श्री महिषासुर मर्दिनी स्तोत्रम् 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 जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि celebrates Devi as beauty, strength, protection, and the victorious energy of धर्म.
In many living devotional traditions the hymn is sung in connection with आदि शङ्कराचार्य, 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 शक्ति, the divine power without which no transformation is possible.
अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दिनुते
गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते ।
भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
सुरवरवर्षिणि दुर्धरधर्षिणि दुर्मुखमर्षिणि हर्षरते
त्रिभुवनपोषिणि शङ्करतोषिणि कल्मषमोषिणि घोररते । [किल्बिष-, घोष-]
दनुजनिरोषिणि दितिसुतरोषिणि दुर्मदशोषिणि सिन्धुसुते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अयि जगदम्ब मदम्ब कदम्बवनप्रियवासिनि हासरते
शिखरि शिरोमणि तुङ्गहिमालय शृङ्गनिजालय मध्यगते ।
मधुमधुरे मधुकैटभगञ्जिनि कैटभभञ्जिनि रासरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अयि शतखण्ड विखण्डितरुण्ड वितुण्डितशुण्ड गजाधिपते
रिपुगजगण्ड विदारणचण्ड पराक्रमशुण्ड मृगाधिपते ।
निजभुजदण्ड निपातितखण्ड विपातितमुण्ड भटाधिपते [-चण्ड]
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 4 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Victory to the lion-riding Goddess whose own powerful arms shatter the heads, trunks, and proud elephant-like forces of the enemy in battle.
अयि रणदुर्मद शत्रुवधोदित दुर्धरनिर्जर शक्तिभृते
चतुरविचारधुरीण महाशिव दूतकृत प्रमथाधिपते ।
दुरितदुरीह दुराशय दुर्मति दानवदूत कृतान्तमते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 5 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अयि शरणागत वैरिवधूवर वीरवराभयदायकरे
त्रिभुवन मस्तक शूलविरोधि शिरोधिकृतामल शूलकरे ।
दुमिदुमितामर दुन्दुभिनाद महो मुखरीकृत तिग्मकरे
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 6 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अयि निजहुङ्कृतिमात्र निराकृत धूम्रविलोचन धूम्रशते
समरविशोषित शोणितबीज समुद्भवशोणित बीजलते ।
शिव शिव शुम्भ निशुम्भ महाहव तर्पित भूत पिशाचरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 7 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
धनुरनुसङ्ग रणक्षणसङ्ग परिस्फुरदङ्ग नटत्कटके
कनक पिशङ्ग पृषत्कनिषङ्गरसद्भट शृङ्ग हतावटुके ।
कृतचतुरङ्ग बलक्षितिरङ्ग घटद्बहुरङ्ग रटद्बटुके
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 8 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Victory to the Goddess whose flashing limbs, bow, quiver, warriors, and fourfold army move in brilliant battle order against the forces of adharma.
सुरललना ततथेयि तथेयि कृताभिनयोदर नृत्यरते
कृत कुकुथः कुकुथो गडदादिकताल कुतूहल गानरते ।
धुधुकुट धुक्कुट धिन्धिमित ध्वनि धीर मृदङ्ग निनादरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 9 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Victory to the Goddess who delights in celestial dance, expressive movement, eager song, and the powerful rhythms of drums resounding in devotion.
जय जय जप्य जये जय शब्दपरस्तुति तत्पर विश्वनुते
भण भण भिञ्जिमि भिङ्कृतनूपुर सिञ्जितमोहित भूतपते । [झ-, झिं-]
नटितनटार्ध नटीनटनायक नाटितनाट्य सुगानरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 10 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अयि सुमनः सुमनः सुमनः सुमनः सुमनोहर कान्तियुते
श्रित रजनी रजनी रजनी रजनी रजनीकर वक्त्रवृते ।
सुनयन विभ्रमर भ्रमर भ्रमर भ्रमर भ्रमराधिपते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 11 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
सहित महाहव मल्लम तल्लिक मल्लित रल्लक मल्लरते
विरचित वल्लिक पल्लिक मल्लिक भिल्लिक भिल्लिक वर्ग वृते ।
सितकृत फुल्लसमुल्लसितारुण तल्लज पल्लव सल्ललिते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 12 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अविरलगण्डगलन्मदमेदुर मत्तमतङ्गज राजपते
त्रिभुवनभूषण भूतकलानिधि रूपपयोनिधि राजसुते ।
अयि सुदतीजन लालसमानस मोहनमन्मथ राजसुते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 13 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
कमलदलामल कोमलकान्ति कलाकलितामल भाललते
सकलविलास कलानिलय क्रमकेलिचलत्कलहंसकुले ।
अलिकुल सङ्कुल कुवलय मण्डल मौलिमिलद्भकुलालि कुले
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 14 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Victory to the Goddess of lotus-pure tenderness, abode of graceful arts, surrounded by playful swans, bees, blue lotuses, and fragrant blossoms.
करमुरलीरव वीजित कूजित लज्जितकोकिल मञ्जुमते
मिलित पुलिन्द मनोहर गुञ्जित रञ्जितशैल निकुञ्जगते ।
निजगुणभूत महाशबरीगण सद्गुणसम्भृत केलितले
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 15 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
कटितटपीत दुकूलविचित्र मयूखतिरस्कृत चन्द्ररुचे
प्रणतसुरासुर मौलिमणिस्फुर दंशुलसन्नख चन्द्ररुचे ।
जितकनकाचल मौलिपदोर्जित निर्भरकुञ्जर कुम्भकुचे
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 16 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
विजित सहस्रकरैक सहस्रकरैक सहस्रकरैकनुते
कृत सुरतारक सङ्गरतारक सङ्गरतारक सूनुसुते ।
सुरथसमाधि समानसमाधि समाधि समाधि सुजातरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 17 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
पदकमलं करुणानिलये वरिवस्यति योऽनुदिनं स शिवे
अयि कमले कमलानिलये कमलानिलयः स कथं न भवेत् ।
तव पदमेव परम्पदमित्यनुशीलयतो मम किं न शिवे
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 18 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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?
कनकलसत्कल सिन्धुजलैरनुसिञ्चिनुते गुणरङ्गभुवं
भजति स किं न शचीकुचकुम्भ तटीपरिरम्भ सुखानुभवम् ।
तव चरणं शरणं करवाणि नतामरवाणि निवासि शिवं
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 19 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
तव विमलेन्दुकुलं वदनेन्दुमलं सकलं ननु कूलयते
किमु पुरुहूत पुरीन्दुमुखी सुमुखीभिरसौ विमुखीक्रियते ।
मम तु मतं शिवनामधने भवती कृपया किमुत क्रियते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 20 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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?
अयि मयि दीनदयालुतया कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे
अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथाऽनुभितासिरते ।
यदुचितमत्र भवत्युररि कुरुतादुरुतापमपाकुरु ते [मे]
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 21 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
इति श्री महिषासुरमर्दिनि स्तोत्रम् ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Thus concludes the revered Mahishasura Mardini Stotram.
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