Durga Saptashati in Sanskrit with Hindi and English meaning: all 13 chapters

What the Durga Saptashati is

The Durga Saptashati, also called the Devi Mahatmya or Chandi Path, is a text of thirteen chapters within the Markandeya Purana. Its name means “seven hundred (verses) to Durga”. A king who has lost his kingdom and a merchant thrown out by his family meet in a forest and ask the sage Medhas why their minds still cling to what has hurt them. The sage answers with three stories of the Goddess.

The first story (chapter 1, Mahakali) tells how the Goddess, as Vishnu's yogic sleep, helps him overcome Madhu and Kaitabha. The middle story (chapters 2–4, Mahalakshmi) is the defeat of Mahishasura and the gods' hymn of thanks. The last story (chapters 5–13, Mahasaraswati) covers Shumbha and Nishumbha and their generals, the hymns “Ya devi sarvabhuteshu” and “Narayani namo 'stu te”, the Goddess's own words on the reading, and the boons to the king and the merchant.

How the path is read

Customs differ between families and teachers; these are the most common.

1. It is read above all in the two Navratris (Chaitra and Sharad) and on Durga Ashtami, but any day is fine.
2. Many begin with the Kavach, Argala and Keelak (“Before the path”), then read the thirteen chapters, and close with a prayer for forgiveness of mistakes.
3. Reading the whole text takes about two and a half to three hours. A common Navratri pattern spreads it over the nine days: for example chapter 1 on day one, 2–4 on day two, 5–8 over the next days, and so on.
4. If Sanskrit is new to you, read the meaning alongside, or play the recitation video above while following the text.

The chapters

Each page has every verse in Sanskrit, in English letters, and a simple Hindi and English meaning written by us. Verse numbers follow the Gita Press edition, which counts 700.

1. Before the path: Kavach, Argala and Keelak (95 verses)
   The three hymns recited before chapter 1: the Devi Kavach with the nine Durgas, the Argala with its refrain, and the Keelak. All verses with meaning.
2. Chapter 1: The slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha (104 verses)
   A dethroned king and a rejected merchant ask why the mind clings; the sage tells of Mahamaya and the slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha. All 104 mantras with meaning.
3. Chapter 2: The slaying of Mahishasura’s armies (69 verses)
   The Goddess is born from the gathered light of all the gods, receives their weapons, and defeats Mahishasura’s army. All 69 mantras with meaning.
4. Chapter 3: The slaying of Mahishasura (44 verses)
   The end of the battle with Mahishasura: his generals fall, he changes shape again and again, and the Devi ends his rule. All 44 mantras with meaning.
5. Chapter 4: The gods’ hymn (Shakradi Stuti) (42 verses)
   Indra and the gods praise the Devi after Mahishasura’s fall, and she promises to come whenever remembered. All 42 mantras with meaning.
6. Chapter 5: The Devi and the messenger (129 verses)
   The gods sing “Ya devi sarvabhuteshu”, Kaushiki comes forth from Parvati, and the Devi answers Shumbha’s messenger. All 129 mantras with meaning.
7. Chapter 6: Dhumralochana Vadha (24 verses)
   The shortest chapter: Dhumralochana comes to take the Goddess by force and is turned to ashes by one sound. All 24 verses with meaning.
8. Chapter 7: Chanda-Munda Vadha (27 verses)
   Kali appears from the Goddess’s brow, defeats Chanda and Munda, and receives the name Chamunda. All 27 verses with meaning.
9. Chapter 8: Raktabija Vadha (63 verses)
   The seven Mothers join the Goddess, Shiva becomes her messenger, and Raktabija’s endless blood is stopped by Chamunda. All 63 verses with meaning.
10. Chapter 9: Nishumbha Vadha (41 verses)
    The battle with the two brothers: Shumbha is struck down senseless and Nishumbha falls to the Goddess’s spear and sword. All 41 verses with meaning.
11. Chapter 10: Shumbha Vadha (32 verses)
    The last battle: the Goddess says “I alone exist”, takes back all her forms and ends Shumbha. All 32 verses with meaning.
12. Chapter 11: Narayani Stuti (55 verses)
    The gods’ hymn “Narayani namo ’stu te”, “Sarva mangala mangalye”, and the Goddess’s promise to return. All 55 verses with meaning.
13. Chapter 12: Phalastuti (41 verses)
    The Goddess on reading her story: the Navratri reading, worship done without knowing the rules, and remembering her in danger. All 41 verses with meaning.
14. Chapter 13: Boons to Suratha and the Merchant (29 verses)
    The last chapter: three years of worship by a river, and two different boons, a kingdom for the king and freeing knowledge for the merchant. All 29 verses with meaning.

Questions

Why is it called Saptashati, “seven hundred”?

Because the reciting tradition counts its mantras as 700. The count includes the short “the sage said” lines and some half-verses, so the plain verse count in the Purana is a little lower; editions also differ slightly.

Do I have to read the Kavach, Argala and Keelak?

They are traditionally read first, as the opening prayers of the path, and most printed editions include them. Many people also read only one chapter, or only the hymns, when time is short.

Is the recitation on this page the full text?

Yes: the video is a full recitation in Sanskrit of the Durga Kavach and all thirteen chapters. It plays from YouTube when you press play.