Arjuna's Hymn to Durga

Verse 1 (6.23.1)

धार्तराष्ट्रबलं दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् । अर्जुनस्य हितार्थाय कृष्णो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

dhārtarāṣṭrabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā yuddhāya samupasthitam | arjunasya hitārthāya kṛṣṇo vacanamabravīt

Seeing the army of Dhritarashtra's sons drawn up for battle, Krishna spoke these words for Arjuna's good:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 1–2.

Verse 2 (6.23.2)

शुचिर्भूत्वा महाबाहो संग्रामाभिमुखे स्थितः । पराजयाय शत्रूणां दुर्गास्तोत्रमुदीरय ॥

śucirbhūtvā mahābāho saṃgrāmābhimukhe sthitaḥ | parājayāya śatrūṇāṃ durgāstotramudīraya

"Purify yourself, mighty-armed one, and, standing ready for battle, recite the hymn to Durga for the defeat of your enemies."

Note on the text: Corrected श्त्रुणां → शत्रूणां (misprint in Wikisource; a broken conjunct and a short u; the critical edition's appendix reads śatrūṇāṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 3–4. The critical edition's e-text prints the śrībhagavān uvāca heading one line early (before line 2 of the appendix); the page places it here, before Krishna's words.

Verse 3 (6.23.3)

एवमुक्तोऽर्जुनः सङ्ख्ये वासुदेवेन धीमता । अवतीर्य रथात्पार्थः स्तोत्रमाह कृताञ्जलिः ॥

evamukto'rjunaḥ saṅkhye vāsudevena dhīmatā | avatīrya rathātpārthaḥ stotramāha kṛtāñjaliḥ

Thus addressed on the battlefield by the wise Vasudeva, Partha (Arjuna) got down from his chariot and, with joined palms, recited the hymn:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 5–6.

Verse 4 (6.23.4)

नमस्ते सिद्धसेनानि आर्ये मन्दरवासिनि । कुमारि कालि कापालि कपिले कृष्णपिङ्गले ॥

namaste siddhasenāni ārye mandaravāsini | kumāri kāli kāpāli kapile kṛṣṇapiṅgale

"Salutations to you, leader of the hosts of the Siddhas, noble one, dweller on Mandara; O Kumari (the maiden), Kali, Kapali (consort of the skull-bearer), Kapila (the tawny one), Krishnapingala (the dark and tawny one)!

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 7–8. The critical edition's appendix opens the hymn with oṃ, which the page lacks, and prints the arjuna uvāca heading one line early. The page's own commentary notes that this hymn is found in only one manuscript and in none of the southern ones.

Verse 5 (6.23.5)

भद्रकालि नमस्तुभ्यं महाकालि नमोऽस्तु ते । चण्डि चण्डे नमस्तुभ्यं तारिणि वरवर्णिनि ॥

bhadrakāli namastubhyaṃ mahākāli namo'stu te | caṇḍi caṇḍe namastubhyaṃ tāriṇi varavarṇini

Bhadrakali, salutations to you; Mahakali, homage to you. Chandi, Chanda (the fierce one), salutations to you; Tarini (who carries across), Varavarnini (the fair-complexioned)!

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 9–10.

Verse 6 (6.23.6)

कात्यायनि महाभागे करालि विजये जये । शिखिपिच्छध्वजधरे नानाभरणभूषिते ॥

kātyāyani mahābhāge karāli vijaye jaye | śikhipicchadhvajadhare nānābharaṇabhūṣite

Katyayani, most blessed one, Karali (the terrible), Vijaya (giver of victory), Jaya (victory herself); bearer of a banner of peacock feathers, adorned with many ornaments!

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 11–12.

Verse 7 (6.23.7)

अट्टशूलप्रहरणे खड्गखेटकधारिणि । गोपेन्द्रस्यानुजे ज्येष्ठे नन्दगोपकुलोद्भवे ॥

aṭṭaśūlapraharaṇe khaḍgakheṭakadhāriṇi | gopendrasyānuje jyeṣṭhe nandagopakulodbhave

You whose weapon is the great spear, bearer of sword and shield; younger sister of the lord of cowherds (Krishna), eldest one, born in the family of Nanda the cowherd!

Note on the text: Corrected स्वङ्गखेटकधारिणि → खड्गखेटकधारिणि (misprint in Wikisource; स्व for ख and ङ्ग for ड्ग, "bearer of sword and shield"; the page's own commentary glosses खेटकं चर्म, and the critical edition's appendix reads khaḍgakheṭakadhāriṇi). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 13–14.

