Durga Saptashati · Chapter 12
Durga Saptashati Chapter 12 (Phalastuti) in Sanskrit with Hindi and English meaning
Before she disappears, the Goddess speaks to the gods about the reading of her story: when to read it, how she receives even imperfect worship, and how remembering her steadies a person in danger. The sage then tells King Suratha who she is: eternal, yet appearing again and again to protect the world.
What chapter 12 is about
Chapter 12 comes after the gods’ hymn of chapter 11. The war is over, and before leaving, the Goddess tells the gods what the story they have just lived through will mean for others. This kind of passage is called a phalastuti or phalashruti, “the praise of the fruits”, and many scriptures end with one. Gita Press names the chapter after it. The promises are given here as the text gives them; tradition reads them as encouragement to read with attention and devotion, not as guarantees.
The Goddess names the hymns and the three stories (Madhu and Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha) as the text to be read (12.2–12.3), and the eighth, ninth and fourteenth lunar days as times for it (12.4). She says she accepts worship done “knowingly or unknowingly” (12.11), a verse that comforts many who worry about getting the rules right, and that hearing the story once with devotion pleases her as much as a year of offerings (12.20–12.22). Verse 12.12 speaks of the great yearly worship in autumn, which is why the Saptashati is read so widely in Sharad Navratri. Verses 12.25–12.30 list dangers, from forest fire to a storm at sea, in which simply remembering her story steadies a person.
Then the Goddess vanishes, the gods return to their places and the surviving demons go away to Patala (12.32–12.35). The sage closes with a short teaching for King Suratha (12.36–12.41): she is eternal, yet appears again and again; she both veils the world and grants true knowledge; she is Lakshmi in good times and Alakshmi in bad, creation, care and dissolution all at once. Reading the chapter with the meanings takes about 20 minutes.
Verses 12.1–12.11: what the reading brings
The Goddess speaks of reading her story, and of accepting worship done knowingly or unknowingly.
Verse 12.1
देव्युवाच॥
Devy uvacha
अर्थ: देवी ने कहा:
Meaning: The Goddess said:
Verse 12.2
एभिः स्तवैश्च मां नित्यं स्तोष्यते यः समाहितः।
तस्याहं सकलां बाधां नाशयिष्याम्यसंशयम्॥
Ebhih stavaish cha mam nityam stoshyate yah samahitah,
tasyaham sakalam badham nashayishyamy asamshayam.
अर्थ: “जो कोई एकाग्र मन से इन स्तुतियों द्वारा रोज़ मेरी स्तुति करेगा, उसकी सारी बाधाएँ मैं निश्चय ही दूर कर दूँगी।”
Meaning: “Whoever praises me every day with these hymns, with a collected mind, I will surely remove all their troubles.”
Verse 12.3
मधुकैटभनाशं च महिषासुरघातनम्।
कीर्तयिष्यन्ति ये तद्वद् वधं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः॥
Madhu-kaitabha-nasham cha mahishasura-ghatanam,
kirtayishyanti ye tadvad vadham shumbha-nishumbhayoh.
अर्थ: “जो लोग मधु और कैटभ के नाश की, महिषासुर के वध की, और उसी तरह शुम्भ और निशुम्भ के वध की कथा का कीर्तन करेंगे,”
Meaning: “Those who recite the story of the end of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaying of Mahishasura, and likewise the slaying of Shumbha and Nishumbha,”
Verse 12.4
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां चैकचेतसः।
श्रोष्यन्ति चैव ये भक्त्या मम माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्॥
Ashtamyam cha chaturdashyam navamyam chaika-chetasah,
shroshyanti chaiva ye bhaktya mama mahatmyam uttamam.
अर्थ: “और जो अष्टमी, चतुर्दशी और नवमी तिथि को एकाग्र मन से, भक्ति के साथ मेरे इस उत्तम माहात्म्य को सुनेंगे,”
Meaning: “and those who, with one-pointed minds, listen with devotion to this excellent account of my greatness on the eighth, fourteenth and ninth days of the lunar fortnight,”
Verse 12.5
न तेषां दुष्कृतं किञ्चिद् दुष्कृतोत्था न चापदः।
भविष्यति न दारिद्र्यं न चैवेष्टवियोजनम्॥
Na tesham dushkritam kinchid dushkritottha na chapadah,
bhavishyati na daridryam na chaiveshta-viyojanam.
