śrī mahiṣāsura mardinī stōtram is a powerful hymn to the Goddess as the destroyer of Mahishasura, the buffalo-demon who represents brute arrogance, violence, and shape-shifting ego. Its rhythmic refrain jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini celebrates Devi as beauty, strength, protection, and the victorious energy of dharma.
In many living devotional traditions the hymn is sung in connection with ādi śaṅkarāchārya, while its historical attribution is discussed in different ways. Read in the Shankara tradition, the hymn is not merely battle-poetry; it is praise of śakti, the divine power without which no transformation is possible.
ayi girinandini nanditamēdini viśvavinōdini nandinutē
girivaravindhyaśirōdhinivāsini viṣṇuvilāsini jiṣṇunutē ।
bhagavati hē śitikaṇṭhakuṭumbini bhūrikuṭumbini bhūrikṛtē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory, victory to you, O daughter of the mountain, delighter of the earth and universe, dweller on the Vindhya peak, delight of Vishnu, praised by Indra, belonging to Shiva's family, mother of all, beautiful mountain-born crusher of Mahishasura.
suravaravarṣiṇi durdharadharṣiṇi durmukhamarṣiṇi harṣaratē
tribhuvanapōṣiṇi śaṅkaratōṣiṇi kalmaṣamōṣiṇi ghōraratē । [kilbiṣa-, ghōṣa-]
danujanirōṣiṇi ditisutarōṣiṇi durmadaśōṣiṇi sindhusutē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to you who shower blessings on the gods, subdue the unconquerable, remove impurity, nourish the three worlds, delight Shiva, and dry up the pride of hostile demonic forces.
ayi jagadamba madamba kadambavanapriyavāsini hāsaratē
śikhari śirōmaṇi tuṅgahimālaya śṛṅganijālaya madhyagatē ।
madhumadhurē madhukaiṭabhagañjini kaiṭabhabhañjini rāsaratē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Mother of the world, my Mother, lover of the kadamba grove, smiling one who dwells on the high Himalayan peaks, honey-sweet destroyer of Madhu and Kaitabha, victory to you who delights in divine play.
ayi śatakhaṇḍa vikhaṇḍitaruṇḍa vituṇḍitaśuṇḍa gajādhipatē
ripugajagaṇḍa vidāraṇachaṇḍa parākramaśuṇḍa mṛgādhipatē ।
nijabhujadaṇḍa nipātitakhaṇḍa vipātitamuṇḍa bhaṭādhipatē [-chaṇḍa]
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 4 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the lion-riding Goddess whose own powerful arms shatter the heads, trunks, and proud elephant-like forces of the enemy in battle.
ayi raṇadurmada śatruvadhōdita durdharanirjara śaktibhṛtē
chaturavichāradhurīṇa mahāśiva dūtakṛta pramathādhipatē ।
duritadurīha durāśaya durmati dānavadūta kṛtāntamatē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 5 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the Goddess who bears the gods' irresistible power, wisely directs even Shiva as messenger, and brings an end to sinful, evil-minded demonic arrogance.
ayi śaraṇāgata vairivadhūvara vīravarābhayadāyakarē
tribhuvana mastaka śūlavirōdhi śirōdhikṛtāmala śūlakarē ।
dumidumitāmara dundubhināda mahō mukharīkṛta tigmakarē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 6 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the refuge-giving Mother who grants fearlessness, wields the pure trident against hostile forces, and fills the heavens with the resounding drums of victory.
ayi nijahuṅkṛtimātra nirākṛta dhūmravilōchana dhūmraśatē
samaraviśōṣita śōṇitabīja samudbhavaśōṇita bījalatē ।
śiva śiva śumbha niśumbha mahāhava tarpita bhūta piśācharatē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 7 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the Goddess whose very cry destroys Dhumralochana, who dries up the blood-seed of Raktabija in battle, and who defeats Shumbha and Nishumbha amid the fierce hosts.
dhanuranusaṅga raṇakṣaṇasaṅga parisphuradaṅga naṭatkaṭakē
kanaka piśaṅga pṛṣatkaniṣaṅgarasadbhaṭa śṛṅga hatāvaṭukē ।
kṛtachaturaṅga balakṣitiraṅga ghaṭadbahuraṅga raṭadbaṭukē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 8 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the Goddess whose flashing limbs, bow, quiver, warriors, and fourfold army move in brilliant battle order against the forces of adharma.
suralalanā tatathēyi tathēyi kṛtābhinayōdara nṛtyaratē
kṛta kukuthaḥ kukuthō gaḍadādikatāla kutūhala gānaratē ।
dhudhukuṭa dhukkuṭa dhindhimita dhvani dhīra mṛdaṅga ninādaratē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 9 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the Goddess who delights in celestial dance, expressive movement, eager song, and the powerful rhythms of drums resounding in devotion.
