Chapter 4 · Caturtho’dhyāyaḥ (Fourth Chapter)
Dhyānam
ॐ कालाभ्राभां कटाक्षैररिकुलभयदां मौलिबद्धेन्दुरेखां शङ्खं चक्रं कृपाणं त्रिशिखमपि करैरुद्वहन्तीं त्रिनेत्राम्। सिंहस्कन्धाधिरूढां त्रिभुवनमखिलं तेजसा पूरयन्तीं ध्यायेद् दुर्गां जयाख्यां त्रिदशपरिवृतां सेवितां सिद्धिकामैः॥
ōṁ kālābhrābhāṁ kaṭākṣairarikulabhayadāṁ maulibaddhēndurēkhāṁ śaṅkhaṁ cakraṁ kṛpāṇaṁ triśikhamapi karairudvahantīṁ trinētrām | siṁhaskandhādhirūḍhāṁ tribhuvanamakhilaṁ tējasā pūrayantīṁ dhyāyēd durgāṁ jayākhyāṁ tridaśaparivṛtāṁ sēvitāṁ siddhikāmaiḥ ||
Translation
Ōṁ. One should meditate upon Durga, known as Jaya (the Victorious), who is the color of a dark raincloud, whose sidelong glances instill fear in the clans of enemies, who has a crescent moon bound in her crown, and who bears in her hands a conch, discus, sword, and trident; who is three-eyed and seated on the shoulders of a lion; who fills the entire three worlds with her radiance; who is surrounded by the gods and worshipped by those desiring accomplishments.
Word by word
- ōṁ
- the primordial sound
- kālābhrābhām
- who has the color of a dark raincloud
- kaṭākṣaiḥ
- with sidelong glances
- arikulabhayadām
- who instills fear in the clans of enemies
- maulibaddhendurekhām
- who has a crescent moon bound in her crown
- śaṅkham
- conch
- cakram
- discus
- kṛpāṇam
- sword
- triśikham
- trident
- api
- and
- karaiḥ
- in her hands
- udvahantīm
- bearing, holding
- trinetrām
- three-eyed
- siṁhaskandhādhirūḍhām
- seated on the shoulders of a lion
- tribhuvanam
- the three worlds
- akhilam
- entire
- tejasā
- with her radiance
- pūrayantīm
- filling, pervading
- dhyāyet
- one should meditate upon
- durgām
- Durga
- jayākhyām
- known as Jaya (the victorious one)
- tridaśaparivṛtām
- surrounded by the gods
- sevitām
- worshipped
- siddhikāmaiḥ
- by those desiring accomplishments
Meaning
This is the Dhyāna Mantra for visualizing Goddess Durga in her triumphant, benevolent form after the slaying of Mahishasura. The verse describes her iconic attributes: Dark Complexion (kālābhrābhām): Signifies her all-encompassing, transcendental nature. Fear-inspiring Glances (kaṭākṣair...bhayadām): Recall her power to destroy evil. Crescent Moon (maulibaddhendurekhām): Symbolizes her control over time and rhythm. Weapons in Hands: Represent her power to protect (conch, discus) and destroy (sword, trident) evil. Three Eyes: Represent perception of past, present, and future. Lion Mount (siṁhaskandhādhirūḍhām): Symbolizes power, courage, and dominion. Surrounded by Gods (tridaśaparivṛtām): Shows her status as the supreme deity acknowledged by all other gods. Meditating on this form invokes her victorious energy for overcoming obstacles and achieving spiritual goals.