अर्थ: “उनके साथ कोई बुरा कर्म नहीं रहेगा, न बुरे कर्मों से उठने वाली विपत्तियाँ आएँगी; न गरीबी होगी, न अपने प्रियजनों से बिछड़ना।”
Meaning: “no wrongdoing will cling to them, nor misfortunes born of wrongdoing; they will not know poverty, nor separation from those they love.”
Verse 12.6
शत्रुतो न भयं तस्य दस्युतो वा न राजतः।
न शस्त्रानलतोयौघात्कदाचित्सम्भविष्यति॥
Shatruto na bhayam tasya dasyuto va na rajatah,
na shastranala-toyaughat kadachit sambhavishyati.
अर्थ: “ऐसे व्यक्ति को न शत्रु से भय होगा, न लुटेरों से, न राजा से; और न कभी हथियार, आग या बाढ़ से कोई भय होगा।”
Meaning: “Such a person will have no fear of enemies, of robbers or of the king, nor ever any fear from weapons, fire or floods.”
Verse 12.7
तस्मान्ममैतन्माहात्म्यं पठितव्यं समाहितैः।
श्रोतव्यं च सदा भक्त्या परं स्वस्त्ययनं हि तत्॥
Tasman mamaitan mahatmyam pathitavyam samahitaih,
shrotavyam cha sada bhaktya param svastyayanam hi tat.
अर्थ: “इसलिए एकाग्र मन वाले लोगों को मेरा यह माहात्म्य पढ़ना चाहिए और सदा भक्ति से सुनना चाहिए, क्योंकि यह कल्याण का सबसे उत्तम मार्ग है।”
Meaning: “So those with collected minds should read this account of my greatness, and always hear it with devotion, for it is the highest way to well-being.”
Verse 12.8
उपसर्गानशेषांस्तु महामारीसमुद्भवान्।
तथा त्रिविधमुत्पातं माहात्म्यं शमयेन्मम॥
Upasargan asheshams tu mahamari-samudbhavan,
tatha trividham utpatam mahatmyam shamayen mama.
अर्थ: “मेरा यह माहात्म्य महामारी से उठने वाले सारे संकटों को, और तीनों प्रकार के उत्पातों (अशुभ घटनाओं) को शांत करता है।”
Meaning: “This account of my greatness calms all the troubles that come from great epidemics, and the three kinds of calamity.”
Verse 12.9
यत्रैतत्पठ्यते सम्यङ्नित्यमायतने मम।
सदा न तद्विमोक्ष्यामि सान्निध्यं तत्र मे स्थितम्॥
Yatraitat pathyate samyan nityam ayatane mama,
sada na tad vimokshyami sannidhyam tatra me sthitam.
अर्थ: “मेरे जिस मंदिर या स्थान में इसका रोज़ ठीक से पाठ होता है, उस स्थान को मैं कभी नहीं छोड़ूँगी; वहाँ मेरी उपस्थिति बनी रहती है।”
Meaning: “The shrine of mine where this is read rightly every day, I will never leave; my presence remains there.”
Verse 12.10
बलिप्रदाने पूजायामग्निकार्ये महोत्सवे।
सर्वं ममैतच्चरितमुच्चार्यं श्राव्यमेव च॥
Bali-pradane pujayam agni-karye mahotsave,
sarvam mamaitach charitam uchcharyam shravyam eva cha.
अर्थ: “भेंट (बलि) चढ़ाते समय, पूजा में, हवन में और बड़े उत्सवों में मेरा यह पूरा चरित्र पढ़ना और सुनाना चाहिए।”
Meaning: “When offerings are made, in worship, in fire rituals and at great festivals, this whole story of mine should be recited and heard.”
