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Part of: श्रीदुर्गासप्तशती

द्वादशोऽध्यायः · फलस्तुति

Chapter 12 · The fruits of recitation

Durga Saptashati, chapter 12: the Phalastuti

43 verses Audio will be added later

About this stotra

Chapter 12 of the Durga Saptashati is known as the Phalastuti, the praise of the fruits. The Saptashati is the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana. In chapter 11 the gods praised the Devi and she granted them a boon. Here she speaks of what comes from hearing and reading her story. According to tradition, chapters 5 to 13 form the final episode (uttama carita), the last of its three parts. Some older editions call this chapter the bhagavatī-vākya, the Devi's words.

What the chapter contains

It opens with a meditation verse on Durga. Then the Devi speaks (12.2 to 12.30). She names the eighth, ninth and fourteenth lunar days and the great yearly worship in autumn as times for the recitation, and tells people to remember the story in danger: in battle, in a storm at sea, in captivity. The sage then narrates how she vanished, how the gods took back their places, and how this same Devi works in the world as Mahakali, as Lakshmi and as Alakshmi. By the Gita Press count the chapter has 41 mantras.

A plain note: every benefit listed in this chapter is the text's own claim, spoken by the Devi. We translate those words as they stand. Nothing here is a promise from us.

Reading it

The chapter is one long speech, and many sentences run over two or three verses, so read the meanings together. Keep an even pace. Watch these sounds:

  • स्वस्त्ययनं svastyayanaṃ: three parts, sva-stya-yanaṃ. Not "svastāyanaṃ".
  • तस्मिञ्छ्रुते tasmiñchrute: the cluster ñchr comes from tasmin śrute.
  • दुःस्वप्नं duḥsvapnaṃ: a light but clear visarga.
  • दुष्कृतं and शस्त्रानल: keep ष and श distinct.

The meaning on this page was written by our team directly from the Sanskrit. Whether a scholar has reviewed it is shown on the page.

ॐ विद्युद्दामसमप्रभां मृगपतिस्कन्धस्थितां भीषणां कन्याभिः करवालखेटविलसद्धस्ताभिरासेविताम्। हस्तैश्चक्रगदासिखेटविशिखांश्चापं गुणं तर्जनीं बिभ्राणामनलात्मिकां शशिधरां दुर्गां त्रिनेत्रां भजे॥

oṃ vidyuddāmasamaprabhāṃ mṛgapatiskandhasthitāṃ bhīṣaṇāṃ kanyābhiḥ karavālakheṭavilasaddhastābhirāsevitām | hastaiścakragadāsikheṭaviśikhāṃścāpaṃ guṇaṃ tarjanīṃ bibhrāṇāmanalātmikāṃ śaśidharāṃ durgāṃ trinetrāṃ bhaje ||

I worship three-eyed Durga. She shines like a chain of lightning and sits on the shoulder of a lion, fearsome to see. Maidens with swords and shields in their hands attend her. In her hands she holds the discus, mace, sword, shield, arrows, bow, noose, and a raised forefinger of warning. Her nature is fire, and she wears the moon.

ॐ देव्युवाच॥

oṃ devyuvāca ||

Om. The Devi said:

एभिः स्तवैश्च मां नित्यं स्तोष्यते यः समाहितः। तस्याहं सकलां बाधां नाशयिष्याम्यसंशयम्॥

ebhiḥ stavaiśca māṃ nityaṃ stoṣyate yaḥ samāhitaḥ | tasyāhaṃ sakalāṃ bādhāṃ nāśayiṣyāmyasaṃśayam ||

Whoever praises me every day with these hymns, with a settled mind, I will without doubt destroy every trouble that besets him.

