Chapter 4 · Caturtho’dhyāyaḥ (Fourth Chapter)
Verse 17
दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि। दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदाऽऽर्द्रचित्ता ॥ १७ ॥
durgē smṛtā harasi bhītimaśēṣajantōḥ svasthaiḥ smṛtā matimatīva śubhāṁ dadāsi | dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi kā tvadanyā sarvōpakārakaraṇāya sadā’’rdracittā || 17 ||
Translation
O Durgā, when remembered, you remove the fear of all beings. When remembered by the composed, you give them great and auspicious intelligence. O remover of poverty, sorrow, and fear, who other than you is always soft-hearted for doing good to all?
Word by word
- durge
- O Durgā
- smṛtā
- remembered
- harasi
- you remove
- bhītim
- fear
- aśeṣajantoḥ
- of all beings
- svasthaiḥ
- by those who are well/composed
- matimatīva
- great intelligence
- śubhāṁ
- auspicious
- dadāsi
- you give
- dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi
- O remover of poverty, sorrow, and fear
- kā
- who
- tvat
- than you
- anyā
- another
- sarvopakārakaraṇāya
- for doing good to all
- sadārdracittā
- always soft-hearted
Meaning
The gods conclude this section with a personal appeal to her compassionate nature. They highlight the benefits of remembering (smṛtā) her: For the Fearful: She removes all fears. For the Composed (svasthaiḥ): She bestows supreme intelligence and auspiciousness. They rhetorically ask, 'Who is as compassionate as you?' (kā tvad anyā), affirming that no other deity has such a universally benevolent and soft-hearted (ārdracittā) disposition towards helping all beings. She is the ultimate refuge.