(Prayer to Durga composed by Yudhishtra)
By
Yudhishtra
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(This great prayer addressed to the goddess Durga occurs ,
In Virata Parva of Maha Bharatha, just before the great war,
With Kauravas by Yudhishtra , the eldest of the Pandavas).
Nanda gopa kule jaathaam , Mangalya kula vardhaneem.
She who was born to Yasoda , She who likes boons of Narayana,
She who was born in the clan of Nanda gopa,
She who increases auspiciousness , as well as our family.
2.Kamsa vidhravanakarim , asuraanaam kshayamkarim,
Shilaathata vinikshiptham , aakaasaam prathi gaminim.
She caused fear to Kamsa, She who c destroyed Asuras,
She who rose up when dashed on a stone and went up the sky.
3.Vasudevasya bhagineem , divya mala vibhooshithaam,
Divyambara dharam devim , khadga ketaka dharinim.
She who is sister of Krishna , She who wore auspicious garlands,
The goddess who wore auspicious silk cloths,
She who is armed with a sword and a shield.
4.Bharavatharane punye ye smaranthi sadashivaam,
Thaan vai tharayase paapaath pankhe gamiva durbhalaam.
The holy one , who reduces burden of earth, and to those who meditate on Shiva,
Who rescues us from sin, similar to rescuing of a weak cow from mire.
5.Namosthu varade Krishne. Kumari brahmacharini,
Balakarsadhrusakare , poorna chandra nibhanane.
Salutations to the black one who gives boons,
Who remains as a maiden and observes Brahmacharya,
Who is like the rising Sun and is similar to the full moon.
6.Chathurbhuje, chathur vakthre peena sroni payodhare,
Mayura picha valaye keyurangadha dharini,
Bhasi devi yadha Padma narayana parigraha.
She who has four hands , four faces, round hips carrying her bosoms,
She who wears peacock feathers crown and bracelets,
She who shines as Padma, the consort of Lord Narayana.
7.Swaroopam Brahmacharye cha visadham Gaganeswari,
Krishnacha visamaa krishnaa sankarshana samanana.
Oh God of the sky, your form is pure and celibate,
Though black like Krishna you have a pretty face like Sankarshana.
8-9.Vibhrathi vipulou yaaha saakra dwaja samuchrayou,
Pathri cha panlaji ghnti sthree vishuddhacha yaa bhuvi,
Pasam dhanr maha chakram vividha anya aayudhani cha,
Kundalabhyaamm suprnaabhyaamm karnaabhyam cha vibhooshithaa.
Your two very long arms look like couple of flag poles of Indra,
In the other arms you bear vessel, lotus, bell, noose, bow,
Wheel and other weapons and you are the purest woman in this earth,
And you wear ear globes which increases your prettiness considerably.
10-11.Chandra vispardheena devi mukhena thwam virajase,
Mukutena vichithrena kesa bhandhena shobhinaa,
Bhujanga bhoga vaasena sreni suthrena raajathaa,
Vibhrajase chabaddhenabhogenevehamandhara.
Oh Goddess your face competes for prettiness with the moon,
With a crown and with peculiarly made up braid you look like a snake and shine,
And you with your very pretty waist belt ,
Shine like the mandhara mountain tied by a snake.
12. Dwajena shiki picchana muchruthena virajase,
Kaumaram vruthamasthaya tridivam pavitham thwaya.
The flag with the symbol of peacock shines on the sky ,
You who have adopted the penance of maiden hood,
Have made all the three worlds as sanctified.
13.Thena thwam sthooyase devi tridasai poojyase api cha,
Tri lokya rakshanartham Mahishasura nasini,
Prasanna may sura sreshte dayaam kuru shivaa bhava.
You were sung about and worshipped by the trinity even today,
For protecting all the three worlds by filling Mahishasura,
You who are joyful and the greatest among devas,
Please show kindness to me as you are the consort of Shiva.
14,Jayaa thwam vijayaa chaiva sangrame cha jayapradha,
Mamaapi vijayam dehi varada thwam cha sampratham.
Because you always win over wars , you are Jaya as well as Vijaya,
Please grant me victory immediately Oh goddess who blesses.