मधुकैटभनाशं च महिषासुरघातनम्। कीर्तयिष्यन्ति ये तद्वद् वधं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः॥

madhukaiṭabhanāśaṃ ca mahiṣāsuraghātanam | kīrtayiṣyanti ye tadvad vadhaṃ śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ ||

Those who tell of the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaying of Mahishasura, and likewise the killing of Shumbha and Nishumbha,

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां चैकचेतसः। श्रोष्यन्ति चैव ये भक्त्या मम माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्॥

aṣṭamyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ navamyāṃ caikacetasaḥ | śroṣyanti caiva ye bhaktyā mama māhātmyamuttamam ||

and those who listen with devotion and a single mind to this excellent account of my greatness on the eighth, fourteenth and ninth days of the lunar fortnight,

न तेषां दुष्कृतं किञ्चिद् दुष्कृतोत्था न चापदः। भविष्यति न दारिद्र्यं न चैवेष्टवियोजनम्॥

na teṣāṃ duṣkṛtaṃ kiñcid duṣkṛtotthā na cāpadaḥ | bhaviṣyati na dāridryaṃ na caiveṣṭaviyojanam ||

No wrongdoing will touch them, and no misfortune born of wrongdoing. There will be no poverty for them, and no parting from those they love.

शत्रुतो न भयं तस्य दस्युतो वा न राजतः। न शस्त्रानलतोयौघात्कदाचित्सम्भविष्यति॥

śatruto na bhayaṃ tasya dasyuto vā na rājataḥ | na śastrānalatoyaughātkadācitsambhaviṣyati ||

He will have no fear from enemies, from robbers or from the king. Nor will fear ever come to him from weapons, fire or floodwater.

तस्मान्ममैतन्माहात्म्यं पठितव्यं समाहितैः। श्रोतव्यं च सदा भक्त्या परं स्वस्त्ययनं हि तत्॥

tasmānmamaitanmāhātmyaṃ paṭhitavyaṃ samāhitaiḥ | śrotavyaṃ ca sadā bhaktyā paraṃ svastyayanaṃ hi tat ||

So this account of my greatness should be read by those with a settled mind, and always heard with devotion. It is the highest means of well-being.

उपसर्गानशेषांस्तु महामारीसमुद्भवान्। तथा त्रिविधमुत्पातं माहात्म्यं शमयेन्मम॥

upasargānaśeṣāṃstu mahāmārīsamudbhavān | tathā trividhamutpātaṃ māhātmyaṃ śamayenmama ||

This account of my greatness calms every calamity that comes from great epidemics, and the three kinds of ill omens (in the heavens, in the air and on the earth).

यत्रैतत्पठ्यते सम्यङ् नित्यमायतने मम। सदा न तद्विमोक्ष्यामि सांनिध्यं तत्र मे स्थितम्॥

yatraitatpaṭhyate samyaṅ nityamāyatane mama | sadā na tadvimokṣyāmi sāṃnidhyaṃ tatra me sthitam ||

In any shrine of mine where this is read properly every day, I will never leave that place. My presence stays there.

बलिप्रदाने पूजायामग्निकार्ये महोत्सवे। सर्वं ममैतच्चरितमुच्चार्यं श्राव्यमेव च॥

balipradāne pūjāyāmagnikārye mahotsave | sarvaṃ mamaitaccaritamuccāryaṃ śrāvyameva ca ||

At the offering of bali, at worship, at fire rites and at great festivals, this whole story of mine should be recited and read aloud for others to hear.

जानताऽजानता वापि बलिपूजां तथा कृताम्। प्रतीच्छिष्याम्यहं प्रीत्या वह्निहोमं तथा कृतम्॥

jānatā'jānatā vāpi balipūjāṃ tathā kṛtām | pratīcchiṣyāmyahaṃ prītyā vahnihomaṃ tathā kṛtam ||

Offering and worship done in this way, whether by one who knows the rules or by one who does not, and fire offerings made likewise, I will accept with love.

शरत्काले महापूजा क्रियते या च वार्षिकी। तस्यां ममैतन्माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा भक्तिसमन्वितः॥

śaratkāle mahāpūjā kriyate yā ca vārṣikī | tasyāṃ mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ śrutvā bhaktisamanvitaḥ ||

At the great yearly worship held in autumn, the person who hears this account of my greatness with devotion

सर्वाबाधाविनिर्मुक्तो धनधान्यसुतान्वितः। मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशयः॥

sarvābādhāvinirmukto dhanadhānyasutānvitaḥ | manuṣyo matprasādena bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ||

will, by my grace, be freed from every trouble and blessed with wealth, grain and children. Of this there is no doubt.

