ॐ अस्य श्रीदुर्गासप्तश्लोकीस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य नारायण ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, श्रीमहाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वत्यो देवताः, श्रीदुर्गाप्रीत्यर्थं सप्तश्लोकीदुर्गापाठे विनियोगः।
ōṁ asya śrī-durgā-sapta-ślōkī-stōtra-mantrasya nārāyaṇa ṛṣiḥ, anuṣṭup chandaḥ, śrī-mahākālī-mahālakṣmī-mahāsarasvatyō dēvatāḥ, śrī-durgā-prīty-arthaṁ sapta-ślōkī-durgā-pāṭhē viniyōgaḥ.
Translation
Om, of this Śrī Durga seven-verse hymn-mantra, Nārāyaṇa is the seer, Anuṣṭup is the meter, Śrī Mahākālī, Mahālakṣmī, and Mahāsarasvatī are the deities, and the purpose is the recitation of the seven-verse Durga hymn for the sake of pleasing Śrī Durgā.
Word by word
- ōṁ
- sacred syllable
- asya
- of this
- śrī-durgā-sapta-ślōkī-stōtra-mantrasya
- of the Śrī Durga seven-verse hymn-mantra
- nārāyaṇa
- Nārāyaṇa
- ṛṣiḥ
- seer
- anuṣṭup
- Anuṣṭup
- chandaḥ
- meter
- śrī-mahākālī-mahālakṣmī-mahāsarasvatyō
- Śrī Mahākālī, Mahālakṣmī, Mahāsarasvatī
- dēvatāḥ
- deities
- śrī-durgā-prīty-arthaṁ
- for the sake of pleasing Śrī Durgā
- sapta-ślōkī-durgā-pāṭhē
- in the recitation of the seven-verse Durga hymn
- viniyōgaḥ
- application/purpose
Meaning
This introductory verse (saṅkalpa or dhyāna) establishes the ritual framework for reciting the Saptashloki Durga, a seven-verse hymn from the Durga Saptashati. It identifies Nārāyaṇa as the ṛṣi (seer), indicating the hymn’s divine origin through the sage associated with Vishnu. The meter is Anuṣṭup, a common Vedic poetic structure, ensuring rhythmic recitation. The deities (dēvatāḥ) are the triple aspects of the Goddess—Mahākālī (destruction/transformation), Mahālakṣmī (sustenance/prosperity), and Mahāsarasvatī (creation/knowledge)—representing Durga’s comprehensive śakti. The purpose (viniyōgaḥ) is to please Śrī Durgā (śrī-durgā-prīty-arthaṁ) through recitation (pāṭhē), invoking her blessings for success and protection, especially in the Kali Yuga. In the Shakta tradition, this verse prepares the devotee for the hymn’s spiritual efficacy, aligning the recitation with divine intent and cosmic harmony.