Sri Durga Atharvasheersham

Sri Durga Atharvasheersham

ōṃ sarvē vai dēvā dēvīmupatasthuḥ kāsi tva-mmahādēvīti ॥ 1 ॥
English Meaning: Om. All the gods approached the Divine Goddess and asked, “Who are You, O Great Goddess?”
sā-‘bravīdaha-mbrahmasvarūpiṇī । mattaḥ prakṛtipuruṣātmaka-ñjagat । śūnya-ñchāśūnya-ñcha ॥ 2 ॥
English Meaning: She replied, “I am of the very nature of Brahman. From Me arises the universe consisting of Prakṛti and Puruṣa. I am both emptiness and non-emptiness, the manifest and the unmanifest.”
ahamānandānānandau । ahaṃ vijñānāvijñānē । aha-mbrahmābrahmaṇi vēditavyē । aha-mpañchabhūtānyapañchabhūtāni । ahamakhila-ñjagat ॥ 3 ॥
English Meaning: I am both bliss and non-bliss. I am knowledge and ignorance. I am Brahman and that which is to be known as beyond Brahman. I am the five great elements and that which is beyond the five elements. I am the entire universe.
vēdō-‘hamavēdō-‘ham । vidyā-‘hamavidyā-‘ham । ajā-‘hamanajā-‘ham । adhaśchōrdhva-ñcha tiryakchāham ॥ 4 ॥
English Meaning: I am the Veda and that which is beyond the Veda. I am knowledge and ignorance. I am the unborn and the born. I am below, above, and present in all directions.
ahaṃ rudrēbhirvasubhiścharāmi । ahamādityairuta viśvadēvaiḥ । aha-mmitrāvaruṇāvubhau bibharmi । ahamindrāgnī ahamaśvināvubhau ॥ 5 ॥
English Meaning: I move and act with the Rudras and the Vasus. I am present with the Ādityas and the Viśvedevas. I uphold both Mitra and Varuṇa. I support Indra and Agni, and I sustain both of the Aśvins.
ahaṃ sōma-ntvaṣṭāra-mpūṣaṇa-mbhaga-ndadhāmi । ahaṃ viṣṇumurukrama-mbrahmāṇamuta prajāpati-ndadhāmi ॥ 6 ॥
English Meaning: I sustain Soma, Tvaṣṭṛ, Pūṣan, and Bhaga. I uphold Viṣṇu, the One of vast strides, as well as Brahmā and Prajāpati.

a̠ha-nda̍dhāmi̠ dravi̍ṇaṃ ha̠viṣma̍tē suprā̠vyē̠3 yaja̍mānāya sunva̠tē । a̠haṃ rāṣṭrī̍ sa̠ṅgama̍nī̠ vasū̍nā-ñchiki̠tuṣī̍ pratha̠mā ya̠jñiyā̍nām । a̠haṃ su̍vē pi̠tara̍masya mū̠rdhanmama̠ yōni̍ra̠psvanta-ssa̍mu̠drē । ya ēvaṃ vēda । sa dēvīṃ sampadamāpnōti ॥ 7 ॥
English Meaning: I bestow wealth upon the one who offers oblations and performs the sacred sacrifice. I am the Sovereign Power, the unifying force of all treasures, the wise one, and the foremost among those worthy of worship. I give birth to the cosmic Father; my source is in the waters, within the cosmic ocean. Whoever knows Me in this way attains the divine prosperity and grace of the Goddess.
tē dēvā abruvan – namō dēvyai mahādēvyai śivāyai satata-nnamaḥ । namaḥ prakṛtyai bhadrāyai niyatāḥ praṇatā-ssma tām ॥ 8 ॥
English Meaning: The gods said: “Salutations to the Goddess, to the Great Goddess, and constant salutations to the auspicious and benevolent One. Salutations to Prakṛti, the divine Mother who is auspicious and gracious. With devotion and discipline, we bow before Her.”
tāma̠gniva̍rṇā̠-ntapa̍sā jvala̠ntīṃ vai̍rōcha̠nī-ṅka̍rmapha̠lēṣu̠ juṣṭā̎m । du̠rgā-ndē̠vīṃ śara̍ṇa-mprapa̍dyāmahē-‘surānnāśayitryai tē namaḥ ॥ 9 ॥
English Meaning: We take refuge in Goddess Durgā, radiant like fire and blazing with the power of spiritual austerity. She shines with divine brilliance and is present in the results of actions. We bow to Her, the Goddess who destroys negative and demonic forces.
