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Durga Chalisa

श्री दुर्गा चालीसा

ChalisaDurgaDevi DasHindi

The forty verses in praise of Ma Durga — her cosmic forms from Saraswati and Lakshmi to Kali, her victories over Shumbha-Nishumbha, Raktabija and Mahishasura — recited daily by devotees and throughout Navratri.

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Chaupai 1–2

नमो नमो दुर्गे सुख करनी । नमो नमो अम्बे दुःख हरनी ॥ निरंकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी । तिहूं लोक फैली उजियारी ॥

namo namo durge sukha karani namo namo ambe duhkha harani niramkara hai jyoti tumhari tihum loka phaili ujiyari

namo namo durge sukha karanī namo namo ambe duḥkha haranī niraṃkāra hai jyoti tumhārī tihūṃ loka phailī ujiyārī

Salutations, salutations, O Durga, giver of joy! Salutations, O Amba, remover of sorrow! Your light is formless, its radiance spread through the three worlds.

Chaupai 3–4

शशि ललाट मुख महाविशाला । नेत्र लाल भृकुटि विकराला ॥ रूप मातु को अधिक सुहावे । दरश करत जन अति सुख पावे ॥

shashi lalata mukha mahavishala netra lala bhrikuti vikarala rupa matu ko adhika suhave darasha karata jana ati sukha pave

śaśi lalāṭa mukha mahāviśālā netra lāla bhṛkuṭi vikarālā rūpa mātu ko adhika suhāve daraśa karata jana ati sukha pāve

The moon on your forehead, your countenance vast; eyes red, brows fierce — yet the Mother's form is supremely beautiful, and beholding it her people find great joy.

Chaupai 5–6

तुम संसार शक्ति लै कीना । पालन हेतु अन्न धन दीना ॥ अन्नपूर्णा हुई जग पाला । तुम ही आदि सुन्दरी बाला ॥

tuma samsara shakti lai kina palana hetu anna dhana dina annapurna hui jaga pala tuma hi adi sundari bala

tuma saṃsāra śakti lai kīnā pālana hetu anna dhana dīnā annapūrṇā huī jaga pālā tuma hī ādi sundarī bālā

By your power you made the world, and for its sustenance gave grain and wealth; as Annapurna you nourish creation — you are the primal maiden, beauty itself.

Chaupai 7–8

प्रलयकाल सब नाशन हारी । तुम गौरी शिवशंकर प्यारी ॥ शिव योगी तुम्हरे गुण गावें । ब्रह्मा विष्णु तुम्हें नित ध्यावें ॥

pralayakala saba nashana hari tuma gauri shivashamkara pyari shiva yogi tumhare guna gavem brahma vishnu tumhem nita dhyavem

pralayakāla saba nāśana hārī tuma gaurī śivaśaṃkara pyārī śiva yogī tumhare guṇa gāveṃ brahmā viṣṇu tumheṃ nita dhyāveṃ

At the time of dissolution it is you who destroy all; you are Gauri, beloved of Shiva Shankara. Shiva and the yogis sing your virtues; Brahma and Vishnu meditate on you always.

Chaupai 9–10

रूप सरस्वती को तुम धारा । दे सुबुद्धि ऋषि मुनिन उबारा ॥ धरयो रूप नरसिंह को अम्बा । परगट भई फाड़कर खम्बा ॥

rupa sarasvati ko tuma dhara de subuddhi rishi munina ubara dharayo rupa narasimha ko amba paragata bhai phadakara khamba

rūpa sarasvatī ko tuma dhārā de subuddhi ṛṣi munina ubārā dharayo rūpa narasiṃha ko ambā paragaṭa bhaī phāḍakara khambā

You took the form of Saraswati and, granting right understanding, uplifted the rishis and sages; as the shakti of Narasimha, O Amba, you burst forth splitting the pillar.