Verse 12.11
जानताजानता वापि बलिपूजां तथा कृताम्।
प्रतीच्छिष्याम्यहं प्रीत्या वह्निहोमं तथा कृतम्॥
Janatajanata vapi bali-pujam tatha kritam,
pratichchhishyamy aham pritya vahni-homam tatha kritam.
अर्थ: “इस प्रकार (पाठ के साथ) की गई भेंट और पूजा को, चाहे वह विधि जानकर की गई हो या बिना जाने, और इसी तरह किए गए हवन को भी, मैं प्रेम से स्वीकार करूँगी।”
Meaning: “Offerings and worship made in this way, whether by one who knows the rites or one who does not, and fire offerings made in this way, I will accept with love.”
Verses 12.12–12.30: in festivals, in troubles, in danger
The autumn worship, rites for peace, and remembering her when in danger.
Verse 12.12
शरत्काले महापूजा क्रियते या च वार्षिकी।
तस्यां ममैतन्माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा भक्तिसमन्वितः॥
Sharat-kale maha-puja kriyate ya cha varshiki,
tasyam mamaitan mahatmyam shrutva bhakti-samanvitah.
अर्थ: “शरद ऋतु में जो वार्षिक महापूजा (नवरात्रि की पूजा) की जाती है, उसमें भक्ति के साथ मेरा यह माहात्म्य सुनकर”
Meaning: “At the great yearly worship held in the autumn season (the autumn Navratri), one who hears this account of my greatness with devotion”
Verse 12.13
सर्वाबाधाविनिर्मुक्तो धनधान्यसुतान्वितः।
मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशयः॥
Sarvabadha-vinirmukto dhana-dhanya-sutanvitah,
manushyo mat-prasadena bhavishyati na samshayah.
अर्थ: “मनुष्य मेरी कृपा से सब बाधाओं से मुक्त होकर धन, अन्न और संतान से भरा-पूरा होगा, इसमें संदेह नहीं।”
Meaning: “will, by my grace, be freed from all troubles and blessed with wealth, grain and children; of this there is no doubt.”
Verse 12.14
श्रुत्वा ममैतन्माहात्म्यं तथा चोत्पत्तयः शुभाः।
पराक्रमं च युद्धेषु जायते निर्भयः पुमान्॥
Shrutva mamaitan mahatmyam tatha chotpattayah shubhah,
parakramam cha yuddheshu jayate nirbhayah puman.
अर्थ: “मेरा यह माहात्म्य, मेरे प्रकट होने की शुभ कथाएँ और युद्धों में मेरा पराक्रम सुनकर मनुष्य निर्भय हो जाता है।”
Meaning: “Hearing this account of my greatness, the auspicious stories of my appearing, and my valour in battle, a person becomes free of fear.”
Verse 12.15
रिपवः सङ्क्षयं यान्ति कल्याणं चोपपद्यते।
नन्दते च कुलं पुंसां माहात्म्यं मम शृण्वताम्॥
Ripavah sankshayam yanti kalyanam chopapadyate,
nandate cha kulam pumsam mahatmyam mama shrinvatam.
अर्थ: “जो मेरा माहात्म्य सुनते हैं, उनके शत्रु नष्ट हो जाते हैं, उनका कल्याण होता है और उनका कुल आनंद से रहता है।”
Meaning: “For those who hear of my greatness, enemies fade away, good fortune comes, and their family flourishes in joy.”
Verse 12.16
शान्तिकर्मणि सर्वत्र तथा दुःस्वप्नदर्शने।
ग्रहपीडासु चोग्रासु माहात्म्यं शृणुयान्मम॥
Shanti-karmani sarvatra tatha duhsvapna-darshane,
graha-pidasu chograsu mahatmyam shrinuyan mama.
अर्थ: “हर प्रकार के शांति-कर्म में, बुरे सपने दिखने पर, और ग्रहों की कड़ी पीड़ा के समय मेरा माहात्म्य सुनना चाहिए।”
Meaning: “In every rite for peace, when bad dreams are seen, and in times of harsh trouble from the planets, one should hear my greatness.”
