Mahishasur Mardini Stotram: Verse 21

The Mahishasura Mardini Stotram praises the divine power of Goddess Parvati/Durga/Shakti, who triumphs over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. It is a devotional hymn that invokes her strength and grace, inspiring devotees to seek her protection and blessings.

It is not only about Goddess Parvati/Durga/Shakti defeating the Mahisasur (buffalo demon), it is more about the multifaceted qualities and praises for the divine feminine power and love.

Mahishasur Mardini Stotram was composed by Adi Shankara, who is mentioned in the 53rd chapter of the first portion of the Shivarahasya Purana.

There are in total 21 verses, having 4 lines(phrases) or 2 sentences each making a total of 84 phrases or 42 sentences.

We will be taking a look at the twenty-first in this article which is the last verse of this stotram, the overall meaning, word-by-word meaning, and the meaning behind the verse as what it wants to preach to us.

Verse 21
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अयि मयि दीन दयालुतया कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे

अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथानुमितासिरते ।

यदुचितमत्र भवत्युररीकुरुतादुरुतापमपाकुरुते

जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Ayi Mayi Deena Dayalu-Taya Krupayaiva Tvaya Bhavitavya-Mume

Ayi Jagto Janani KrupayaaSi Yatha-Si Tatha-Numi-Tasirate

Yadu-Chita-Matra Bhava-Tyura-Ri-Kuruta-Duru-Tapa-Ma-Paa-Kurute

Jaya Jaya He Mahishasur Mardini Ramyaka-Pardini Shailasute

Meaning
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O compassionate one, because of your kindness and mercy, may I be blessed by you (Maa Uma another name for Maa Parvati)

O Goddess of the world, with your compassion and blessings on us, you are known to be as graceful as you truly are.

Whatever is appropriate here do it swiftly or with your elegance, and make the sufferings disappear.

Victory, Victory! to the slayer, destroyer of the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasur), victory to the one with the matted hair, to the goddess Daughter of the mountains.

Word By Word Meaning
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अयि मयि दीन दयालुतया कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे

Ayi Mayi Deena Dayalu-Taya Krupayaiva Tvayaa Bhavitavya-Mume

O compassionate one, because of your kindness and mercy, may I be blessed by you (Maa Uma another name for Maa Parvati)

अयि (Ayi): O (a term of address, often conveying reverence)
मयि (Mayi): In me
दीन (Deena): Poor, helpless
दयालुतया (Dayalu-Taya): with compassion
- दयालु (Dayalu): Compassionate
- तया (Taya): By, with
कृपयैव (Krupayaiva): Indeed with mercy
- कृपया (Krupaya): With mercy
- इव (Iva): Indeed, like
त्वया (Tvayaa): By you
भवितव्यमुमे (Bhavi-Tavya-Mumu): Should happen from Maa Uma (Maa Parvati)
- भवितव्यम (Bhavitavyam): Should happen, come to be
- उमे (Umae): O Uma (another name for Goddess Parvati)

अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथानुमितासिरते

Ayi Jagto Janani KrupayaaSi Yatha-Si Tatha-Numi-Taasirate

O Goddess of the world, with your compassion and blessings on us, you are known to be as graceful as you truly are.

अयि (Ayi): O (a term of address, often conveying reverence)
जगतो (Jagato): Of the world
जननी (Janani): Mother
कृपयासि (Krupayasi): You are compassionate
- कृपया (Krupaya): With compassion
- असि (Asi): You are
यथासि (Yathasi): Like you
- यथा (Yathaa): As, like
- असि (Asi): You are
तथानुमितासिरते (Tath-Anumitaa-Sirate): Assumed to be as affectionate as you are
- तथ (Tath): So
- अनुमिता (Anumita): Assumed, understood
- सिरते (Sirate): In the heart, affectionately

यदुचितमत्र भवत्युररीकुरुतादुरुतापमपाकुरुते

Yadu-Chita-Matra Bhava-Tyura-Ri-Kuruta-Duru-Tapa-Ma-Paa-Kurute

Whatever is appropriate here do it swiftly or with your elegance, and make the sufferings disappear.

**यदुचितमत्र (**Yadu-Chita-Matra): whatever is appropriate here
- यदुचितम् (Yadu-Chitam): What is appropriate, what is fitting
- अत्र (Atra): Here
**भवत्युररीकुरुतादुरुतापमपाकुरुते (**Bhava-Tyura-Ri-Kuruta-Duru-Tapa-Ma-Paa-Kurute):
- भवति (Bhavati): Happens, becomes
- उररी (Urari): Of the enemies or adversaries, with elegance or swiftly,
- कुरुत (Kuruta): Do
- आदुरुत (Aduruta): That which is exceedingly bad or difficult
- अपाकुरुते (Apakurute): Makes it disappear or removes

जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते

Jaya Jaya He Mahishasur Mardini Ramyaka-Pardini Shailasute

Victory, Victory! to the slayer, destroyer of the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasur), victory to the one with the matted hair, to the goddess Daughter of the mountains

जय (jaya): Victory!
हे (he): O (a term of address)
महिषासुरमर्दिनि (mahishasuramardini): Destroyer of the buffalo demon
- महिषासुर (mahishasura): the buffalo demon
- मर्दिनि (mardini): one who destroys or defeats
रम्यकपर्दिनि (ramyakapardini): Beautiful goddess with matted hair
- रम्य (ramya): beautiful or charming
- कपर्दिनि (kapardini): one who has matted hair (often associated with asceticism)
शैलसुते (shailasute): Daughter of the mountain
- शैला (shaila): mountain
- सुते (sute): daughter or offspring

A beautiful explanation of the verse in Hindi

From 51:10 to 52:50 for verse 21

Meaning behind the Mythology of Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
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The verse is a beautiful composition of words to praise the Goddess Parvati (Uma) with the qualities of the mother of the world, extremely compassionate and merciful. The lines acknowledge her inherent grace and suggest that her essence is one of compassion.

The verse captures the meaning of the devotee worshipping and pleading to the Goddess to remove the obstacles and do whatever is appropriate according to her and beneficial for the whole world.

Spiritual Meaning
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Divine Compassion and Nurturing: The verses emphasize the goddess’s role as a compassionate mother, symbolizing the nurturing aspect of the divine. This serves as a reminder that, in moments of difficulty, one can seek solace and support from a higher power that embodies love and mercy.
Faith in Divine Timing: The plea for appropriate and timely action reflects a deep trust in the divine’s wisdom. It suggests that while individuals may face challenges, surrendering to a higher will and recognizing that divine intervention comes at the right time can lead to relief and resolution.

Listen to Recite
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The stotram is often recited during Navaratri celebrations and is believed to invoke the Goddess’s blessings and protection. The verse encapsulates the multifaceted nature of the Goddess, highlighting her benevolent aspects as well as her fierce, demon-slaying form.

This brings an end to yet another section in the Mythology to Meaning Blog. This was a 21-verse section, with a detailed breakdown of each verse along with its spiritual and mythological context. I hope you found this verse breakdown helpful and that it was able to at least bring some positive change in your life. It did for me, to be honest.

Thank you for reading :)

References
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