Mahishasur Mardini Stotram: Verse 7

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 up 84 phrases or 42 sentences.

We will be taking a look at the seventh 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 7
#

अयि निजहुङ्कृति मात्रनिराकृत धूम्रविलोचन धूम्रशते

समरविशोषित शोणितबीज समुद्भवशोणित बीजलते ।

शिवशिवशुम्भ निशुम्भमहाहव तर्पितभूत पिशाचरते

जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Ayi Nija-Hunkruti Matra-Nira-Kruta Dhumra-Vilochana Dhumra-Shate
Samara-Vishoshit Shonita-Bija Samudh-bhava-Shonita Beeja-Late

Shiva-Shiva-Shumba Nishumba-Maha-Hava Tarpita-Bhuta Pishacharate
Jay Jay He Mahishasur-Mardini Ramyaka-Pardini Shailasute.

Meaning
#

O Goddess, you destroyed the demon Dhumra-Vilochan with your mighty roar and converted them into hundreds of smoky particles.

O Goddess, you dried up the demon Raktabeeja, whose each blood drop would cause one more demon to be born like a chain of creepers of Raktabeeja demons.

Your great auspicious sacrifice of Shumbha and Nishumbha satisfied the devotees and attendants of Shiva, the ghosts and ghouls.

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 निजहुङ्कृति मात्रनिराकृत धूम्रविलोचन धूम्रशते

Ayi Nija-Hunkruti Matra-Nira-Kruta Dhumra-Vilochana Dhumra-Shate

O Goddess, your roar alone was enough to destroy the demon Dhumralchan, converted into hundreds of smoky particles.

अयि (ayi): O (a term of address, often conveying reverence)
निजहुङ्कृति (Nija-Hunkrati): With one’s roar
- निज (nija): Own
- हुङ्कृति (huṅkṛti) : Roar
मात्रनिराकृत (Matra-Nira-Kruta): Destroyed merely by
- मात्र (matra): merely
- निराकृत (nirakruta): destroyed
धूम्रविलोचन (Dhumra-Vilochana): Smoky Particles
- धूम्र (dhumra): smoky
- विलोचन (vilochana): eyed, particles
धूम्रशते (Dhumrashate): hundred particles of the demon named Dhoomralochan

समरविशोषित शोणितबीज समुद्भवशोणित बीजलते

Samara-Vishoshit Shonita-Bija Samudh-bhava-Shonita Beeja-Late

O Goddess, you dried up the demon Raktabeeja, whose each blood drop would cause one more demon to be born like a chain of creepers of Raktabeeja demons.

समरविशोषित (Samara-Vishoshita): Dried up in the battle
- समर (samara): battle
- विशोषित (vishoshita): dried up
शोणितबीज (Shonita-Beeja): Demon named Raktabeeja (whose fallen blood drop causes one more demon Raktabeeja to be born)
- शोणित (shonita): blood
- बीज (bija): seed
समुद्भवशोणित (Samudh-Bhava-Shonita): Arising from the blood
- समुद्भव (samudbhava): arising
- शोणित (shonita): blood
बीजलते (Beeja-Late): Like a creeper chain from the seeds of blood
- बीजलते (Bijalate) - Seed-creeper

शिवशिवशुम्भ निशुम्भमहाहव तर्पितभूत पिशाचरते

Shiva-Shiva-Shumba Nishumba-Maha-Hava Tarpita-Bhuta Pishacharate

Your great auspicious sacrifice yagnya and slaying of Shumbha and Nishumbha satisfied the devotees and attendants of Shiva, the ghosts and ghouls.

शिवशिवशुम्भ (Shiva-Shiva-Shumba): Shumbha, a demon
- शिवशिव (Shiva-Shiva): Devotees of Shiva
- शुम्भ (Shumbha): Shumbha
निशुम्भमहाहव (Nishumba-Maha-Hava): The great auspicious sacrifice of Shumbha-Nishumbha
- निशुम्भ (Nishumbha): Shiva devotee Nishumbha
- महाहव (Mahahava): A great Auspicious Sacrifice
तर्पितभूत (Tarpita-Bhuta): Satisifed the beings, devotees of Shiva
- तर्पित (tarpita): satisfied
- भूत (bhuta): beings
पिशाचरते (Pishacharate): Delighting the ghouls and ghosts
- पिशाच (pishacha): ghouls
- रते (rate): delighting

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 19:24 to 22:13 for verse 7

Meaning behind the Mythology of Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
#

The verse praises the Goddess Maa Durga (Shakti/ Parvati) for her victories and valor over specific demons like arrogant Dhumralochan, Raktabeeja, and Shumbha-Nishumbha. It shows her immense power, just her roar is enough to destroy a powerful and arrogant demon called Dhumralochan. The verse beautifully describes her wit and valor in defeating the demon called Raktabeeja, who had a boon of replicating himself with each blood drop of his, by drying up him and devouring each drop after striking on him.

The verse also describes her demonic battles with Shumbha-Nishumbha who were brothers and had boons that no man and god can defeat them, after their deep penance and sacrifice. But Goddess Parvati destroyed them and made the ghost and ghouls, the devotees of

Spiritual Meaning
#

The Power of Divine Presence: The verse highlights the Goddess’s ability to vanquish powerful demons with her mere roar. It teaches that when we invoke the divine with sincerity, we can overcome our greatest fears and challenges. The roar symbolizes a call to courage, reminding us that divine strength is always accessible, empowering us to confront adversity.
Preventing cascade of evil thoughts and acts: The defeat of Raktabeeja, who could multiply with every drop of blood, serves as a metaphor for the challenges we face within ourselves—negative thoughts, emotions, and habits that can proliferate if left unchecked. By addressing our inner struggles directly, we can prevent them from multiplying and taking control of our lives.
Devotion and Fulfillment: The mention of the Goddess satisfying both her devotees and supernatural beings illustrates the interconnectedness of all spiritual beings. It teaches that true worship brings peace and contentment, irrespective of the race of the beings.

Listen to Recite
#

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.

References
#

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