श्रुत्वा ममैतन्माहात्म्यं तथा चोत्पत्तयः शुभाः। पराक्रमं च युद्धेषु जायते निर्भयः पुमान्॥

śrutvā mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ tathā cotpattayaḥ śubhāḥ | parākramaṃ ca yuddheṣu jāyate nirbhayaḥ pumān ||

Hearing this account of my greatness, the auspicious stories of how I appeared, and my valour in battle, a person becomes fearless.

रिपवः संक्षयं यान्ति कल्याणं चोपपद्यते। नन्दते च कुलं पुंसां माहात्म्यं मम शृण्वताम्॥

ripavaḥ saṃkṣayaṃ yānti kalyāṇaṃ copapadyate | nandate ca kulaṃ puṃsāṃ māhātmyaṃ mama śṛṇvatām ||

For those who hear my story, enemies are destroyed, good fortune comes, and the family flourishes.

शान्तिकर्मणि सर्वत्र तथा दुःस्वप्नदर्शने। ग्रहपीडासु चोग्रासु माहात्म्यं शृणुयान्मम॥

śāntikarmaṇi sarvatra tathā duḥsvapnadarśane | grahapīḍāsu cogrāsu māhātmyaṃ śṛṇuyānmama ||

In every rite for peace, after a bad dream, and in severe trouble from the planets, one should listen to my story.

उपसर्गाः शमं यान्ति ग्रहपीडाश्च दारुणाः। दुःस्वप्नं च नृभिर्दृष्टं सुस्वप्नमुपजायते॥

upasargāḥ śamaṃ yānti grahapīḍāśca dāruṇāḥ | duḥsvapnaṃ ca nṛbhirdṛṣṭaṃ susvapnamupajāyate ||

Then calamities subside, dreadful planetary troubles subside, and a bad dream that people have seen turns into a good one.

बालग्रहाभिभूतानां बालानां शान्तिकारकम्। संघातभेदे च नृणां मैत्रीकरणमुत्तमम्॥

bālagrahābhibhūtānāṃ bālānāṃ śāntikārakam | saṃghātabhede ca nṛṇāṃ maitrīkaraṇamuttamam ||

It brings peace to children seized by the bālagrahas, the forces believed to afflict small children. When people who were united fall apart, it is the best means of making them friends again.

दुर्वृत्तानामशेषाणां बलहानिकरं परम्। रक्षोभूतपिशाचानां पठनादेव नाशनम्॥

durvṛttānāmaśeṣāṇāṃ balahānikaraṃ param | rakṣobhūtapiśācānāṃ paṭhanādeva nāśanam ||

It is supreme at weakening all who do evil. By its reading alone, rakshasas, bhutas and pishachas are destroyed.

सर्वं ममैतन्माहात्म्यं मम सन्निधिकारकम्। पशुपुष्पार्घ्यधूपैश्च गन्धदीपैस्तथोत्तमैः॥

sarvaṃ mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ mama sannidhikārakam | paśupuṣpārghyadhūpaiśca gandhadīpaistathottamaiḥ ||

This whole account of my greatness brings my presence near. With animal offerings, flowers, water offerings, incense, perfume and fine lamps,

विप्राणां भोजनैर्होमैः प्रोक्षणीयैरहर्निशम्। अन्यैश्च विविधैर्भोगैः प्रदानैर्वत्सरेण या॥

viprāṇāṃ bhojanairhomaiḥ prokṣaṇīyairaharniśam | anyaiśca vividhairbhogaiḥ pradānairvatsareṇa yā ||

by feeding brahmins, by fire offerings, by sprinkling consecrated water day and night, and by many other offerings and gifts, the pleasure I am given over a whole year,

प्रीतिर्मे क्रियते सास्मिन् सकृत्सुचरिते श्रुते। श्रुतं हरति पापानि तथाऽऽरोग्यं प्रयच्छति॥

prītirme kriyate sāsmin sakṛtsucarite śrute | śrutaṃ harati pāpāni tathā''rogyaṃ prayacchati ||

that same pleasure is given to me when this sacred story is heard just once. Once heard, it takes away sins and gives health.