(ṛ.vē.8.100.11) dē̠vīṃ vācha̍majanayanta dē̠vāstāṃ vi̠śvarū̍pāḥ pa̠śavō̍ vadanti । sā nō̍ ma̠ndrēṣa̠mūrja̠-nduhā̍nā dhē̠nurvāga̠smānupa̠ suṣṭu̠taitu̍ ॥ 10 ॥
English Meaning: The gods brought forth the Divine Speech, Vāc, and all creatures of various forms express themselves through Her. May that sacred Speech come to us gently and joyfully, like a nourishing cow yielding strength, vitality, and abundance.
kālarātrī-mbrahmastutāṃ vaiṣṇavīṃ skandamātaram । sarasvatīmaditi-ndakṣaduhitara-nnamāmaḥ pāvanāṃ śivām ॥ 11 ॥
English Meaning: We bow to Kālarātrī, praised by Brahmā; to Vaiṣṇavī; to Skandamātā, the mother of Skanda; and to Sarasvatī and Aditi, the daughter of Dakṣa. We offer our salutations to these sacred, purifying, and auspicious forms of the Divine Mother.
mahālakṣmyai cha vidmahē sarvaśaktyai cha dhīmahi । tannō dēvī prachōdayāt ॥ 12 ॥
English Meaning: We contemplate Mahālakṣmī and meditate upon the Supreme Divine Power. May that Goddess inspire, guide, and illumine our minds and consciousness.
aditirhyajaniṣṭa dakṣa yā duhitā tava । tā-ndēvā anvajāyanta bhadrā amṛtabandhavaḥ ॥ 13 ॥
English Meaning: Aditi was born as the daughter of Dakṣa. From Her were born the gods, who are auspicious and connected with immortality. Thus Aditi is revered as the Divine Mother and source of the celestial beings.
kāmō yōniḥ kamalā vajrapāṇi-rguhā hasā mātariśvābhramindraḥ । punarguhā sakalā māyayā cha purūchyaiṣā viśvamātādividyōm ॥ 14 ॥
English Meaning: She is the cosmic source and womb of manifestation, associated with divine desire, Kamalā, the power of Indra, and the hidden inner principle. She is the mysterious power concealed within creation, present through Māyā, and is the Mother of the entire universe. She is the primordial and supreme knowledge through which the whole universe is understood.

ēṣā-”tmaśaktiḥ । ēṣā viśvamōhinī । pāśāṅkuśadhanurbāṇadharā । ēṣā śrīmahāvidyā । ya ēvaṃ vēda sa śōka-ntarati ॥ 15 ॥
English Meaning: She is the power of the Self and the Divine energy within all beings. She is the enchanting power of the entire universe. She holds the noose, goad, bow, and arrows. She is Śrī Mahāvidyā, the supreme divine knowledge. Whoever knows Her in this way crosses beyond sorrow and suffering.
namastē astu bhagavati mātarasmānpāhi sarvataḥ ॥ 16 ॥
English Meaning: O Divine Mother, Bhagavatī, I offer my salutations to You. Please protect us from every direction and safeguard us everywhere.