Chaupai 11–12

रक्षा करि प्रह्लाद बचायो । हिरण्याक्ष को स्वर्ग पठायो ॥ लक्ष्मी रूप धरो जग माहीं । श्री नारायण अंग समाहीं ॥

raksha kari prahlada bacayo hiranyaksha ko svarga pathayo lakshmi rupa dharo jaga mahim shri narayana amga samahim

rakṣā kari prahlāda bacāyo hiraṇyākṣa ko svarga paṭhāyo lakṣmī rūpa dharo jaga māhīṃ śrī nārāyaṇa aṃga samāhīṃ

You protected and saved Prahlada and sent the demon to his end; taking the form of Lakshmi in this world, you abide beside Shri Narayana.

Chaupai 13–14

क्षीरसिन्धु में करत विलासा । दयासिन्धु दीजै मन आसा ॥ हिंगलाज में तुम्हीं भवानी । महिमा अमित न जात बखानी ॥

kshirasindhu mem karata vilasa dayasindhu dijai mana asa himgalaja mem tumhim bhavani mahima amita na jata bakhani

kṣīrasindhu meṃ karata vilāsā dayāsindhu dījai mana āsā hiṃgalāja meṃ tumhīṃ bhavānī mahimā amita na jāta bakhānī

You dwell in play upon the ocean of milk — O ocean of mercy, fulfil the heart's hope. At Hinglaj it is you, Bhavani; your boundless glory cannot be told.

Chaupai 15–16

मातंगी अरु धूमावति माता । भुवनेश्वरी बगला सुख दाता ॥ श्री भैरव तारा जग तारिणी । छिन्न भाल भव दुःख निवारिणी ॥

matamgi aru dhumavati mata bhuvaneshvari bagala sukha data shri bhairava tara jaga tarini chinna bhala bhava duhkha nivarini

mātaṃgī aru dhūmāvati mātā bhuvaneśvarī bagalā sukha dātā śrī bhairava tārā jaga tāriṇī chinna bhāla bhava duḥkha nivāriṇī

You are Matangi and Mother Dhumavati; Bhuvaneshwari and Bagala, givers of joy; Bhairavi and Tara who carry the world across; Chhinnamasta, remover of the sorrows of existence.

Chaupai 17–18

केहरि वाहन सोह भवानी । लांगुर वीर चलत अगवानी ॥ कर में खप्पर खड्ग विराजै । जाको देख काल डर भाजै ॥

kehari vahana soha bhavani lamgura vira calata agavani kara mem khappara khadga virajai jako dekha kala dara bhajai

kehari vāhana soha bhavānī lāṃgura vīra calata agavānī kara meṃ khappara khaḍga virājai jāko dekha kāla ḍara bhājai

Mounted on the lion you shine, Bhavani, the valiant Langur (Bhairava) walking before you; in your hands rest the skull-bowl and the sword, at whose sight Death himself flees in fear.

Chaupai 19–20

सोहै अस्त्र और त्रिशूला । जाते उठत शत्रु हिय शूला ॥ नगरकोट में तुम्हीं विराजत । तिहुँलोक में डंका बाजत ॥

sohai astra aura trishula jate uthata shatru hiya shula nagarakota mem tumhim virajata tihumloka mem damka bajata

sohai astra aura triśūlā jāte uṭhata śatru hiya śūlā nagarakoṭa meṃ tumhīṃ virājata tihuṃloka meṃ ḍaṃkā bājata

Weapons and the trident gleam in your grasp, striking anguish into the hearts of foes; you are enthroned at Nagarkot (Kangra), and your drum resounds through the three worlds.