Verse 8 (6.23.8)

महिषासृक्प्रिये नित्यं कौशिकि पीतवासिनि । अट्टहासे कोकमुखे नमस्तेऽस्तु रणप्रिये ॥

mahiṣāsṛkpriye nityaṃ kauśiki pītavāsini | aṭṭahāse kokamukhe namaste'stu raṇapriye

You who ever delight in the blood of Mahisha, Kaushiki, clad in yellow; Attahasa (of the loud laugh), Kokamukha (the round-faced) — homage to you, lover of battle!

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 15–16.

Verse 9 (6.23.9)

उमे शाकम्भरि श्वेते कृष्णे कैटभनाशिनि । हिरण्याक्षि विरूपाक्षि सुधूम्राक्षि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

ume śākambhari śvete kṛṣṇe kaiṭabhanāśini | hiraṇyākṣi virūpākṣi sudhūmrākṣi namo'stu te

Uma, Shakambhari, white one, dark one, slayer of Kaitabha; Hiranyakshi (the golden-eyed), Virupakshi (of many-formed eyes), Sudhumrakshi (the smoke-eyed) — homage to you!

Note on the text: Corrected उभे → उमे (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म, उभे "both" makes no sense in a string of vocatives; the critical edition's appendix reads ume) and हिरण्याश्चि → हिरण्याक्षि (misprint in Wikisource; श्च for क्ष; the page's own commentary reads हिरण्याक्षि पीतनेत्रे). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 17–18.

Verse 10 (6.23.10)

वेदश्रुति महापुण्ये ब्रह्मण्ये जातवेदसि । जम्बूकटकचैत्येषु नित्यं सन्निहितालये ॥

vedaśruti mahāpuṇye brahmaṇye jātavedasi | jambūkaṭakacaityeṣu nityaṃ sannihitālaye

You who are the Veda and its revelation, most holy, gracious to Brahmins, Jatavedasi (knower of all that is born); you whose dwelling is ever present in the royal cities of Jambudvipa and in its shrines!

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 19–20.

Verse 11 (6.23.11)

त्वं ब्रह्मविद्या विद्यानां महानिद्रा च देहिनाम् । स्कन्दमातर्भगवति दुर्गे कान्तारवासिनि ॥

tvaṃ brahmavidyā vidyānāṃ mahānidrā ca dehinām | skandamātarbhagavati durge kāntāravāsini

Of all knowledge you are the knowledge of Brahman, and for embodied beings you are the great sleep. O mother of Skanda, Bhagavati, Durga, dweller in the wilderness!

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 21–22.

Verse 12 (6.23.12)

स्वाहाकारः स्वधा चैव कला काष्ठा सरस्वती । सावित्री वेदमाता च तथा वेदान्त उच्यते ॥

svāhākāraḥ svadhā caiva kalā kāṣṭhā sarasvatī | sāvitrī vedamātā ca tathā vedānta ucyate

You are called Svaha and Svadha, Kala and Kashtha (the measures of time), Sarasvati, Savitri, the mother of the Vedas, and Vedanta as well.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 23–24. सावित्री for the appendix's vocative sāvitri kept as a variant.

Verse 13 (6.23.13)

स्तुतासि त्वं महादेवि विशुद्धेनान्तरात्मना । जयो भवतु मे नित्यं त्वत्प्रसादाद्रणाजिरे ॥

stutāsi tvaṃ mahādevi viśuddhenāntarātmanā | jayo bhavatu me nityaṃ tvatprasādādraṇājire

Great Goddess, I have praised you with a pure heart. By your grace may victory always be mine on the field of battle.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 25–26. रणाजिरे (glossed by the page's own commentary as युद्धाङ्गणे) for the appendix's raṇe raṇe kept as a variant.

Verse 14 (6.23.14)

कान्तारभयदुर्गेषु भक्तानां चालयेषु च । नित्यं वससि पाताले युद्धे जयसि दानवान् ॥

kāntārabhayadurgeṣu bhaktānāṃ cālayeṣu ca | nityaṃ vasasi pātāle yuddhe jayasi dānavān

In wildernesses, in dangers and in hard places, in the homes of your devotees and in the underworld you ever dwell; in battle you conquer the Danavas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 27–28.