saiṣāṣṭau vasavaḥ । saiṣaikādaśa rudrāḥ । saiṣā dvādaśādityāḥ । saiṣā viśvēdēvā-ssōmapā asōmapāścha । saiṣā yātudhānā asurā rakṣāṃsi piśāchā yakṣā siddhāḥ । saiṣā sattvarajastamāṃsi । saiṣā brahmaviṣṇurudrarūpiṇī । saiṣā prajāpatīndramanavaḥ । saiṣā grahanakṣatrajyōtīṃṣi । kalākāṣṭhādikālarūpiṇī । tāmaha-mpraṇaumi nityam । pāpāpahāriṇī-ndēvī-mbhuktimuktipradāyinīm । anantāṃ vijayāṃ śuddhāṃ śaraṇyāṃ śivadāṃ śivām ॥ 17 ॥
English Meaning: She is the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, and the twelve Ādityas. She is all the Viśvedevas, both those who partake of Soma and those who do not. She is the Yātudhānas, Asuras, Rakṣasas, Piśācas, Yakṣas, and Siddhas. She is the three guṇas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. She manifests as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra. She is Prajāpati, Indra, and Manu. She is the planets, stars, and all forms of light, and She is time in its various divisions, such as Kalā and Kāṣṭhā. I constantly bow to that Divine Goddess who removes sins, grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation, and is infinite, victorious, pure, worthy of refuge, auspicious, and beneficent.
viyadīkārasaṃyuktaṃ vītihōtrasamanvitam । ardhēndulasita-ndēvyā bījaṃ sarvārthasādhakam ॥ 18 ॥
English Meaning: The seed-mantra of the Goddess, associated with the principle of space, accompanied by the sacred fire, and adorned with the shining crescent moon, is capable of accomplishing all purposes and fulfilling every worthy aim.
ēvamēkākṣara-mbrahma yataya-śśuddhachētasaḥ । dhyāyanti paramānandamayā jñānāmburāśayaḥ ॥ 19 ॥
English Meaning: Thus, the single-syllabled Brahman is meditated upon by disciplined seekers whose minds are pure. They are filled with supreme bliss and are like vast oceans of spiritual knowledge.
vāṅmāyā brahmasūstasmā-thṣaṣṭhaṃ vaktrasamanvitam । sūryō-‘vāmaśrōtrabindusaṃyuktaṣṭāttṛtīyakaḥ । nārāyaṇēna sammiśrō vāyuśchādharayuktataḥ । vichchē navārṇakō-‘rṇa-ssyānmahadānandadāyakaḥ ॥ 20 ॥
English Meaning: This sacred mantra is formed from the divine power of speech and Brahman, together with the prescribed syllables and sacred sounds. Joined with the solar principle, the nasal bindu, and the powers of Nārāyaṇa and Vāyu, it becomes a nine-syllabled mantra. This mantra is said to bestow great and supreme bliss.
hṛtpuṇḍarīkamadhyasthā-mprātassūryasamaprabhām । pāśāṅkuśadharāṃ saumyāṃ varadābhayahastakām । trinētrāṃ raktavasanā-mbhaktakāmadughā-mbhajē ॥ 21 ॥
English Meaning: I worship the Goddess who dwells in the centre of the lotus of the heart and shines with the brilliance of the morning sun. She is gentle and compassionate, holds the noose and goad, and displays the hands that grant boons and offer fearlessness. She has three eyes, wears red garments, and fulfills the sincere wishes of Her devotees.

namāmi tvā-mmahādēvī-mmahābhayavināśinīm । mahādurgapraśamanī-mmahākāruṇyarūpiṇīm ॥ 22 ॥
English Meaning: I bow to You, O Mahādevī, the Great Goddess who destroys great fears, removes severe difficulties and obstacles, and manifests as the embodiment of supreme compassion.
yasyā-ssvarūpa-mbrahmādayō na jānanti tasmāduchyatē ajñēyā । yasyā antō na labhyatē tasmāduchyatē anantā । yasyā lakṣya-nnōpalakṣyatē tasmāduchyatē alakṣyā । yasyā janana-nnōpalabhyatē tasmāduchyatē ajā । ēkaiva sarvatra vartatē tasmāduchyatē ēkā । ēkaiva viśvarūpiṇī tasmāduchyatē naikā । ata ēvōchyatē ajñēyānantālakṣyājaikā naikēti ॥ 23 ॥
English Meaning: Even Brahmā and the other divine beings cannot know Her true nature; therefore She is called the Unknowable. Her end cannot be found; therefore She is called Infinite. Her true nature cannot be perceived or defined; therefore She is called the Imperceptible. Her origin cannot be discovered; therefore She is called Unborn. She alone exists everywhere; therefore She is called One. Yet She alone appears in the forms of the entire universe; therefore She is also called Many. For these reasons, She is described as Unknowable, Infinite, Imperceptible, Unborn, One, and Many.