jaya jaya japya jayē jaya śabdaparastuti tatpara viśvanutē
bhaṇa bhaṇa bhiñjimi bhiṅkṛtanūpura siñjitamōhita bhūtapatē । [jha-, jhiṃ-]
naṭitanaṭārdha naṭīnaṭanāyaka nāṭitanāṭya sugānaratē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 10 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the universally praised Goddess, worthy of repeated japa, whose anklets ring with enchanting sound and who delights in dance, drama, and beautiful song.
ayi sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanōhara kāntiyutē
śrita rajanī rajanī rajanī rajanī rajanīkara vaktravṛtē ।
sunayana vibhramara bhramara bhramara bhramara bhramarādhipatē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 11 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the mountain-born Goddess whose captivating beauty delights noble minds, whose moon-like face shines, and whose lovely eyes draw bee-like devotion.
sahita mahāhava mallama tallika mallita rallaka mallaratē
virachita vallika pallika mallika bhillika bhillika varga vṛtē ।
sitakṛta phullasamullasitāruṇa tallaja pallava sallalitē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 12 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the Goddess who is present in heroic battle and also in blossoming groves, surrounded by attendants and adorned with the grace of tender red leaves and flowers.
aviralagaṇḍagalanmadamēdura mattamataṅgaja rājapatē
tribhuvanabhūṣaṇa bhūtakalānidhi rūpapayōnidhi rājasutē ।
ayi sudatījana lālasamānasa mōhanamanmatha rājasutē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 13 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the royal daughter, ornament of the three worlds, ocean of beauty and treasure of arts, whose majesty surpasses intoxicated royal elephants and enchants every refined mind.
kamaladalāmala kōmalakānti kalākalitāmala bhālalatē
sakalavilāsa kaḻānilaya kramakēlichalatkalahaṃsakulē ।
alikula saṅkula kuvalaya maṇḍala maulimiladbhakulāli kulē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 14 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the Goddess of lotus-pure tenderness, abode of graceful arts, surrounded by playful swans, bees, blue lotuses, and fragrant blossoms.
karamuraḻīrava vījita kūjita lajjitakōkila mañjumatē
milita pulinda manōhara guñjita rañjitaśaila nikuñjagatē ।
nijaguṇabhūta mahāśabarīgaṇa sadguṇasambhṛta kēḻitalē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 15 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the charming Mother whose music humbles the cuckoo, whose presence delights mountain groves and forest devotees, and whose playfield is filled with noble qualities.
kaṭitaṭapīta dukūlavichitra mayūkhatiraskṛta chandraruchē
praṇatasurāsura mauḻimaṇisphura daṃśulasannakha chandraruchē ।
jitakanakāchala mauḻipadōrjita nirbharakuñjara kumbhakuchē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 16 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the Goddess clothed in yellow silk, outshining moonlight, whose toenails flash with rays from the crown-jewels of bowing gods and asuras, and whose form surpasses golden mountains in splendor.
vijita sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraikanutē
kṛta suratāraka saṅgaratāraka saṅgaratāraka sūnusutē ।
surathasamādhi samānasamādhi samādhi samādhi sujātaratē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 17 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Victory to the Goddess praised by the thousand-rayed sun, savior of the gods in battle, and gracious to devotees like Suratha and Samadhi who sought refuge in her.
padakamalaṃ karuṇānilayē varivasyati yō'nudinaṃ sa śivē
ayi kamalē kamalānilayē kamalānilayaḥ sa kathaṃ na bhavēt ।
tava padamēva parampadamityanuśīlayatō mama kiṃ na śivē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 18 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O compassionate, auspicious lotus-goddess, how can one who worships your lotus feet daily fail to become lotus-like? For one who contemplates your feet as the supreme goal, what blessing is impossible?
kanakalasatkala sindhujalairanusiñchinutē guṇaraṅgabhuvaṃ
bhajati sa kiṃ na śachīkuchakumbha taṭīparirambha sukhānubhavam ।
tava charaṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ karavāṇi natāmaravāṇi nivāsi śivaṃ
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 19 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Those who worship you with golden vessels and sacred waters may gain heavenly joys, but I make your feet my refuge, O one praised by the gods; may that refuge be auspicious.
tava vimalēndukulaṃ vadanēndumalaṃ sakalaṃ nanu kūlayatē
kimu puruhūta purīndumukhī sumukhībhirasau vimukhīkriyatē ।
mama tu mataṃ śivanāmadhanē bhavatī kṛpayā kimuta kriyatē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 20 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Your pure moon-like face draws all beauty together; by your grace, what could be denied to one whose true wealth is the name of Shiva?
ayi mayi dīnadayālutayā kṛpayaiva tvayā bhavitavyamumē
ayi jagatō jananī kṛpayāsi yathāsi tathā'nubhitāsiratē ।
yaduchitamatra bhavatyurari kurutādurutāpamapākuru tē [mē]
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 21 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Uma, Mother of the world, be gracious to me with compassion for the helpless. As you truly are, please do what is fitting here and remove this terrible distress.
iti śrī mahiṣāsuramardini stōtram ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Thus concludes the revered Mahishasura Mardini Stotram.
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