Verse 15 (6.23.15)

त्वं जम्भनी मोहिनी च माया ह्रीः श्रीस्तथैव च । संध्या प्रभावती चैव सावित्री जननी तथा ॥

tvaṃ jambhanī mohinī ca māyā hrīḥ śrīstathaiva ca | saṃdhyā prabhāvatī caiva sāvitrī jananī tathā

You are Jambhani and Mohini (drowsiness and sleep), Maya, Hri (modesty) and Shri (fortune); Sandhya (twilight), Prabhavati (the radiant), Savitri and the Mother.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 29–30.

Verse 16 (6.23.16)

तुष्टिः पुष्टिर्धृतिर्दीप्तिश्चन्द्रादित्यविवर्धिनी । भूतिर्भूतिमतां सङ्ख्ये वीक्ष्यसे सिद्धचारणैः ॥

tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭirdhṛtirdīptiścandrādityavivardhinī | bhūtirbhūtimatāṃ saṅkhye vīkṣyase siddhacāraṇaiḥ

You are contentment, nourishment, steadfastness and radiance, she who makes the moon and the sun wax; the prosperity of the prosperous. In battle you are beheld by the Siddhas and Charanas."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 31–32.

Verse 17 (6.23.17)

ततः पार्थस्य विज्ञाय भक्तिं मानववत्सला । अन्तरिक्षगतोवाच गोविन्दस्याग्रतः स्थिता ॥

tataḥ pārthasya vijñāya bhaktiṃ mānavavatsalā | antarikṣagatovāca govindasyāgrataḥ sthitā

Then, knowing Partha's devotion, the Goddess who loves humankind appeared in the sky before Govinda and spoke:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 33–34.

Verse 18 (6.23.18)

स्वल्पेनैव तु कालेन शत्रूञ्जेष्यसि पाण्डव । नरस्त्वमसि दुर्धर्ष नारायणसहायवान् ॥

svalpenaiva tu kālena śatrūñjeṣyasi pāṇḍava | narastvamasi durdharṣa nārāyaṇasahāyavān

"In a very short time, son of Pandu, you will conquer your enemies. Unassailable one, you are Nara, with Narayana as your ally.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 35–36.

Verse 19 (6.23.19)

अजेयस्त्वं रणेऽरीणामपि वज्रभृतः स्वयम् । इत्येवमुक्त्वा वरदा क्षणेनान्तरधीयत ॥

ajeyastvaṃ raṇe'rīṇāmapi vajrabhṛtaḥ svayam | ityevamuktvā varadā kṣaṇenāntaradhīyata

In battle you cannot be conquered by your foes, not even by the wielder of the thunderbolt himself." Having said this, the giver of boons vanished in a moment.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 37–38. The Goddess's words end with line 1; line 2 is Sanjaya's narration resuming without a printed heading (the page prints no heading inside the verse, so the verse is kept whole).

Verse 20 (6.23.20)

लब्ध्वा वरं तु कौन्तेयो मेने विजयमात्मनः । आरुरोह ततः पार्थो रथं परमसंमतम् ॥

labdhvā varaṃ tu kaunteyo mene vijayamātmanaḥ | āruroha tataḥ pārtho rathaṃ paramasaṃmatam

Having received the boon, Kunti's son was sure of his victory, and Partha then mounted his excellent chariot.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 39–40. Speaker: the page prints no heading after देव्युवाच (verse 18) and the input carried देवी on; from verse 20 the words are Sanjaya's narration to Dhritarashtra (the hymn's fruits, "This I have seen through the grace of Vyasa", "your sons"), so they are given to Sanjaya. परमसंमतम् for the appendix's paramasaṃgatam kept as a variant.

Verse 21 (6.23.21)

कृष्णार्जुनावेकरथौ दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः । य इदं पठते स्तोत्रं कल्य उत्थाय मानवः ॥

kṛṣṇārjunāvekarathau divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ | ya idaṃ paṭhate stotraṃ kalya utthāya mānavaḥ

Krishna and Arjuna, seated in one chariot, blew their divine conches. The man who rises at dawn and recites this hymn

Note on the text: Corrected शङ्खौः → शङ्खौ (misprint in Wikisource; a stray visarga on the dual accusative; the critical edition's appendix reads śaṅkhau). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 41–42. Speaker: Sanjaya, not the input's carried-over देवी (see verse 20).