Chaupai 21–22

शुम्भ निशुम्भ दानव तुम मारे । रक्तबीज शंखन संहारे ॥ महिषासुर नृप अति अभिमानी । जेहि अघ भार मही अकुलानी ॥

shumbha nishumbha danava tuma mare raktabija shamkhana samhare mahishasura nripa ati abhimani jehi agha bhara mahi akulani

śumbha niśumbha dānava tuma māre raktabīja śaṃkhana saṃhāre mahiṣāsura nṛpa ati abhimānī jehi agha bhāra mahī akulānī

You slew the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha and destroyed Raktabija with his hosts; the demon-king Mahishasura, swollen with pride, whose burden of sin made the earth tremble —

Chaupai 23–24

रूप कराल कालिका धारा । सेन सहित तुम तिहि संहारा ॥ परी गाढ़ सन्तन पर जब जब । भई सहाय मातु तुम तब तब ॥

rupa karala kalika dhara sena sahita tuma tihi samhara pari gadha santana para jaba jaba bhai sahaya matu tuma taba taba

rūpa karāla kālikā dhārā sena sahita tuma tihi saṃhārā parī gāḍha santana para jaba jaba bhaī sahāya mātu tuma taba taba

— taking the terrible form of Kalika, you destroyed him together with his army. Whenever the saints have fallen into peril, then and there, Mother, you have come to their aid.

Chaupai 25–26

अमरपुरी अरु बासव लोका । तब महिमा सब रहें अशोका ॥ ज्वाला में है ज्योति तुम्हारी । तुम्हें सदा पूजें नर नारी ॥

amarapuri aru basava loka taba mahima saba rahem ashoka jvala mem hai jyoti tumhari tumhem sada pujem nara nari

amarapurī aru bāsava lokā taba mahimā saba raheṃ aśokā jvālā meṃ hai jyoti tumhārī tumheṃ sadā pūjeṃ nara nārī

The city of the immortals and Indra's realm abide free of sorrow by your glory; at Jwalaji your flame burns eternal, and men and women worship you for ever.

Chaupai 27–28

प्रेम भक्ति से जो यश गावें । दुःख दारिद्र निकट नहिं आवें ॥ ध्यावे तुम्हें जो नर मन लाई । जन्म-मरण ताको छुटि जाई ॥

prema bhakti se jo yasha gavem duhkha daridra nikata nahim avem dhyave tumhem jo nara mana lai janma-marana tako chuti jai

prema bhakti se jo yaśa gāveṃ duḥkha dāridra nikaṭa nahiṃ āveṃ dhyāve tumheṃ jo nara mana lāī janma-maraṇa tāko chuṭi jāī

Whoever sings your glory with love and devotion, sorrow and poverty do not come near; whoever meditates on you with an attentive heart is released from birth and death.

Chaupai 29–30

जोगी सुर मुनि कहत पुकारी । योग न हो बिन शक्ति तुम्हारी ॥ शंकर आचारज तप कीनो । काम अरु क्रोध जीति सब लीनो ॥

jogi sura muni kahata pukari yoga na ho bina shakti tumhari shamkara acaraja tapa kino kama aru krodha jiti saba lino

jogī sura muni kahata pukārī yoga na ho bina śakti tumhārī śaṃkara ācāraja tapa kīno kāma aru krodha jīti saba līno

Yogis, gods and sages declare aloud: without your shakti there is no yoga. Shankaracharya performed great austerity, conquering desire and anger entirely —

Chaupai 31–32

निशिदिन ध्यान धरो शंकर को । काहु काल नहिं सुमिरो तुमको ॥ शक्ति रूप को मरम न पायो । शक्ति गई तब मन पछितायो ॥

nishidina dhyana dharo shamkara ko kahu kala nahim sumiro tumako shakti rupa ko marama na payo shakti gai taba mana pachitayo

niśidina dhyāna dharo śaṃkara ko kāhu kāla nahiṃ sumiro tumako śakti rūpa ko marama na pāyo śakti gaī taba mana pachitāyo

— day and night he meditated on Shankara, but never once remembered you; not grasping the mystery of Shakti, he lost his power, and then his heart repented.

Chaupai 33–34

शरणागत हुई कीर्ति बखानी । जय जय जय जगदम्ब भवानी ॥ भई प्रसन्न आदि जगदम्बा । दई शक्ति नहिं कीन विलम्बा ॥

sharanagata hui kirti bakhani jaya jaya jaya jagadamba bhavani bhai prasanna adi jagadamba dai shakti nahim kina vilamba

śaraṇāgata huī kīrti bakhānī jaya jaya jaya jagadamba bhavānī bhaī prasanna ādi jagadambā daī śakti nahiṃ kīna vilambā

Taking refuge, he proclaimed your praise — “Jaya, jaya, jaya, Jagadamba Bhavani!” — and the primal Mother of the world, well pleased, restored his power without delay.