Verse 12.17
उपसर्गाः शमं यान्ति ग्रहपीडाश्च दारुणाः।
दुःस्वप्नं च नृभिर्दृष्टं सुस्वप्नमुपजायते॥
Upasargah shamam yanti graha-pidash cha darunah,
duhsvapnam cha nribhir drishtam susvapnam upajayate.
अर्थ: “इससे संकट शांत होते हैं, ग्रहों की कठोर पीड़ाएँ भी शांत होती हैं, और लोगों के देखे बुरे सपने भी शुभ सपनों में बदल जाते हैं।”
Meaning: “Then troubles grow calm, and so do the harsh afflictions of the planets, and the bad dreams people have seen turn into good ones.”
Verse 12.18
बालग्रहाभिभूतानां बालानां शान्तिकारकम्।
सङ्घातभेदे च नृणां मैत्रीकरणमुत्तमम्॥
Bala-grahabhibhutanam balanam shanti-karakam,
sanghata-bhede cha nrinam maitri-karanam uttamam.
अर्थ: “यह बाल-ग्रहों (बच्चों को सताने वाली पीड़ाओं) से घिरे बच्चों को शांति देता है, और जब लोगों के मेल में फूट पड़ जाए, तब फिर से मित्रता कराने का उत्तम उपाय है।”
Meaning: “It brings peace to children troubled by the afflictions that seize the young, and when people’s unity is broken, it is the best way to bring back friendship.”
Verse 12.19
दुर्वृत्तानामशेषाणां बलहानिकरं परम्।
रक्षोभूतपिशाचानां पठनादेव नाशनम्॥
Durvrittanam asheshanam bala-hani-karam param,
raksho-bhuta-pishachanam pathanad eva nashanam.
अर्थ: “यह सभी दुराचारियों की ताकत घटाने वाला उत्तम साधन है, और इसके पाठ मात्र से राक्षसों, भूतों और पिशाचों का नाश होता है।”
Meaning: “It is the finest means to weaken all who act wickedly, and by its very reading demons, ghosts and goblins are destroyed.”
Verse 12.20
सर्वं ममैतन्माहात्म्यं मम सन्निधिकारकम्।
पशुपुष्पार्घ्यधूपैश्च गन्धदीपैस्तथोत्तमैः॥
Sarvam mamaitan mahatmyam mama sannidhi-karakam,
pashu-pushpardhya-dhupaish cha gandha-dipais tathottamaih.
अर्थ: “मेरा यह पूरा माहात्म्य मुझे पास ले आता है। पशु, फूल, अर्घ्य और धूप से, उत्तम गंध और दीपों से,”
Meaning: “This whole account of my greatness brings me near. With offerings of animals, flowers, water and incense, with fine perfumes and lamps,”
Verse 12.21
विप्राणां भोजनैर्होमैः प्रोक्षणीयैरहर्निशम्।
अन्यैश्च विविधैर्भोगैः प्रदानैर्वत्सरेण या॥
Vipranam bhojanair homaih prokshaniyair aharnisham,
anyaish cha vividhair bhogaih pradanair vatsarena ya.
अर्थ: “ब्राह्मणों को भोजन कराने से, हवनों से, दिन-रात पवित्र जल छिड़कने से, और तरह-तरह की दूसरी भेंटों और दानों से एक वर्ष में जो प्रसन्नता मुझे होती है,”
Meaning: “by feeding the learned, by fire offerings, by sprinkling holy water day and night, and by many other gifts and offerings, the joy that is given to me over a whole year,”
Verse 12.22
प्रीतिर्मे क्रियते सास्मिन् सकृत्सुचरिते श्रुते।
श्रुतं हरति पापानि तथारोग्यं प्रयच्छति॥
Pritir me kriyate sasmin sakrit sucharite shrute,
shrutam harati papani tatharogyam prayachchhati.
अर्थ: “वही प्रसन्नता मुझे इस पवित्र चरित्र को एक बार सुन लेने से हो जाती है। सुना जाने पर यह पापों को हर लेता है और आरोग्य देता है।”
Meaning: “that same joy is given to me when this holy story is heard just once. When heard, it takes away wrongdoing and grants good health.”
