SS Bhakthi

Namaskaram

A

Arjuna Kruta Durga Stotram

StotramDurga

Shree durgaa stotram' (arjuna kri'tam')

Arjuna uvaacha |
Namaste siddhasenaani aarye mandaravaasini |
Kumaari kaal'i kaapaali kapile kri'shnapingal'e || 1 ||

Bhadrakaal'i namastubhyam' mahaakaal'i namo'stu te |
Chand'i chand'e namastubhyam' taarini varavarnini || 2 ||

Kaatyaayani mahaabhaage karaal'i vijaye jaye |
Shikhipinchhadhvajadhare naanaabharanabhooshite || 3 ||

At't'ashoolapraharane khad'gakhet'akadhaarini |
Gopendrasyaanuje jyesht'he nandagopakulodbhave || 4 ||

Mahishaasri'kpriye nityam' kaushiki peetavaasini |
At't'ahaase kokamukhe namaste'stu ranapriye || 5 ||

Ume shaakambhari shvete kri'shne kait'abhanaashini |
Hiranyaakshi viroopaakshi sudhoomraakshi namo'stu te || 6 ||

Vedashrutimahaapunye brahmanye jaatavedasi |
Jambookat'akachaityeshu nityam' sannihitaalaye || 7 ||

Tvam' brahmavidyaa vidyaanaam' mahaanidraa cha dehinaam |
Skandamaatarbhagavati durge kaantaaravaasini || 8 ||

Svaahaakaarah' svadhaa chaiva kalaa kaasht'haa sarasvatee |
Saavitree vedamaataa cha tathaa vedaanta uchyate || 9 ||

Stutaasi tvam' mahaadevi vishuddhenaantaraatmanaa |
Jayo bhavatu me nityam' tvatprasaadaadranaajire || 10 ||

Kaantaarabhayadurgeshu bhaktaanaam' chaalayeshu cha |
Nityam' vasasi paataal'e yuddhe jayasi daanavaan || 11 ||

Tvam' jambhanee mohinee cha maayaa hreeh' shreestathaiva cha |
Sandhyaa prabhaavatee chaiva saavitree jananee tathaa || 12 ||

Tusht'ih' pusht'irdhri'tirdeeptishchandraadityavivardhinee |
Bhootirbhootimataam' sankhye veekshyase siddhachaaranaih' || 13 ||

Iti shreemanmahaabhaarate bheeshmaparvani trayovim'sho'dhyaaye arjuna kri'ta shree durgaa stotram |

Meaning

This hymn appears in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. Before the Kurukshetra war, Arjuna invokes Goddess Durga seeking divine strength and victory. He praises Her in multiple fierce and benevolent forms—Kali, Bhadrakali, Katyayani, Kapalini, Shakambhari, Mahakali, Kausiki, and as the sister of Krishna born in Nanda’s family.

The stotram describes Durga as the embodiment of:
• Knowledge – Brahmavidya, Saraswati, Savitri, Vedamata
• Cosmic Power – Jambhini, Mohini, Hrih, Sri (seed powers)
• Protection – the One who lives in forests, mountains, underworld, and removes dangers
• Nourishment – Tushti, Pushti, Dhriti, Deepti
• Victory – the conqueror of demons and protector of devotees

Arjuna concludes asking the Goddess for victory in battle and safety in all dangers.

Essence:
A warrior’s prayer for courage, protection, clarity, and triumph.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Arjuna Kruta Durga Stotram come from?
Its colophon places it in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata, chapter 23. With the armies already drawn up at Kurukshetra, Krishna advises Arjuna to praise Durga for victory, and Arjuna recites these verses.
How many verses does Arjuna's Durga Stotram have?
The text given here has 13 verses after the words Arjuna uvacha, followed by the closing colophon. Read at an easy pace it takes about five minutes.
Which unusual names of Durga appear in Arjuna's hymn?
Arjuna opens with Siddhasenani and Mandaravasini, dweller on Mount Mandara. Later he calls her Shikhi-pinchha-dhvaja-dhare, she whose banner bears a peacock feather, and Kokamukhe, and in verse 7 says she is always present in the shrines of Jambu-kataka.
Why does Arjuna call Durga the younger sister of the cowherd chief?
In verse 4 he addresses her as Gopendrasya anuje and Nandagopa-kulodbhave, born in the family of Nanda the cowherd. These names point to Yogamaya, born in Nanda's home on the night Krishna was born, which makes Durga Krishna's sister in this hymn.
What happens in the Mahabharata after Arjuna finishes the Durga Stotram?
The Mahabharata says the goddess appeared in the sky and told Arjuna that he, being Nara with Narayana at his side, would soon defeat his enemies. That reply sits in the verses that follow in chapter 23 and is not part of the 13 verses printed here.

Related stotras

Stotra

Mahishasura Mardini Stotram

Stotra

Yudhisthira Kruta Durga stotram (Virata Nagaram Ramyam)

Stotra

Sri Chandika Stotram

Stotra

Mahadeva Kruta Durga Stotram

Stotra

Sri Devi Atharvashirsha

Stotra

Sri Durga Sahasranama Stotram

Comments

Please login to leave a comment

Loading comments...