Kalika Ashtakam

गलद्रक्तमुण्डावलीकण्ठमाला महाघोररावा सुदंष्ट्रा कराला ।

Galad Rakta Mundavali Kanthamala Mahaghora Rava Sudamshtra Karala

galadraktamuṇḍāvalīkaṇṭhamālā mahāghorarāvā sudaṃṣṭrā karālā

Wearing a garland of dripping severed heads at her throat, roaring terribly, with fearsome teeth, formidable,

विवस्त्रा श्मशानालया मुक्तकेशी महाकालकामाकुला कालिकेयम् ॥ १ ॥

Vivastra Shmashanalaya Muktakeshi Mahakala Kamakula Kalikeyam

vivastrā śmaśānālayā muktakeśī mahākālakāmākulā kālikeyam

unclad, dwelling in the cremation ground, her hair loose, full of love for Mahakala — this is Kalika.

भुजे वामयुग्मे शिरोऽसिं दधाना वरं दक्षयुग्मेऽभयं वै तथैव ।

Bhuje Vamayugme Shiro Asim Dadhana Varam Dakshayugme Abhayam Vai Tathaiva

bhuje vāmayugme śiro'siṃ dadhānā varaṃ dakṣayugme'bhayaṃ vai tathaiva

In her two left hands she holds a head and a sword; with her two right hands she grants a boon and fearlessness;

सुमध्याऽपि तुङ्गस्तना भारनम्रा लसद्रक्तसृक्कद्वया सुस्मितास्या ॥ २ ॥

Sumadhyapi Tungastana Bharanamra Lasad Rakta Srikka Dvaya Susmitasya

sumadhyā'pi tuṅgastanā bhāranamrā lasadraktasṛkkadvayā susmitāsyā

slender-waisted, full-breasted, bending with their weight, the corners of her mouth red, her face smiling.

शवद्वन्द्वकर्णावतंसा सुकेशी लसत्प्रेतपाणिं प्रयुक्तैककाञ्ची ।

Shava Dvandva Karnavatamsa Sukeshi Lasat Pretapanim Prayuktaika Kanchi

śavadvandvakarṇāvataṃsā sukeśī lasatpretapāṇiṃ prayuktaikakāñcī

Two corpses as her earrings, lovely-haired, wearing a girdle of the hands of the dead,

शवाकारमञ्चाधिरूढा शिवाभिश्चतुर्दिक्षुशब्दायमानाऽभिरेजे ॥ ३ ॥

Shavakara Manchadhirudha Shivabhish Chaturdikshu Shabdayamanabhireje

śavākāramañcādhirūḍhā śivābhiścaturdikṣuśabdāyamānā'bhireje

seated on a couch shaped like a corpse, she shines while jackals howl in all four directions.

विरञ्च्यादिदेवास्त्रयस्ते गुणास्त्रीन् समाराध्य कालीं प्रधाना बभूबुः ।

Viranchyadi Devas Trayaste Gunastrin Samaradhya Kalim Pradhana Babhubuh

virañcyādidevāstrayaste guṇāstrīn samārādhya kālīṃ pradhānā babhūbuḥ

Brahma and the other two gods became supreme in the three qualities by worshipping Kali;

अनादिं सुरादिं मखादिं भवादिं स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः ॥ १ ॥

Anadim Suradim Makhadim Bhavadim Svarupam Tvadiyam Na Vindanti Devah

anādiṃ surādiṃ makhādiṃ bhavādiṃ svarūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ na vindanti devāḥ

without beginning, the origin of gods, of sacrifice, of the world — your true form even the gods cannot know.

जगन्मोहनीयं तु वाग्वादिनीयं सुहृत्पोषिणीशत्रुसंहारणीयम् ।

Jaganmohaniyam Tu Vagvadiniyam Suhritposhini Shatru Samharaniyam

jaganmohanīyaṃ tu vāgvādinīyaṃ suhṛtpoṣiṇīśatrusaṃhāraṇīyam

You who enchant the world, give eloquence, nourish friends and destroy enemies,

वचस्तम्भनीयं किमुच्चाटनीयं स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः ॥ २ ॥

Vachastambhaniyam Kimucchataniyam Svarupam Tvadiyam Na Vindanti Devah

vacastambhanīyaṃ kimuccāṭanīyaṃ svarūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ na vindanti devāḥ

who silence and who drive away — your true form even the gods cannot know.