Verse 12.23
रक्षां करोति भूतेभ्यो जन्मनां कीर्तनं मम।
युद्धेषु चरितं यन्मे दुष्टदैत्यनिबर्हणम्॥
Raksham karoti bhutebhyo janmanam kirtanam mama,
yuddheshu charitam yan me dushta-daitya-nibarhanam.
अर्थ: “मेरे प्रकट होने की कथाओं का कीर्तन भूत-प्रेतों से रक्षा करता है। युद्धों में दुष्ट दैत्यों का नाश करने वाला मेरा जो चरित्र है,”
Meaning: “The telling of my appearances protects from evil spirits. And when the story of my deeds in battle, destroying the wicked demons,”
Verse 12.24
तस्मिञ्छ्रुते वैरिकृतं भयं पुंसां न जायते।
युष्माभिः स्तुतयो याश्च याश्च ब्रह्मर्षिभिः कृताः॥
Tasmin shrute vairi-kritam bhayam pumsam na jayate,
yushmabhih stutayo yash cha yash cha brahmarshibhih kritah.
अर्थ: “उसके सुनने पर लोगों को शत्रुओं से भय नहीं होता। तुम (देवताओं) ने जो स्तुतियाँ कीं, और ब्रह्मर्षियों ने जो स्तुतियाँ कीं,”
Meaning: “is heard, no fear from enemies arises in people. The hymns that you gods have sung, and those sung by the great sages,”
Verse 12.25
ब्रह्मणा च कृतास्तास्तु प्रयच्छन्ति शुभां मतिम्।
अरण्ये प्रान्तरे वापि दावाग्निपरिवारितः॥
Brahmana cha kritas tas tu prayachchhanti shubham matim,
aranye prantare vapi davagni-parivaritah.
अर्थ: “और ब्रह्मा जी ने जो स्तुति की, वे सब शुभ बुद्धि देती हैं। जंगल में हो या सुनसान रास्ते पर, जंगल की आग से घिरा हो,”
Meaning: “and the hymn sung by Brahma, all of them grant a good and clear mind. Whether in a forest or on a lonely road, surrounded by a forest fire,”
Verse 12.26
दस्युभिर्वा वृतः शून्ये गृहीतो वापि शत्रुभिः।
सिंहव्याघ्रानुयातो वा वने वा वनहस्तिभिः॥
Dasyubhir va vritah shunye grihito vapi shatrubhih,
simha-vyaghranuyato va vane va vana-hastibhih.
अर्थ: “सुनसान जगह पर लुटेरों से घिरा हो, या शत्रुओं ने पकड़ लिया हो, जंगल में शेर-बाघ या जंगली हाथी पीछा कर रहे हों,”
Meaning: “surrounded by robbers in a deserted place, or captured by enemies, chased in the forest by lions and tigers or by wild elephants,”
Verse 12.27
राज्ञा क्रुद्धेन चाज्ञप्तो वध्यो बन्धगतोऽपि वा।
आघूर्णितो वा वातेन स्थितः पोते महार्णवे॥
Rajna kruddhena chajnapto vadhyo bandha-gato 'pi va,
aghurnito va vatena sthitah pote maharnave.
अर्थ: “क्रोधित राजा ने मृत्युदंड की आज्ञा दे दी हो, या बंदी हो, या बीच समुद्र में नाव पर आँधी से डगमगा रहा हो,”
Meaning: “sentenced to death by an angry king, or held in chains, or tossed by the wind on a boat in the open sea,”
Verse 12.28
पतत्सु चापि शस्त्रेषु सङ्ग्रामे भृशदारुणे।
सर्वाबाधासु घोरासु वेदनाभ्यर्दितोऽपि वा॥
Patatsu chapi shastreshu sangrame bhrisha-darune,
sarvabadhasu ghorasu vedanabhyardito 'pi va.