Chaupai 35–36

मोको मातु कष्ट अति घेरो । तुम बिन कौन हरै दुःख मेरो ॥ आशा तृष्णा निपट सतावें । मोह मदादिक सब बिनशावें ॥

moko matu kashta ati ghero tuma bina kauna harai duhkha mero asha trishna nipata satavem moha madadika saba binashavem

moko mātu kaṣṭa ati ghero tuma bina kauna harai duḥkha mero āśā tṛṣṇā nipaṭa satāveṃ moha madādika saba binaśāveṃ

Mother, troubles press me hard — who but you can take away my sorrow? Hope and craving torment me without end; destroy delusion, pride and all their kin.

Chaupai 37–38

शत्रु नाश कीजै महारानी । सुमिरौं इकचित तुम्हें भवानी ॥ करो कृपा हे मातु दयाला । ऋद्धि-सिद्धि दै करहु निहाला ॥

shatru nasha kijai maharani sumiraum ikacita tumhem bhavani karo kripa he matu dayala riddhi-siddhi dai karahu nihala

śatru nāśa kījai mahārānī sumirauṃ ikacita tumheṃ bhavānī karo kṛpā he mātu dayālā ṛddhi-siddhi dai karahu nihālā

Destroy my afflictions, great Queen — single-minded I remember you, Bhavani. Be gracious, O compassionate Mother; grant abundance and attainment and make me blessed.

Chaupai 39–40

जब लगि जिऊं दया फल पाऊं । तुम्हरो यश मैं सदा सुनाऊं ॥ श्री दुर्गा चालीसा जो कोई गावै । सब सुख भोग परमपद पावै ॥

jaba lagi jium daya phala paum tumharo yasha maim sada sunaum shri durga calisa jo koi gavai saba sukha bhoga paramapada pavai

jaba lagi jiūṃ dayā phala pāūṃ tumharo yaśa maiṃ sadā sunāūṃ śrī durgā cālīsā jo koī gāvai saba sukha bhoga paramapada pāvai

As long as I live may I receive the fruit of your mercy and proclaim your glory always. Whoever sings this Durga Chalisa enjoys every happiness and attains the supreme state.

Closing

देवीदास शरण निज जानी । करहु कृपा जगदम्ब भवानी ॥

devidasa sharana nija jani karahu kripa jagadamba bhavani

devīdāsa śaraṇa nija jānī karahu kṛpā jagadamba bhavānī

Knowing Devi Das as one who has taken your refuge, bestow your grace, O Jagadamba Bhavani.

When it is recited: Both Navratris (Chaitra and Sharad), Fridays and Ashtami tithis, and as a daily protective recitation in countless homes.

Traditional significance: The Chalisa gathers the whole Devi tradition into forty verses: the Mother as creator, sustainer and destroyer, as the ten Mahavidyas, as Sheranwali with sword and trident, and as the sure refuge whose remembrance dissolves suffering — even Shankaracharya, the verses recall, attained his powers only by her shakti.

Questions

When is Durga Chalisa recited?

Daily by many devotees, and especially during the nine days of both Navratris, on Fridays and on Ashtami. It is commonly recited after lighting the akhand jyoti or before the Durga Saptashati path.

Why does the Chalisa mention Shankaracharya?

The verses recall the tradition that even the great Advaita teacher realised his attainments were powerless without Shakti — a teaching that all strength, including spiritual strength, flows from the Mother.

Related

Jai Ambe Gauri (Durga Aarti)Jai Saraswati Mata — Saraswati Aarti Om Jai Lakshmi Mata (Lakshmi Aarti)Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha

Source: Traditional — widely printed version attributed to Devi Das. Regional versions may vary — this text follows the version most widely used in community worship.