śrī durgā cālīsā

Opening doha and verse 1: Salutation, salutation to Durgā who creates joy! Salutation, salutation to Durgā who removes sorrow!

Verse 2: Your light is formless (nirākāra). Its radiance spreads through all three worlds.

Verse 3: You have a moon-marked forehead and a face most vast. Your eyes are crimson and your eyebrows terrifying.

Verse 4: The form of the Mother is most beautiful to behold. Those who take your darśan receive immense joy.

Verse 5: You took on the śakti (divine power) of the entire universe. For its sustenance you gave food and wealth.

Verse 6: As Annapūrṇā you nourish all the world. You yourself are the primordial beauty, the eternally youthful one.

Verse 7: At the time of cosmic dissolution you destroy everything. You are Gaurī — the beloved of Śiva-Śaṅkara.

Verse 8: The yogi Śiva sings your glories ceaselessly. Brahmā and Viṣṇu meditate upon you daily.

Verse 9: You took the form of Sarasvatī. Granting right understanding, you uplifted the sages and seers.

Verse 10: You assumed the Narasiṃha form, O Ambā. You appeared, bursting forth from the pillar.

Verse 11: You protected and saved Prahlāda. Hiraṇyākṣa you dispatched to the other world.

Verse 12: You assumed the form of Lakṣmī in the world. You are enshrined in the very being of Śrī Nārāyaṇa.

Verse 13: You sport in the Milky Ocean. O ocean of compassion, grant hope to my heart.

Verse 14: In Hinglaj you yourself are Bhavānī. Your glory is limitless and cannot be fully told.

Verse 15: You are Mātaṅgī and Mother Dhūmāvatī; Bhuvanēśvarī and Bagalā, bestowers of happiness.

Verse 16: Śrī Bhairavī, Tārā — you carry all the world across; Chinnamastā — you remove the sorrows of worldly existence.

Verse 17: Mounted on the lion you shine gloriously, O Bhavānī. The heroic Laṅgūra attendants march before you.

Verse 18: A skull-cup and sword grace your hands. At the sight of you, even Death (Kāla) flees in terror.

Verse 19: Your weapons and trident gleam with brilliance. At their sight, a sharp pain pierces the enemy's heart.

Verse 20: In Nāgarkoṭa (Kangra) you reign supreme. Your glory resounds like a great drum through all three worlds.

Verse 21: You slew the demons Śumbha and Niśumbha. Raktabīja and his entire army you utterly destroyed.

Verse 22: The demon-king Mahiṣāsura was exceedingly arrogant. The weight of his sins tormented the earth.

Verse 23: You assumed the terrifying form of Kālikā. Together with your army you destroyed him entirely.

Verse 24: Whenever deep trouble has befallen the saints, you have become their helper and mother every time.

Verse 25: In Amarāvatī (the city of the gods) and in Indra's realm — all dwell in grief-free joy through your glory.

Verse 26: In the Jvālāmukhī shrine your sacred fire burns. Men and women worship you always.

Verse 27: Those who sing your glory with love and devotion — sorrow and poverty do not come near them.

Verse 28: The person who meditates upon you with wholehearted attention — the cycle of birth and death releases its hold on them.

Verse 29: Yogis, gods, and sages cry out: 'Without your Śakti, no yoga is possible!'

Verse 30: Śaṅkarācārya performed great austerities. He conquered lust and anger completely.

Verse 31: Day and night he meditated on Śaṅkara (Śiva). At no time did he think of you (the Goddess).

Verse 32: He had not grasped the mystery of Śakti's form. When his power departed, only then did he repent.

Verse 33: Having taken refuge, his praise was proclaimed: 'Victory, victory, victory to Jagadambā Bhavānī!'

Verse 34: The primordial Jagadambā was pleased. She restored his power without delay.

Verse 35: I am surrounded, O Mother, by overwhelming suffering. Without you, who can remove my sorrow?

Verse 36: Hope and thirst torment me utterly. May delusion, pride, and all such vices be destroyed.

Verse 37: Destroy my enemies, O Great Queen. I remember you with single-pointed mind, O Bhavānī.

Verse 38: Show your grace, O compassionate Mother. Grant Ṛddhi (prosperity) and Siddhi (perfection) and make me content.

Verse 39: For as long as I live, may I receive the fruit of your grace. I shall always spread your glory.

Verse 40 — Phalaśruti: Whoever sings this Śrī Durgā Cālīsā enjoys all pleasures and attains the supreme state (paramapada).

Closing verse by Devīdāsa: Devīdāsa, knowing himself to be your refuge, prays: Show your grace, O Jagadambā Bhavānī!