Original text
शिव उवाच । देवी त्वं भक्तसुलभे सर्वकार्यविधायिनि । कलौ हि कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमुपायं ब्रूहि यत्नतः ॥ देव्युवाच । शृणु देव प्रवक्ष्यामि कलौ सर्वेष्टसाधनम् । मया तवैव स्नेहेनाप्यम्बास्तुतिः प्रकाश्यते ॥ अस्य श्री दुर्गा सप्तश्लोकी स्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य नारायण ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, श्री महाकाली महालक्ष्मी महासरस्वत्यो देवताः, श्री दुर्गा प्रीत्यर्थं सप्तश्लोकी दुर्गापाठे विनियोगः । ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवी भगवती हि सा । बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति ॥ १ ॥ दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि । दारिद्र्यदुःख भयहारिणि का त्वदन्या सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्र चित्ता ॥ २ ॥ सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरी नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ३ ॥ शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे । सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ४ ॥ सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते । भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ५ ॥ रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा- रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् । त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां त्वामाश्रिता ह्याश्रयतां प्रयान्ति ॥ ६ ॥ सर्वबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि । एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरि विनाशनम् ॥ ७ ॥ इति श्री दुर्गा सप्तश्लोकी ।
Transliteration
Shiva uvacha. Devi tvam bhaktasulabhe sarvakaryavidhayini Kalau hi karyasiddhyarthamupayam bruhi yatnatah || Devyuvacha. Shrinu deva pravakshyami kalau sarveshtasadhanam Maya tavaiva snehenapyambastutih prakashyate || Asya shri durga saptashloki stotramantrasya narayana rishih, anushtup chhandah, shri mahakali mahalakshmi mahasarasvatyo devatah, shri durga prityartham saptashloki durgapathe viniyogah. Jnaninamapi chetamsi devi bhagavati hi sa Baladakrishya mohaya mahamaya prayachchhati ||1|| Durge smrita harasi bhitimasheshajantoh Svasthaih smrita matimativa shubham dadasi Daridryaduhkha bhayaharini ka tvadanya Sarvopakarakaranaya sadardra chitta ||2|| Sarvamangalamangalye shive sarvarthasadhike Sharanye tryambake gauri narayani namo'stu te ||3|| Sharanagatadinartaparitranaparayane Sarvasyartihare devi narayani namo'stu te ||4|| Sarvasvarupe sarveshe sarvashaktisamanvite Bhayebhyastrahi no devi durge devi namo'stu te ||5|| Roganasheshanapahamsi tushta Rushta tu kaman sakalanabhishtan Tvamashritanam na vipannaranam Tvamashrita hyashrayatam prayanti ||6|| Sarvabadhaprashamanam trailokyasyakhileshvari Evameva tvaya karyamasmadvairi vinashanam ||7||
Seven verses for the Kali age
The Durga Saptashati (also called the Devi Mahatmya or Chandi Path) has 700 verses in thirteen chapters, and reading it in full takes a couple of hours. The Saptashloki opens with a short dialogue explaining why a shorter path exists. Shiva says to the Devi: "You are easily reached by your devotees and accomplish every task. Tell me, with care, the means for success in the Kali age." The Devi replies: "Listen, I will tell you the means to every wish in the Kali age. Out of love for you, I reveal this hymn to the Mother." The viniyoga then names the sage as Narayana, the metre as anushtubh, and the deities as Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, the three goddesses of the Saptashati's three parts.
Where each verse comes from
All seven verses are lifted from the Saptashati itself:
- Verse 1 (chapter 1): jnaninam api chetamsi, "the Goddess, Mahamaya, forcibly draws even the minds of the wise into delusion." The sage Medhas says it as he explains to King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi why they still feel attached to the families and kingdom that wronged them.
- Verse 2 (chapter 4): Durge smrita harasi bhitim ashesha-jantoh, "Durga, remembered, you take away the fear of every creature; remembered by those at ease, you give a mind most auspicious. Who but you, remover of poverty, sorrow and fear, has a heart always moist with compassion to help all?" It comes from the gods' hymn of praise after Mahishasura is killed.
- Verses 3–5 (chapter 11): from the Narayani Stuti, the gods' great hymn after the final victory over Shumbha. They include the most famous line in Devi worship: sarva mangala mangalye Shive sarvartha sadhike, sharanye tryambake Gauri Narayani namo'stu te, "auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, accomplisher of every aim, refuge, three-eyed Gauri, Narayani, salutations to you."
- Verse 6 (chapter 11): "Pleased, you destroy every illness; displeased, you take away every cherished wish. Those who take refuge in you meet no calamity; those who take refuge in you become a refuge for others."
- Verse 7 (chapter 11): "O sovereign of all, calm every trouble of the three worlds, and in the same way destroy our enemies."
Why this selection
Read in order, the seven verses form a small arc: the Mother's power over the mind (1), her compassion toward the frightened (2), praise and refuge (3–5), her two faces, healing and withholding (6), and a final plea for peace (7). That is the Saptashati's whole movement in miniature, from delusion to refuge to protection. Verse 3 is also chanted on its own at the close of many pujas, and verse 2 is often recited by people facing fear or illness.
When it is recited
The Saptashloki is recited daily by many Devi devotees, and especially through both Navratris, on Ashtami and Navami, on Fridays, and on any day the full Saptashati cannot be read. Traditionally the full text is the ideal, and the Saptashloki is offered as its concentrated essence, not a replacement for it. Many people recite it after lighting a lamp before the Devi and follow it with the Durga Kavach, Argala and Kilaka, or simply with the aarti "Jai Ambe Gauri".
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