रक्षां करोति भूतेभ्यो जन्मनां कीर्तनं मम। युद्धेषु चरितं यन्मे दुष्टदैत्यनिबर्हणम्॥

rakṣāṃ karoti bhūtebhyo janmanāṃ kīrtanaṃ mama | yuddheṣu caritaṃ yanme duṣṭadaityanibarhaṇam ||

Telling of my births protects from evil spirits. And my deeds in battle, the destruction of the wicked daityas,

तस्मिञ्छ्रुते वैरिकृतं भयं पुंसां न जायते। युष्माभिः स्तुतयो याश्च याश्च ब्रह्मर्षिभिः कृताः॥

tasmiñchrute vairikṛtaṃ bhayaṃ puṃsāṃ na jāyate | yuṣmābhiḥ stutayo yāśca yāśca brahmarṣibhiḥ kṛtāḥ ||

when that is heard, people feel no fear of enemies. The hymns that you gods sang, and those sung by the brahmarshis,

ब्रह्मणा च कृतास्तास्तु प्रयच्छन्ति शुभां मतिम्। अरण्ये प्रान्तरे वापि दावाग्निपरिवारितः॥

brahmaṇā ca kṛtāstāstu prayacchanti śubhāṃ matim | araṇye prāntare vāpi dāvāgniparivāritaḥ ||

and those sung by Brahma, give a good and clear mind. Someone caught by a forest fire in the woods or on a lonely road,

दस्युभिर्वा वृतः शून्ये गृहीतो वापि शत्रुभिः। सिंहव्याघ्रानुयातो वा वने वा वनहस्तिभिः॥

dasyubhirvā vṛtaḥ śūnye gṛhīto vāpi śatrubhiḥ | siṃhavyāghrānuyāto vā vane vā vanahastibhiḥ ||

or surrounded by robbers in a deserted place, or captured by enemies, or chased by lions and tigers, or hemmed in by wild elephants in the forest,

राज्ञा क्रुद्धेन चाज्ञप्तो वध्यो बन्धगतोऽपि वा। आघूर्णितो वा वातेन स्थितः पोते महार्णवे॥

rājñā kruddhena cājñapto vadhyo bandhagato'pi vā | āghūrṇito vā vātena sthitaḥ pote mahārṇave ||

or sentenced to death by an angry king, or held in chains, or tossed by the wind in a boat on the great ocean,

पतत्सु चापि शस्त्रेषु संग्रामे भृशदारुणे। सर्वाबाधासु घोरासु वेदनाभ्यर्दितोऽपि वा॥

patatsu cāpi śastreṣu saṃgrāme bhṛśadāruṇe | sarvābādhāsu ghorāsu vedanābhyardito'pi vā ||

or in a fierce battle with weapons falling all around, or in any terrible danger, or racked with pain,

स्मरन्ममैतच्चरितं नरो मुच्येत संकटात्। मम प्रभावात्सिंहाद्या दस्यवो वैरिणस्तथा॥

smaranmamaitaccaritaṃ naro mucyeta saṃkaṭāt | mama prabhāvātsiṃhādyā dasyavo vairiṇastathā ||

such a person, remembering this story of mine, would be freed from the danger. By my power, lions and other beasts, robbers and enemies

दूरादेव पलायन्ते स्मरतश्चरितं मम॥

dūrādeva palāyante smarataścaritaṃ mama ||

flee while still far away from the one who remembers my story.

ऋषिरुवाच॥

ṛṣiruvāca ||

The sage said:

इत्युक्त्वा सा भगवती चण्डिका चण्डविक्रमा॥

ityuktvā sā bhagavatī caṇḍikā caṇḍavikramā ||

Having said this, the blessed Chandika, fierce in her valour,

पश्यतामेव देवानां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। तेऽपि देवा निरातङ्काः स्वाधिकारान् यथा पुरा॥

paśyatāmeva devānāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata | te'pi devā nirātaṅkāḥ svādhikārān yathā purā ||

vanished right there as the gods watched. The gods, now free of fear, took up their own offices as before.