Verse 22 (6.23.22)

यक्षरक्षःपिशाचेभ्यो न भयं विद्यते सदा । न चापि रिपवस्तेभ्यः सर्पाद्या ये च दंष्ट्रिणः ॥

yakṣarakṣaḥpiśācebhyo na bhayaṃ vidyate sadā | na cāpi ripavastebhyaḥ sarpādyā ye ca daṃṣṭriṇaḥ

has never any fear of yakshas, rakshasas or pishachas; nor can enemies harm him, nor serpents and other fanged creatures.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 43–44. Speaker: Sanjaya, not the input's carried-over देवी (see verse 20).

Verse 23 (6.23.23)

न भयं विद्यते तस्य सदा राजकुलादपि । विवादे जयमाप्नोति बद्धो मुच्यति बन्धनात् ॥

na bhayaṃ vidyate tasya sadā rājakulādapi | vivāde jayamāpnoti baddho mucyati bandhanāt

He never has anything to fear even from the king's household. He wins in disputes, and if bound he is freed from his bonds.

Note on the text: Corrected विवादेक → विवादे (misprint in Wikisource; a stray क; the critical edition's appendix reads vivāde). मुच्यति is kept as printed; the appendix has the same form. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 45–46. Speaker: Sanjaya, not the input's carried-over देवी (see verse 20).

Verse 24 (6.23.24)

दुर्गं तरति चावश्यं तथा चोरैर्विमुच्यते । संग्रामे विजयेन्नित्यं लक्ष्मीं प्राप्नोति केवलाम् ॥

durgaṃ tarati cāvaśyaṃ tathā corairvimucyate | saṃgrāme vijayennityaṃ lakṣmīṃ prāpnoti kevalām

He surely crosses every peril and escapes from thieves; he is ever victorious in battle and gains fortune whole and entire.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 47–48. Speaker: Sanjaya, not the input's carried-over देवी (see verse 20).

Verse 25 (6.23.25)

आरोग्यबलसंपन्नो जीवेद्वर्षशतं तथा । एतद्दृष्टं प्रसादात्तु मया व्यासस्य धीमतः ॥

ārogyabalasaṃpanno jīvedvarṣaśataṃ tathā | etaddṛṣṭaṃ prasādāttu mayā vyāsasya dhīmataḥ

Endowed with health and strength, he lives a hundred years. This I have seen through the grace of the wise Vyasa.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 49–50. Speaker: Sanjaya, not the input's carried-over देवी (see verse 20).

Verse 26 (6.23.26)

मोहादेतौ न जानन्ति नरनारायणावृषी । तव पुत्रा दुरात्मानः सर्वे मन्युवशानुगाः ॥

mohādetau na jānanti naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī | tava putrā durātmānaḥ sarve manyuvaśānugāḥ

Through delusion your evil-minded sons, all in the grip of wrath, do not know these two to be the seers Nara and Narayana.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 51–52. Speaker: Sanjaya, not the input's carried-over देवी (see verse 20).

Verse 27 (6.23.27)

प्राप्तकालमिदं वाक्यं कालपाशेन कुण्ठिताः । द्वैपायनो नारदश्च कण्वो रामस्तथानघः । अवारयंस्तव सुतं न चासौ तद्गृहीतवान् ॥

prāptakālamidaṃ vākyaṃ kālapāśena kuṇṭhitāḥ | dvaipāyano nāradaśca kaṇvo rāmastathānaghaḥ | avārayaṃstava sutaṃ na cāsau tadgṛhītavān

Dulled by the noose of Time, they did not heed these timely words: Dvaipayana, Narada, Kanva and the sinless Rama tried to restrain your son with them, but he would not accept their counsel.

Note on the text: Removed a zero-width non-joiner inside वाक्यं (वाक्‌यं in Wikisource). A three-line verse as the page prints it (27a–c). कुण्ठिताः for the appendix's guṇṭhitāḥ kept as a variant. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 53–55. Speaker: Sanjaya, not the input's carried-over देवी (see verse 20).

Verse 28 (6.23.28)

यत्र धर्मो द्युतिः कान्तिर्यत्र ह्रीः श्रीस्तथा मतिः । यतो धर्मस्ततः कृष्णो यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः ॥

yatra dharmo dyutiḥ kāntiryatra hrīḥ śrīstathā matiḥ | yato dharmastataḥ kṛṣṇo yataḥ kṛṣṇastato jayaḥ

Where there are dharma, splendour and grace, where there are modesty, fortune and wisdom — where dharma is, there is Krishna, and where Krishna is, there is victory.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as Appendix I No. 1 (printed after 6.22.16), lines 56–57. Speaker: Sanjaya, not the input's carried-over देवी (see verse 20).