अर्थ: “भयंकर युद्ध में हथियार बरस रहे हों, या हर तरह की भयानक विपत्तियों में हो, या पीड़ा से तड़प रहा हो,”
Meaning: “with weapons falling all around in a terrible battle, or in every kind of dreadful trouble, or tormented by pain,”
Verse 12.29
स्मरन्ममैतच्चरितं नरो मुच्येत सङ्कटात्।
मम प्रभावात्सिंहाद्या दस्यवो वैरिणस्तथा॥
Smaran mamaitach charitam naro muchyeta sankatat,
mama prabhavat simhadya dasyavo vairinas tatha.
अर्थ: “मेरे इस चरित्र का स्मरण करके मनुष्य संकट से छूट जाता है। मेरे प्रभाव से शेर आदि, लुटेरे और शत्रु भी”
Meaning: “remembering this story of mine, a person is freed from the danger. By my power lions and the like, robbers and enemies too”
Verse 12.30
दूरादेव पलायन्ते स्मरतश्चरितं मम॥
Durad eva palayante smaratash charitam mama.
अर्थ: “मेरे चरित्र का स्मरण करने वाले से दूर से ही भाग जाते हैं।”
Meaning: “flee far away from one who remembers my story.”
Verses 12.31–12.41: she vanishes, and who she is
The gods return to their places, and the sage tells the king about the eternal Goddess.
Verse 12.31
ऋषिरुवाच॥
Rishir uvacha
अर्थ: ऋषि (मेधा मुनि) ने कहा:
Meaning: The sage (Medhas) said:
Verse 12.32
इत्युक्त्वा सा भगवती चण्डिका चण्डविक्रमा॥
Ity uktva sa bhagavati chandika chanda-vikrama.
अर्थ: ऐसा कहकर, प्रचंड पराक्रम वाली भगवती चण्डिका
Meaning: Having said this, the blessed Chandika, of fierce valour,
Verse 12.33
पश्यतामेव देवानां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत।
तेऽपि देवा निरातङ्काः स्वाधिकारान् यथा पुरा॥
Pashyatam eva devanam tatraivantaradhiyata,
te 'pi deva niratankah svadhikaran yatha pura.
अर्थ: देवताओं के देखते-देखते वहीं अंतर्धान हो गईं। वे देवता भी भय से मुक्त होकर, पहले की तरह अपने-अपने अधिकार (पद)
Meaning: vanished right there as the gods looked on. And the gods, free of fear, took up their own offices as before,
Verse 12.34
यज्ञभागभुजः सर्वे चक्रुर्विनिहतारयः।
दैत्याश्च देव्या निहते शुम्भे देवरिपौ युधि॥
Yajna-bhaga-bhujah sarve chakrur vinihatarayah,
daityash cha devya nihate shumbhe deva-ripau yudhi.
अर्थ: संभालने लगे और यज्ञों में अपना भाग पाने लगे, क्योंकि उनके शत्रु मारे जा चुके थे। और देवताओं के शत्रु शुम्भ के युद्ध में देवी द्वारा मारे जाने पर,
Meaning: all of them again receiving their share of the sacrifices, for their enemies had been slain. And when Shumbha, the enemy of the gods, had been slain in battle by the Goddess,
Verse 12.35
जगद्विध्वंसिनि तस्मिन् महोग्रेऽतुलविक्रमे।
निशुम्भे च महावीर्ये शेषाः पातालमाययुः॥
Jagad-vidhvamsini tasmin mahogre 'tula-vikrame,
nishumbhe cha maha-virye sheshah patalam ayayuh.
अर्थ: वह संसार का नाश करने वाला, बहुत भयंकर, अतुलनीय पराक्रम वाला; और महाबली निशुम्भ भी मारा गया, तो बचे हुए दैत्य पाताल लोक को चले गए।
Meaning: that destroyer of the world, most fierce, of matchless valour, and mighty Nishumbha too, the demons who remained went away to Patala, the world below.
Verse 12.36
एवं भगवती देवी सा नित्यापि पुनः पुनः।
सम्भूय कुरुते भूप जगतः परिपालनम्॥
Evam bhagavati devi sa nityapi punah punah,
sambhuya kurute bhupa jagatah paripalanam.