यज्ञभागभुजः सर्वे चक्रुर्विनिहतारयः। दैत्याश्च देव्या निहते शुम्भे देवरिपौ युधि॥

yajñabhāgabhujaḥ sarve cakrurvinihatārayaḥ | daityāśca devyā nihate śumbhe devaripau yudhi ||

With their enemies slain, they all once again received their shares of the sacrifice. When Shumbha, the enemy of the gods, had been killed by the Devi in battle,

जगद्विध्वंसिनि तस्मिन् महोग्रेऽतुलविक्रमे। निशुम्भे च महावीर्ये शेषाः पातालमाययुः॥

jagadvidhvaṃsini tasmin mahogre'tulavikrame | niśumbhe ca mahāvīrye śeṣāḥ pātālamāyayuḥ ||

that destroyer of the world, terrible and matchless in valour, and with mighty Nishumbha slain as well, the remaining daityas went down to Patala.

एवं भगवती देवी सा नित्यापि पुनः पुनः। सम्भूय कुरुते भूप जगतः परिपालनम्॥

evaṃ bhagavatī devī sā nityāpi punaḥ punaḥ | sambhūya kurute bhūpa jagataḥ paripālanam ||

In this way, O king, the blessed Devi, though eternal, appears again and again and protects the world.

तयैतन्मोह्यते विश्वं सैव विश्वं प्रसूयते। सा याचिता च विज्ञानं तुष्टा ऋद्धिं प्रयच्छति॥

tayaitanmohyate viśvaṃ saiva viśvaṃ prasūyate | sā yācitā ca vijñānaṃ tuṣṭā ṛddhiṃ prayacchati ||

It is she who casts this universe into delusion, and she who gives birth to it. When prayed to, she gives understanding. When pleased, she gives prosperity.

व्याप्तं तयैतत्सकलं ब्रह्माण्डं मनुजेश्वर। महाकाल्या महाकाले महामारीस्वरूपया॥

vyāptaṃ tayaitatsakalaṃ brahmāṇḍaṃ manujeśvara | mahākālyā mahākāle mahāmārīsvarūpayā ||

O lord of men, this whole cosmos is pervaded by her, Mahakali, who at the time of the great dissolution takes the form of Mahamari, the great death.

सैव काले महामारी सैव सृष्टिर्भवत्यजा। स्थितिं करोति भूतानां सैव काले सनातनी॥

saiva kāle mahāmārī saiva sṛṣṭirbhavatyajā | sthitiṃ karoti bhūtānāṃ saiva kāle sanātanī ||

In its time she is Mahamari, the great death. She, the unborn, becomes creation. And she, the eternal, in its time sustains all beings.

भवकाले नृणां सैव लक्ष्मीर्वृद्धिप्रदा गृहे। सैवाभावे तथाऽलक्ष्मीर्विनाशायोपजायते॥

bhavakāle nṛṇāṃ saiva lakṣmīrvṛddhipradā gṛhe | saivābhāve tathā'lakṣmīrvināśāyopajāyate ||

In good times she is Lakshmi in people's homes, giving growth. In times of want she herself becomes Alakshmi, misfortune, and brings ruin.

स्तुता सम्पूजिता पुष्पैर्धूपगन्धादिभिस्तथा। ददाति वित्तं पुत्रांश्च मतिं धर्मे गतिं शुभाम्॥ ॐ॥

stutā sampūjitā puṣpairdhūpagandhādibhistathā | dadāti vittaṃ putrāṃśca matiṃ dharme gatiṃ śubhām || oṃ ||

Praised, and worshipped well with flowers, incense, perfume and the rest, she gives wealth, sons, a mind set on dharma, and a good path. Om.

॥ इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये फलस्तुतिर्नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः॥

|| iti śrīmārkaṇḍeyapurāṇe sāvarṇike manvantare devīmāhātmye phalastutirnāma dvādaśo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Here ends the twelfth chapter, called ‘The Praise of the Fruits’, of the Devi Mahatmya, in the account of the Savarni Manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana.