The Argala Stotra is the second of the three short texts said before the thirteen chapters of the Devi Mahatmya, after the Devi Kavacha and before the Kilaka Stotra. The word argala means a bolt or a bar for a door. In the tradition of recitation the hymn is said to draw the bolt, so that the benefit of the reading comes freely. This page gives all 23 verses of the Nirnaya Sagar print of 1917 with a transliteration and a meaning for each.
What the hymn does
The hymn has a simple pattern. After an opening verse of names, nearly every verse praises the goddess in a line or half-line and then repeats one refrain: rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi. The refrain means “give beauty, give victory, give fame, destroy my foes”. It is the best known line of the hymn and is often said on its own.
| Verses | What they do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fourteen names of the goddess and the bow to her (no refrain) |
| 2 to 20 | Praise lines, each followed by the refrain. Verses 2 to 9 and 14 to 20 praise her deeds against Madhu, Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Raktabija, Chanda and Munda and the gods who praise her. Verses 10 to 13 ask for good fortune, health, strength, learning, fame and prosperity |
| 21 and 22 | Requests for children and wealth, and in verse 22 for a wife who is dear to the heart and of good family |
| 23 | The fruit of reading it, and the colophon |
A note on the requests
The hymn asks for ordinary goods of life: health, a good name, family, wealth, strength and the end of enemies. It also asks for prosperity in the word shri. Readers may notice that the requests are for worldly things, and in Hindu thought the goddess is asked for both worldly goods and liberation, so this is not seen as a conflict. Verse 22 is worded as a man’s request for a wife, and readers adapt it to their own situation. The reference to enemies is part of the old language of praise and is read by many as the overcoming of inner obstacles as well as outer ones. We do not make that reading for the text. We note that traditions read it both ways.
How it is used
In printed books it follows the Kavacha. Practice differs, so follow your own family or teacher. The opening formula (the viniyoga) in the print names Vishnu as the sage, the Anushtubh metre, Mahalakshmi as the deity and the pleasing of the Mother of the world as the purpose. This site makes no promise about the results of reciting. This site gives the text and its meaning. It does not promise results from reciting it. Where the text itself speaks of fruits, we say that the text says so.
The text, transliteration and meaning
अस्य श्रीअर्गलास्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य विष्णुर्ऋषिः अनुष्टुप् छन्दः श्रीमहालक्ष्मीर्देवता श्रीजगदम्बाप्रीतये सप्तशतीपाठाङ्गजपे विनियोगः । ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै । मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
Asya shriargalastotramantrasya vishnurrishih anushtup chhandah shrimahalakshmirdevata shrijagadambapritaye saptashatipathangajape viniyogah, om namashchandikayai, markandeya uvacha
NoteThe formula said before the hymn. It names the sage (Vishnu), the metre (Anushtubh), the deity (Mahalakshmi) and the purpose, which is pleasing the Mother of the world as part of the Saptashati recitation. Then a bow to Chandika, and Markandeya speaks.
जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी
दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ १ ॥
Jayanti mangala kali bhadrakali kapalini
Durga kshama shiva dhatri svaha svadha namo'stu te
MeaningJayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini, Durga, Kshama, Shiva, Dhatri, Svaha and Svadha: I bow to you. These are names of the goddess, and the last two are the calls used in offerings to the gods and to the ancestors.
मधुकैटभविद्राविविधातृवरदे नमः
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ २ ॥
Madhukaitabhavidravividhatrivarade namah
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningBow to you, giver of boons to Brahma the creator, who drove away Madhu and Kaitabha.
महिषासुरनिर्नाशविधात्रि वरदे नमः
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ ३ ॥
Mahishasuranirnashavidhatri varade namah
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningBow to you, giver of boons, who brought the destruction of Mahishasura.
वन्दिताङ्घ्रियुगे देवि सर्वसौभाग्यदायिनि
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ ४ ॥
Vanditanghriyuge devi sarvasaubhagyadayini
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningGoddess, whose two feet are bowed to, giver of every good fortune,
रक्तबीजवधे देवि चण्डमुण्डविनाशिनि
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ ५ ॥
Raktabijavadhe devi chandamundavinashini
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningGoddess, who killed Raktabija and destroyed Chanda and Munda,
अचिन्त्यरूपचरिते सर्वशत्रुविनाशिनि
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ ६ ॥
Achintyarupacharite sarvashatruvinashini
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
Meaningyou whose form and deeds are beyond thought, destroyer of all enemies,
नतेभ्यः सर्वदा भक्त्या चण्डिके दुरितापहे
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ ७ ॥
Natebhyah sarvada bhaktya chandike duritapahe
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningChandika, who takes away the wrong of those who always bow to you in devotion,
स्तुवद्भ्यो भक्तिपूर्वं त्वां चण्डिके व्याधिनाशिनि
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ ८ ॥
Stuvadbhyo bhaktipurvam tvam chandike vyadhinashini
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningChandika, who destroys sickness for those who praise you with devotion,
चण्डिके सततं ये त्वामर्चयन्तीह भक्तितः
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ ९ ॥
Chandike satatam ye tvamarchayantiha bhaktitah
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningChandika, for those who here always worship you with devotion,
देहि सौभाग्यमारोग्यं देहि देवि परं सुखम्
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १० ॥
Dehi saubhagyamarogyam dehi devi param sukham
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningGive good fortune and health, goddess, give the highest happiness.
