Mahishasur Mardini Stotram: Verse 5

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 is composed by Adi Shankara which is mentioned in the 53rd chapter of the 1st portion of the text 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 fifth verse in this article, the overall meaning, word-by-word meaning, and the meaning behind the verse as what it wants to preach to us.

Verse 5
#

अयि रणदुर्मद शत्रुवधोदित दुर्धरनिर्जर शक्तिभृते

चतुरविचार धुरीणमहाशिव दूतकृत प्रमथाधिपते।

दुरितदुरीह दुराशयदुर्मति दानवदुत कृतान्तमते

जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते॥

Ayi Rana-Durmmadha Shatru-Vadhodita Durdhara-Nirjara Shakti-Bhrute
Chatur-Vichar Dhurina-Mahashiva Duta-Kruta Pramatha-Dhipate

Durita-Duriha Durashaya-Durmati Danav-Dut Krutanta-Mate
Jay Jay He Mahishasur-Mardini Ramyaka-Pardini Shailasute.

Meaning
#

O Goddess, you are the unstoppable force on the battlefield, slaying formidable enemies and demons with your divine energy.

Chosen as the chief of Lord Shiva, you serve as his messenger and peacemaker, liberating his Gan-Pretas and guiding them.

You dispel beings with sinful actions and wicked intentions, freeing us from their grasp and ensuring our protection.

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
#

अयि रणदुर्मद शत्रुवधोदित दुर्धरनिर्जर शक्तिभृते

Ayi Rana-Durmmadha Shatru-Vadhodita Durdhara-Nirjara Shakti-Bhrute

O Goddess, you are the unstoppable force on the battlefield against wicked enemies. You slay the formidable foes and demons, dispelling them with your divine energy and blessing us with that same power.

अयि (ayi): O (a term of address, often conveying reverence)
रणदुर्मद (Rana-Durmadha): One who is fierce or uncontrollable on the battlefield or war
- रण (Rana): Battle or war
- दुर्मद (Durmadha): Intoxicated, One who is fierce or uncontrollable
शत्रुवधोदित (Shatru-Vadho-Dita): Killing the arisen enemies
- शत्रु (Shatru): Enemy
- वध (Vadha): Killing or destruction
- उदित (Udita): Arisen or manifested
दुर्धरनिर्जर (Dur-Dhara-Nirjara): One who removes the pain/demons which is difficult to endure
- दुर्धर (Dur-Dhara): Difficult to bear or endure
- निर्जर (Nirjara): One who removes or dispels
शक्तिभृते (Shakti-Bhrute): One who carries or transmits power or energy to the world
- शक्ति (Shakti): Power or energy
- भृते (Bhrute): One who supports or carries

चतुरविचार धुरीणमहाशिव दूतकृत प्रमथाधिपते।

Chatur-Vichar Dhurina-Mahashiva Duta-Kruta Pramatha-Dhipate

O Goddess, with your clever and wise thoughts, and pure intentions, you are chosen as the chief of Lord Shiva. You serve as his messenger and peacemaker, liberating his Gan-Pretas (spirits or attendants of Lord Shiva).

चतुरविचार (Chatura-Vichara): One who has clever and wise thoughts and pure intentions
- चतुर (Chatura): Clever or wise
- विचार (Vichara): Thought or consideration, judgements.
धुरीणमहाशिव (Dhurina-Maha-Shiva): The cheif of Lord Shiva
- धुरीण (Dhurina): The chief or the one who bears the burden
- महाशिव (Maha-Shiva): The great Shiva
दूतकृत (Duta-Kruta): Who became a messanger
- दूत (Duta): Messenger
- कृत (Kruta): Made or performed
प्रमथाधिपते (Pramatha-Dhipate): Group of Spirits / Attendants of Lord Shiva
- प्रमथ (Pramatha): A group of spirits or beings
- आधिपते (Adhipate): Lord or ruler

दुरितदुरीह दुराशयदुर्मति दानवदुत कृतान्तमते

Durita-Duriha Durashaya-Durmati Danav-Dut Krutanta-Mate

O Goddess, you are the one who acts as a messenger and peacemaker against evil and demons. You dispel beings with sinful actions and wicked intentions, freeing us from their grasp.

दुरितदुरीह (Durita-Duriha): One who dispels the one who does sinuous/evil acts
- दुरित (Durita): Sin or misdeed
- दुरीह (Duriha): One who dispels or drives away
दुराशयदुर्मति (Durashaya-Durmati): One who has malicious or wicked intents
- दुराशय (Durashaya): Malicious intent
- दुर्मति (Durmati): Wicked intellect or thought
दानवदुत (Danava-Duta): The one who went as a messenger or peacemaker against demons
- दानव (Danava): Demon or evil being
- दूत (Duta): Messenger
कृतान्तमते (Krutanta-Mate): One who ends all the suffering and bad intentions
- कृतान्त (Krutanta): End of all actions or death
- मते (Mate): Thought or opinion

जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते

Jay Jay 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 14:21 to 16:45 for verse 5

Meaning behind the Mythology of Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
#

This verse emphasizes the fierce form of the Goddess on the battlefield, her power in battle, channeling her divine energy, and destroying evil intentions and sinuous beings. It also describes the goddess as the lord of Shiva’s attendants, she serves Lord Shiva by being a peacemaker for her attendants and removing them from the wrath of demonic grasps.

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.

Spiritual Meaning
#

Purification of Intents: By dispelling wickedness, she emphasizes the need for purity in thought and action, encouraging us to free ourselves from negative tendencies and strive for spiritual growth.
Peace: The Goddess serves to restore harmony, both within ourselves and in our relationships. She encourages understanding and reconciliation, reminding us that true strength lies in unity. The role of a peacemaker emphasizes the power to transform negative situations into opportunities for growth and healing. It teaches us that, first if evil intentions are given a chance with peaceful understanding, and then if they still keep on with the evil intentions, then they will have to face the consequences of rejecting peace.

Listen to Recite
#

References:
#

Thanks for reading Mythology to Meaning! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.