इयं स्वर्गदात्री पुनः कल्पवल्ली मनोजास्तु कामान् यथार्थं प्रकुर्यात् ।

Iyam Svargadatri Punah Kalpavalli Manojastu Kaman Yathartham Prakuryat

iyaṃ svargadātrī punaḥ kalpavallī manojāstu kāmān yathārthaṃ prakuryāt

She gives heaven; she is the wish-fulfilling vine that makes the heart’s desires come true;

तथा ते कृतार्था भवन्तीति नित्यं स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः ॥ ३ ॥

Tatha Te Kritartha Bhavantiti Nityam Svarupam Tvadiyam Na Vindanti Devah

tathā te kṛtārthā bhavantīti nityaṃ svarūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ na vindanti devāḥ

through her, devotees are always fulfilled — your true form even the gods cannot know.

सुरापानमत्ता सुभक्तानुरक्ता लसत्पूतचित्ते सदाविर्भवत्ते ।

Surapana Matta Subhaktanurakta Lasat Puta Chitte Sadavirbhavatte

surāpānamattā subhaktānuraktā lasatpūtacitte sadāvirbhavatte

Intoxicated with divine nectar, loving to true devotees, ever appearing in pure, shining hearts,

जपध्यानपूजासुधाधौतपङ्का स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः ॥ ४ ॥

Japa Dhyana Puja Sudha Dhauta Panka Svarupam Tvadiyam Na Vindanti Devah

japadhyānapūjāsudhādhautapaṅkā svarūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ na vindanti devāḥ

washing away all impurity with the nectar of japa, meditation and worship — your true form even the gods cannot know.

चिदानन्दकन्दं हसन् मन्दमन्दं शरच्चन्द्रकोटिप्रभापुञ्जबिम्बम् ।

Chidananda Kandam Hasan Mandamandam Sharacchandra Koti Prabhapunja Bimbam

cidānandakandaṃ hasan mandamandaṃ śaraccandrakoṭiprabhāpuñjabimbam

The root of consciousness and bliss, smiling gently, radiant as ten million autumn moons,

मुनीनां कवीनां हृदि द्योतयन्तं स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः ॥ ५ ॥

Muninam Kavinam Hridi Dyotayantam Svarupam Tvadiyam Na Vindanti Devah

munīnāṃ kavīnāṃ hṛdi dyotayantaṃ svarūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ na vindanti devāḥ

shining in the hearts of sages and poets — your true form even the gods cannot know.

महामेघकाली सुरक्तापि शुभ्रा कदाचिद्विचित्राकृतिर्योगमाया ।

Mahamegha Kali Suraktapi Shubhra Kadachid Vichitrakritir Yogamaya

mahāmeghakālī suraktāpi śubhrā kadācidvicitrākṛtiryogamāyā

Dark as a great storm cloud, yet also deep red, and sometimes white — the power of yoga in wondrous forms;

न बाला न वृद्धा न कामातुरापि स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः ॥ ६ ॥

Na Bala Na Vriddha Na Kamaturapi Svarupam Tvadiyam Na Vindanti Devah

na bālā na vṛddhā na kāmāturāpi svarūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ na vindanti devāḥ

neither young nor old, nor overcome by desire — your true form even the gods cannot know.

क्षमस्वापराधं महागुप्तभावं मया लोकमध्ये प्रकाशिकृतं यत् ।

Kshamasvaparadham Mahagupta Bhavam Maya Lokamadhye Prakashikritam Yat

kṣamasvāparādhaṃ mahāguptabhāvaṃ mayā lokamadhye prakāśikṛtaṃ yat

Forgive my fault in revealing to the world this great secret about you —

तव ध्यानपूतेन चापल्यभावात् स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः ॥ ७ ॥

Tava Dhyana Putena Chapalya Bhavat Svarupam Tvadiyam Na Vindanti Devah

tava dhyānapūtena cāpalyabhāvāt svarūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ na vindanti devāḥ

I did it in the eagerness of a mind purified by meditating on you — your true form even the gods cannot know.

यदि ध्यानयुक्तं पठेद्यो मनुष्यस्तदा सर्वलोके विशालो भवेच्च ।

Yadi Dhyanayuktam Pathed Yo Manushyas Tada Sarvaloke Vishalo Bhavecca

yadi dhyānayuktaṃ paṭhedyo manuṣyastadā sarvaloke viśālo bhavecca

Whoever reads this with meditation becomes great in all the worlds;

गृहे चाष्टसिद्धिर्मृते चापि मुक्तिः स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः ॥ ८ ॥

Grihe Chashtasiddhir Mrite Chapi Muktih Svarupam Tvadiyam Na Vindanti Devah

gṛhe cāṣṭasiddhirmṛte cāpi muktiḥ svarūpaṃ tvadīyaṃ na vindanti devāḥ

in their home are the eight powers, and at death liberation — your true form even the gods cannot know.