विधेहि द्विषतां नाशं विधेहि बलमुच्चकैः
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ ११ ॥
Vidhehi dvishatam nasham vidhehi balamuchchakaih
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningBring about the end of those who hate, and grant great strength.
विधेहि देवि कल्याणं विधेहि परमां श्रियम्
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १२ ॥
Vidhehi devi kalyanam vidhehi paramam shriyam
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningGrant well-being, goddess, and grant supreme prosperity.
विद्यावन्तं यशस्वन्तं लक्ष्मीवन्तं जनं कुरु
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १३ ॥
Vidyavantam yashasvantam lakshmivantam janam kuru
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningMake the person who prays learned, renowned and prosperous.
प्रचण्डदैत्यदर्पघ्ने चण्डिके प्रणताय मे
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १४ ॥
Prachandadaityadarpaghne chandike pranataya me
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningChandika, who breaks the pride of the fierce demons, to me, who bows to you,
चतुर्भुजे चतुर्वक्त्रसंस्तुते परमेश्वरि
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १५ ॥
Chaturbhuje chaturvaktrasamstute parameshvari
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
Meaningfour-armed supreme goddess, praised by the four-faced Brahma,
कृष्णेन संस्तुते देवि शश्वद्भक्त्या त्वमम्बिके
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १६ ॥
Krishnena samstute devi shashvadbhaktya tvamambike
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
Meaninggoddess, Ambika, you who are always praised with devotion by Krishna,
हिमाचलसुतानाथसंस्तुते परमेश्वरि
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १७ ॥
Himachalasutanathasamstute parameshvari
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
Meaningsupreme goddess, praised by the husband of the daughter of the Himalaya (Shiva),
सुरासुरशिरोरत्ननिघृष्टचरणेऽम्बिके
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १८ ॥
Surasurashiroratnanighrishtacharane'mbike
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningAmbika, whose feet are rubbed by the jewels on the heads of gods and demons,
इन्द्राणीपतिसद्भावपूजिते परमेश्वरि
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ १९ ॥
Indranipatisadbhavapujite parameshvari
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
Meaningsupreme goddess, worshipped with true feeling by the husband of Indrani (Indra),
देवि भक्तजनोद्दामदत्तानन्दोदयेऽम्बिके
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ २० ॥
Devi bhaktajanoddamadattanandodaye'mbike
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
Meaninggoddess, Ambika, who gives boundless joy to her devotees,
पुत्रान् देहि धनं देहि सर्वकामांश्च देहि मे
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ २१ ॥
Putran dehi dhanam dehi sarvakamamshcha dehi me
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
Meaninggive me children, give me wealth, and give me all that I rightly wish for.
पत्नीं मनोरमां देहि मनोवृत्तानुसारिणीम्
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥ २२ ॥
Patnim manoramam dehi manovrittanusarinim
Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
MeaningGive me a wife who is dear to the heart, who follows the movements of the mind, who is of good family and who can carry one across the hard ocean of worldly life.
इदं स्तोत्रं पठित्वा तु महास्तोत्रं पठेन्नरः
स तु सप्तशतीसंख्यावरमाप्नोति सम्पदाम् ॥ २३ ॥
Idam stotram pathitva tu mahastotram pathennarah
Sa tu saptashatisankhyavaramapnoti sampadam
MeaningThe text says that a person who reads this hymn and then reads the great hymn (the Saptashati) gains a boon of prosperity equal to the count of the seven hundred. Colophon: here ends the Argala Stotra in the Markandeya Purana.
Summary
The Argala Stotra is a hymn of praise and request. Its first verse gathers the goddess’s names, its middle verses praise her in many titles and each close with the same refrain, and its last verses ask for the things people ask for in ordinary life. The print ends it with the claim that one who reads the hymn and then the Saptashati gains a blessing as large as the count of seven hundred. The colophon places it in the Markandeya Purana, as the print does, though it is not one of the thirteen chapters.
Where the print differs from other texts
Some recitation books give the Argala in a longer form with more verses than this print, and some abbreviate the refrain. The print writes the refrain out in full after each of verses 2 to 22, and we do the same. We have not listed variants from other books, because we have not checked another witness word by word for this page.
Source of the text on this page. The Sanskrit is the text of the Nirnaya Sagar Press edition of the Saptashati (Bombay, Shaka 1839, which is 1917 CE, edited by Vasudev Laxman Shastri Panshikar and published by Tukaram Javaji), read from the page images of the scan on archive.org (identifier SaptashatiNirnayaSagarPress), scan pages 66 to 71. We follow the print's readings. We put spaces between words and write the nasals in the usual style of this site, and we do not count that as a difference. The Argala begins on scan page 66 (line 4) and ends on scan page 71 (line 3). The print writes the refrain in full after every verse from 2 to 22; the printed verse numbers are those on this page. The transliteration is a simple guide to sound and the meanings are our own wording. See the Devi Mahatmya hub for the note on the print.
Related pages
- The Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati): the thirteen chapters and the order of recitation
- Devi Kavacha: said before the Argala
- Kilaka Stotra: said after it
- Ratri Suktam: the two hymns to Night
- Sharad Navratri: the nine nights
- All mantras, stotras and sacred texts