशाला।
नेत्र लाल भृकुटि विकराला॥
रूप मातु को अधिक सुहावे।
दरश करत जन अति सुख पावे॥
Transliteration
Shashi lilaat mukh maha vishaalaa
Netra laal bhrikuti vikaraalaa
Roop maatu ko adhik suhaave
Darash karat jan ati sukh paave
Meaning
Moon upon your forehead, your face vast and majestic; eyes red, brow fierce. Your form, Mother, is supremely beautiful — those who behold you receive boundless joy.
· · ·
Verse 3
देवनागरी
तुम संसार शक्ति लय कीना।
पालन हेतु अन्न-धन दीना॥
अन्नपूर्णा हुई जग पाला।
तुम ही आदि सुन्दरी बाला॥
Transliteration
Tum sansaar shakti lay keenaa
Paalan hetu ann-dhan deenaa
Annapurnaa hui jag paalaa
Tum hi aadi sundaree baalaa
Meaning
You hold all the energies of the world. To sustain creation you grant grain and wealth. As Annapurna you nourish the world; you are the primordial young goddess of beauty.
· · ·
Verse 4
देवनागरी
प्रलयकाल सब नाशन हारी।
तुम गौरी शिवशंकर प्यारी॥
शिव योगी तुम्हरे गुण गावैं।
ब्रह्मा विष्णु तुम्हें नित ध्यावैं॥
Transliteration
Pralay-kaal sab naashan haaree
Tum Gauri Shiv-Shankar pyaaree
Shiv yogi tumhare gun gaavain
Brahma Vishnu tumhein nit dhyaavain
Meaning
At the time of dissolution you destroy all. You are Gauri, beloved of Shiv-Shankar. Yogi Shiva sings your virtues; Brahma and Vishnu meditate upon you ever.
· · ·
Verse 5
देवनागरी
रूप सरस्वती को तुम धारा।
दे सुबुद्धि ऋषि-मुनिन उबारा॥
धरा रूप नरसिंह को अम्बा।
प्रकट भईं फाड़ कर खम्बा॥
Transliteration
Roop Saraswati ko tum dhaaraa
De subuddhi rishi-munin ubaaraa
Dharaa roop Narsingh ko Ambaa
Prakat bheen phaad kar khambaa
Meaning
You took the form of Saraswati, granting wise intellect, uplifting the rishis. As Mother you took the form of Narasimha — splitting the pillar to reveal yourself.
· · ·
Verse 6
देवनागरी
रक्षा करि प्रहलाद बचायो।
हिरण्याक्ष को स्वर्ग पठायो॥
लक्ष्मी रूप धरो जग माहीं।
श्री नारायण अंग समाहीं॥
Transliteration
Rakshaa kari Prahlaad bachaayo
Hiranyaaksh ko swarg pathaayo
Lakshmi roop dharo jag maahin
Shri Naarayan ang samaahin
Meaning
You protected and saved Prahlada, dispatching Hiranyaksha to his end. Then taking the form of Lakshmi in the world, you became part of Shri Narayan's being.
· · ·
Verse 7
देवनागरी
तुम्हीं देव हो भगवान कहाई।
जग के पालक तुम सुखदाई॥
भुजा चार अति शोभा पावे।
वर मुद्रा शस्त्र सबको भावे॥
Transliteration
Tumhi dev ho Bhagwan kahaaee
Jag ke paalak tum sukhdaaee
Bhujaa chaar ati shobhaa paave
Var mudraa shastra sabko bhaave
Meaning
You are the deity called Bhagwan. As sustainer of the world, you are the bestower of joy. Four-armed, you shine in supreme glory — the abhaya-mudra and the weapons each beautiful.
· · ·
Closing
देवनागरी
जो कोई तुम्हरा नाम जपावे।
जन्म-जन्म के क्लेश मिटावे॥
जय जय जय जगदम्बे माई।
जय जय भवानी तू जग जननी॥
Transliteration
Jo koi tumharaa naam japaave
Janma-janma ke klesh mitaave
Jai jai jai Jagadambe Maaee
Jai jai Bhavaanee tu jag jananee
Meaning
Whoever chants your name has the sufferings of every birth wiped away. Victory, victory, victory, Mother of the world! Victory, Bhavani — you are the mother of the universe.