mantrāṇā-mmātṛkā dēvī śabdānā-ñjñānarūpiṇī । jñānānā-ñchinmayātītā śūnyānāṃ śūnyasākṣiṇī । yasyāḥ paratara-nnāsti saiṣā durgā prakīrtitā ॥ 24 ॥
English Meaning: The Goddess is the Mother and source of all mantras and is the embodiment of knowledge within all sacred sounds. She transcends even the highest forms of knowledge and is the witness of the emptiness beyond all emptiness. Since there is nothing greater than Her, She is proclaimed as Durgā.
tā-ndurgā-ndurgamā-ndēvī-ndurāchāravighātinīm । namāmi bhavabhītō-‘haṃ saṃsārārṇavatāriṇīm ॥ 25 ॥
English Meaning: I bow to that Goddess Durgā, who is difficult to approach, who destroys evil and unrighteous conduct, and who carries those who are afraid of worldly existence safely across the ocean of saṃsāra.
idamatharvaśīrṣaṃ yō-‘dhītē sa pañchātharvaśīrṣajapaphalamāpnōti । idamatharvaśīrṣamajñātvā yō-‘rchāṃ sthāpayati । śatalakṣa-mprajaptvā-‘pi sō-‘rchāsiddhi-nna vindati । śatamaṣṭōttara-ñchāsya puraścharyāvidhi-ssmṛtaḥ । daśavāra-mpaṭhēdyastu sadyaḥ pāpaiḥ pramuchyatē । mahādurgāṇi tarati mahādēvyāḥ prasādataḥ ॥ 26 ॥
English Meaning: Whoever studies this Atharvaśīrṣa is said to receive the spiritual benefit associated with the recitation of five Atharvaśīrṣas. One who establishes the worship or image of the Goddess without understanding this sacred teaching, even after reciting it one hundred thousand times, does not attain complete accomplishment of the worship. One hundred and eight recitations are prescribed as the preparatory discipline. Whoever recites it ten times is said to be freed from sins and, through the grace of Mahādevī, crosses great difficulties and obstacles.
sāyamadhīyānō divasakṛta-mpāpa-nnāśayati । prātaradhīyānō rātrikṛta-mpāpa-nnāśayati । sāya-mprātaḥ prayuñjānō apāpō bhavati । niśīthē turīyasandhyāyā-ñjaptvā vāksiddhirbhavati । nūtanāyā-mpratimāyā-ñjaptvā dēvatāsānnidhya-mbhavati । prāṇapratiṣṭhāyā-ñjaptvā prāṇānā-mpratiṣṭhā bhavati । bhaumāśvinyā-mmahādēvīsannidhau japtvā mahāmṛtyu-ntarati । sa mahāmṛtyu-ntarati । ya ēvaṃ vēda ।
English Meaning: One who recites this in the evening is said to destroy the sins committed during the day. One who recites it in the morning is said to destroy the sins committed during the night. One who recites it both in the evening and morning becomes purified from sin. Reciting it at midnight or during the fourth junction of the day is said to bring mastery of speech. Reciting it before a newly made image is said to establish the presence of the deity. Reciting it during the consecration of life-force is said to establish the divine life-force within the image. Reciting it on a Tuesday or Wednesday in the presence of Mahādevī is said to enable one to cross beyond great death. Indeed, such a person transcends great death. Whoever knows this truth attains the benefit of this sacred teaching.

ityupaniṣat ॥ 27 ॥
English Meaning: Thus ends the Upaniṣad. This is the sacred teaching of the Upaniṣad.
iti dēvyatharvaśīrṣam ।
English Meaning: Thus ends the Devī Atharvaśīrṣa.