अर्थ: हे राजन, इस तरह वह भगवती देवी नित्य (सदा रहने वाली) होते हुए भी बार-बार प्रकट होकर जगत की रक्षा करती हैं।
Meaning: In this way, O king, the blessed Goddess, though eternal, appears again and again and protects the world.
Verse 12.37
तयैतन्मोह्यते विश्वं सैव विश्वं प्रसूयते।
सा याचिता च विज्ञानं तुष्टा ऋद्धिं प्रयच्छति॥
Tayaitan mohyate vishvam saiva vishvam prasuyate,
sa yachita cha vijnanam tushta riddhim prayachchhati.
अर्थ: उन्हीं से यह विश्व मोह में पड़ा है, वही इस विश्व को जन्म देती हैं। प्रार्थना करने पर वही सच्चा ज्ञान देती हैं, और प्रसन्न होकर समृद्धि देती हैं।
Meaning: By her this universe is held in delusion; she alone gives birth to the universe. When asked, she grants true knowledge, and when pleased she grants prosperity.
Verse 12.38
व्याप्तं तयैतत्सकलं ब्रह्माण्डं मनुजेश्वर।
महाकाल्या महाकाले महामारीस्वरूपया॥
Vyaptam tayaitat sakalam brahmandam manujeshvara,
mahakalya mahakale mahamari-svarupaya.
अर्थ: हे राजन, यह सारा ब्रह्मांड उन्हीं से व्याप्त है। महाप्रलय के समय वही महाकाली महामारी (सबका अंत करने वाली शक्ति) के रूप में होती हैं।
Meaning: O king, this whole cosmos is pervaded by her. At the time of the great dissolution she is Mahakali, in the form of Mahamari, the power that ends all things.
Verse 12.39
सैव काले महामारी सैव सृष्टिर्भवत्यजा।
स्थितिं करोति भूतानां सैव काले सनातनी॥
Saiva kale mahamari saiva srishtir bhavaty aja,
sthitim karoti bhutanam saiva kale sanatani.
अर्थ: समय आने पर वही महामारी हैं; वही अजन्मा होकर भी सृष्टि बन जाती हैं; और वही सनातनी देवी समय पर प्राणियों का पालन करती हैं।
Meaning: In due time she is Mahamari, the great destroyer; she, the unborn, becomes creation; and she, the eternal one, in due time sustains all beings.
Verse 12.40
भवकाले नृणां सैव लक्ष्मीर्वृद्धिप्रदा गृहे।
सैवाभावे तथालक्ष्मीर्विनाशायोपजायते॥
Bhava-kale nrinam saiva lakshmir vriddhi-prada grihe,
saivabhave tathalakshmir vinashayopajayate.
अर्थ: अच्छे समय में वही लोगों के घर में बढ़ोतरी देने वाली लक्ष्मी होती हैं, और बुरे समय में वही अलक्ष्मी बनकर विनाश लाती हैं।
Meaning: In times of rising fortune she is Lakshmi in people’s homes, giving increase; and in times of decline she herself becomes Alakshmi, bringing ruin.
Verse 12.41
स्तुता सम्पूजिता पुष्पैर्धूपगन्धादिभिस्तथा।
ददाति वित्तं पुत्रांश्च मतिं धर्मे गतिं शुभाम्॥
Stuta sampujita pushpair dhupa-gandhadibhis tatha,
dadati vittam putramsh cha matim dharme gatim shubham.
अर्थ: स्तुति करने पर, और फूल, धूप, गंध आदि से पूजा करने पर, वे धन, संतान, धर्म में लगी बुद्धि और शुभ गति देती हैं।
Meaning: Praised and worshipped with flowers, incense, perfume and the like, she gives wealth and children, a mind set on dharma, and a good path in life and beyond.
Chapter colophon
इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
फलस्तुतिर्नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः॥
Iti shri-markandeya-purane savarnike manvantare devi-mahatmye
phala-stutir nama dvadasho 'dhyayah.