15.Vindhye chaiva naga sreshte thava sthanam hi saswatham,
Kali Kali Maha kali Gadga gadwanga dharini.
You permanently live in Vindhya which is the greatest mountain,
You are black , personification of time and the great Kali,
Who is armed with a sword and a sickle .
16.Kruthanuyathraa bhoothaisthvam varada kamacharini,
Bhravathare ye cha thwaam samsmarishyanthi maanavaa,
You who goes to all places to give boons to all beings who pray you,
For reducing the burden of the earth, men remember you.
17.Pranamanthi cha ye thwaam hi prabhathe thu naraa bhuvi,
Na thesham durlabham kinchithputrato dhanatho api vaa.
The human beings of this earth salute you at day break,
And they will never ever feel scarcity of children or wealth.
18.Durgaath tharayase durge thath thwam Durgaa smruthaa janai,
Kanthreshwa vasannaanam magnanaam cha Maharnave.
Because you help people cross the mountain of difficulties,
Whether in the deep sea or lost in wilderness, people remember you as Durga
19.Dasyubhirva niruddhhanam thwam gathi paramaa nrunaam,
Jala pratharane chaiva kanthare ashvataveeshu cha.
When attacked by debased people or trying to cross sea or river,
Or Lost completely in wilderness, people only take refuge in you.
20.Ye smaranthi maha devi na cha seedhanthi they naraa,
Thwam keerthi sreer dhruthi sidhreerhweer vidhyaa santhathar mathi.
Those who remember you great goddess, are the people who are never left out,
For you are fame , wealth , satisfaction, humility . wisdom , children and intellect.
21-22.Sandhyaa Rathri prabhaa nidhraa jyothsnaa kanthi kshama dhaya,
Nunaam cha bandhanam moham puthra nasam dhana kshayam,
Vyadhim mruthyum bhayam chaiva poojithaa nasayishyathi,
So aham rajyath pari brushta saranam thwaam prapannavaan.
You are dawn dusk, light, sleep , lights of sun and moon , patience, mercy,
You free people from fetters , remove their passion avoid death of son as well as the loss of weath,
You cure diseases and avoid fear for death for the people who worship you,
And I having been thrown out from my kingdom , surrender to you completely.
23.Pranathascha yadhaa moordhnaa thava devi sureswari ,
Thrahi maam Padma pathrakshi sathye sathyaa bhavakha na.
Oh Goddess who is the God of all devas , I bend my head before you,
Please save me Goddess with eyes like lotus leaves,
Oh goddess , who is truth , prove to me that your power is the truth.
24.Saranam bhava durge saranye bhaktha vathsale,
Yetham sthuthaa hi saa devi darsayamasa pandavam.
I surrender to you Oh Durga who loves devotees who surrender to her,
And as a result of this prayer The goddess came before the son of Pandu.
Devyuvacha:-
Devi told:-
25-26.Ye cha sanmkeerthayishyanthi loke vigatha kalmashaa,
Theshaam thushtaa pradhaasyaami rajya mayur vapu,
Pravasenagare chapi sangrame Shathru sankate,
Atavyaam durga kaanthaare sagare gahane girou,
Ye smarishyanthi maam rajan yadhaham bhavathaa smruthaa.
To those people who sing this and live without deceit and sin,
And I would be satisfied to give them kingdom , health and long life,
And to those who sing this prayer as was done by you,
Even if they are in between travel or in town or in war or amidst enemies,
Or in forest with thorns , or in deep ocean or high mountain,
And then remember me , Oh king, I would appear as soon as they think about me.
27-28.Na thesham kinchid asmim loke bhavishyathi,
Idham stotra varam bhakthyaa srunyad vaa padeth vaa,
Thasya sarvaani karyaani sidhim yasyanthi pandava,
Math prasadachha ya sarvaan virata nagare sthithaan.
There is nothing in this world that they cannot be got,
By reading or hearing this great prayer with devotion,
Due to my grace all the people of the city of Virata
Would meet success in all their endeavors, Oh son of Pandu.
30.Ithykthwa varada devi yudhishtra marindhamam,
Rakshaam kruthwaa cha pandunaam thathrai vanthar dheeyatha.
After telling like this and blessing Yudhishtra after assuring him,
About looking after the interests of the sons of Pandu , she disappeared.