अर्थ: इस प्रकार श्री मार्कण्डेय पुराण में, सावर्णिक मन्वंतर की कथा के अंतर्गत देवी माहात्म्य में “फलस्तुति” नाम का बारहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ।
Meaning: Thus ends the twelfth chapter, called “the fruits of the reading”, in the Devi Mahatmya, part of the account of the Savarni Manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana.
Questions
What is the phalastuti of the Durga Saptashati?
It is chapter 12, in which the Goddess herself describes what reading or hearing her story brings: freedom from troubles and fear, peace in the family, calm in times of illness, bad dreams or planetary trouble, and steadiness in danger. Gita Press names the chapter “Phalastuti”; other editions call it “Devi vakya”, the Goddess’s words, or “Bhagavati vakya”. Like other phalashrutis, it is traditionally read as encouragement to read with devotion rather than as a promise of results.
On which days does chapter 12 recommend reading the Saptashati?
Verse 12.4 names the ashtami (eighth), navami (ninth) and chaturdashi (fourteenth) days of the lunar fortnight, and verse 12.12 names the great yearly worship in the autumn season, which is Sharad Navratri. Verse 12.9 adds that a shrine where it is read every day keeps her presence. Many people therefore read the full text during Navratri, often finishing on ashtami or navami.
What if I do not know the correct rules of worship?
Verse 12.11 speaks to exactly this: the Goddess says she will accept with love the offerings and worship made “knowingly or unknowingly”. Verses 12.20–12.22 add that hearing her story just once, with devotion, pleases her as much as a whole year of elaborate offerings. Many teachers point to these verses to reassure people that sincerity matters more than perfect ritual.
Does chapter 12 mention the planets?
Yes. Verse 12.16 recommends hearing the text in rites for peace, after bad dreams and in times of harsh “graha-pida”, affliction from the planets, and verse 12.17 says such troubles grow calm. This is one reason the Saptashati is often read alongside other remedies in difficult planetary periods. It is a matter of faith and tradition, and works best together with practical care.
Text and sources
The Sanskrit text is public domain. We checked all 41 mantras and the colophon one by one against three sources, comparing them by program after normalising punctuation and spelling conventions: the complete Saptashati (“durga700”) on sanskritdocuments.org, chapter 92 of the Markandeya Purana on Sanskrit Wikisource, and the archive.org scan of the Gita Press “Shri Durga Saptashati” (mula bhaga). We follow the Gita Press reading and numbering (speaker lines 12.1 and 12.31, and the half-verses 12.30 and 12.32, counted as mantras, 41 in all). This chapter has the most variants of the four last chapters. Readings chosen with Gita Press and Wikisource against sanskritdocuments: “nashayishyami” (12.2; Gita Press notes “shamayishyami”), “shatruto” (12.6), “sarvam mamaitach charitam” (12.10), “sakrit sucharite” (12.22), “prayachchhanti” (12.25), “pashyatam eva devanam” (12.33; Gita Press notes “pashyatam sarva-devanam”), “mahakalya mahakale mahamari-svarupaya” (12.38) and “dhupa-gandhadibhih” (12.41). Readings where Gita Press stands apart: “param svastyayanam hi tat” (12.7, others “mahat”), “dhana-dhanya-sutanvitah” (12.13, others “samanvitah”) and “jagad-vidhvamsini” (12.35, others “vidhvamsake”). In 12.4 Wikisource reads “stoshyanti” (will praise) where Gita Press and sanskritdocuments read “shroshyanti” (will hear), and in 12.14 it reads “tathotpattih prithak shubhah”. Gita Press names the chapter “phalastuti”; Wikisource and sanskritdocuments call it the Goddess’s words (“devi vakyam”, “bhagavati vakyam”). Gita Press and sanskritdocuments print a meditation verse (dhyana) at the head of the chapter; it is not counted among the 700 mantras, and on these pages the dhyana verses are given only at the head of the three parts of the text (chapters 1, 2 and 5). The transliteration and meanings are our own.