Shiva speaks
शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रमुत्तमम् ।
Shrinu Devi Pravakshyami Kunjika Stotram Uttamam
śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi kuñjikāstotramuttamam
Listen, O Goddess: I will tell you the supreme Kunjika hymn,
येन मन्त्रप्रभावेण चण्डीजापः शुभो भवेत् ॥ १ ॥
Yena Mantra Prabhavena Chandi Japah Shubho Bhavet
yena mantraprabhāveṇa caṇḍījāpaḥ śubho bhavet
by whose mantra-power the recitation of the Chandi becomes fruitful.
न कवचं नार्गलास्तोत्रं कीलकं न रहस्यकम् ।
Na Kavacham Nargala Stotram Kilakam Na Rahasyakam
na kavacaṃ nārgalāstotraṃ kīlakaṃ na rahasyakam
No Kavacha, no Argala hymn, no Kilaka, no secret rites,
न सूक्तं नापि ध्यानं च न न्यासो न च वार्चनम् ॥ २ ॥
Na Suktam Napi Dhyanam Cha Na Nyaso Na Cha Varchanam
na sūktaṃ nāpi dhyānaṃ ca na nyāso na ca vārcanam
no Vedic hymn, no meditation, no nyasa and no worship is needed:
कुञ्जिकापाठमात्रेण दुर्गापाठफलं लभेत् ।
Kunjika Patha Matrena Durga Patha Phalam Labhet
kuñjikāpāṭhamātreṇa durgāpāṭhaphalaṃ labhet
by reciting the Kunjika alone, one gains the fruit of reciting the whole Durga text.
अति गुह्यतरं देवि देवानामपि दुर्लभम् ॥ ३ ॥
Ati Guhyataram Devi Devanamapi Durlabham
ati guhyataraṃ devi devānāmapi durlabham
It is most secret, O Goddess, hard to obtain even for the gods.
गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन स्वयोनिरिव पार्वति ।
Gopaniyam Prayatnena Svayoniriva Parvati
gopanīyaṃ prayatnena svayoniriva pārvati
It should be guarded with care, O Parvati, as closely as one’s most private self.
मारणं मोहनं वश्यं स्तम्भनोच्चाटनादिकम् ।
Maranam Mohanam Vashyam Stambhanocchatanadikam
māraṇaṃ mohanaṃ vaśyaṃ stambhanoccāṭanādikam
The tantric powers — to overcome, to enchant, to win over, to halt and to drive away —
पाठमात्रेण संसिद्ध्येत् कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रमुत्तमम् ॥ ४ ॥
Pathamatrena Samsiddhyet Kunjika Stotram Uttamam
pāṭhamātreṇa saṃsiddhyet kuñjikāstotramuttamam
are perfected by simply reciting this supreme Kunjika hymn.
The mantra
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॥
Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche
oṃ aiṃ hrīṃ klīṃ cāmuṇḍāyai vicce
Om — wisdom, power and love — to Chamunda, may she free us.
ॐ ग्लौं हुं क्लीं जूं सः ज्वालय ज्वालय ज्वल ज्वल प्रज्वल प्रज्वल
Om Glaum Hum Kleem Joom Sah Jvalaya Jvalaya Jvala Jvala Prajvala Prajvala
oṃ glauṃ huṃ klīṃ jūṃ saḥ jvālaya jvālaya jvala jvala prajvala prajvala
Om — seed sounds of power — set it ablaze, set it ablaze, burn, burn, blaze forth, blaze forth!
ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ज्वल हं सं लं क्षं फट् स्वाहा ॥
Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche Jvala Ham Sam Lam Ksham Phat Svaha
aiṃ hrīṃ klīṃ cāmuṇḍāyai vicce jvala haṃ saṃ laṃ kṣaṃ phaṭ svāhā
Aim Hreem Kleem, to Chamunda, liberate us — blaze! — ham sam lam ksham, phat, svaha.
Hymn — Verses 1–2
नमस्ते रुद्ररूपिण्यै नमस्ते मधुमर्दिनि ।
Namaste Rudra Rupinyai Namaste Madhu Mardini
namaste rudrarūpiṇyai namaste madhumardini
Salutations to you in the form of Rudra; salutations, slayer of Madhu;
नमः कैटभहारिण्यै नमस्ते महिषार्दिनि ॥ १ ॥
Namah Kaitabha Harinyai Namaste Mahishardini
namaḥ kaiṭabhahāriṇyai namaste mahiṣārdini
salutations, destroyer of Kaitabha; salutations, slayer of Mahisha.
नमस्ते शुम्भहन्त्र्यै च निशुम्भासुरघातिनि ।
Namaste Shumbha Hantryai Cha Nishumbhasura Ghatini
namaste śumbhahantryai ca niśumbhāsuraghātini
Salutations to the slayer of Shumbha and destroyer of the demon Nishumbha —
जाग्रतं हि महादेवि जपं सिद्धं कुरुष्व मे ॥ २ ॥
Jagratam Hi Mahadevi Japam Siddham Kurushva Me
jāgrataṃ hi mahādevi japaṃ siddhaṃ kuruṣva me
O great Goddess, awaken my japa and make it fruitful.
Verses 3–4 — the seeds explained
ऐङ्कारी सृष्टिरूपायै ह्रीङ्कारी प्रतिपालिका ।
Aimkari Srishti Rupayai Hreemkari Pratipalika
aiṅkārī sṛṣṭirūpāyai hrīṅkārī pratipālikā
As the sound Aim you are creation; as Hreem you are the sustainer;
क्लीङ्कारी कामरूपिण्यै बीजरूपे नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ३ ॥
Kleemkari Kama Rupinyai Bija Rupe Namostu Te
klīṅkārī kāmarūpiṇyai bījarūpe namo'stu te
as Kleem you are desire itself — O you whose form is the seed, salutations to you.
चामुण्डा चण्डघाती च यैकारी वरदायिनी ।
Chamunda Chanda Ghati Cha Yaikari Varadayini
cāmuṇḍā caṇḍaghātī ca yaikārī varadāyinī
You are Chamunda, slayer of Chanda; as the sound “yai” you grant boons;
विच्चे चाभयदा नित्यं नमस्ते मन्त्ररूपिणि ॥ ४ ॥
Vichche Chabhayada Nityam Namaste Mantra Rupini
vicce cābhayadā nityaṃ namaste mantrarūpiṇi
as “vichche” you always give fearlessness — salutations, O you whose form is mantra.
Verses 5–6
धां धीं धूं धूर्जटेः पत्नी वां वीं वूं वागधीश्वरी ।
Dham Dheem Dhoom Dhurjateh Patni Vam Veem Voom Vagadhishvari
dhāṃ dhīṃ dhūṃ dhūrjaṭeḥ patnī vāṃ vīṃ vūṃ vāgadhīśvarī
Dham dheem dhoom — wife of Shiva; vam veem voom — queen of speech;
क्रां क्रीं क्रूं कालिका देवि शां शीं शूं मे शुभं कुरु ॥ ५ ॥
Kram Kreem Kroom Kalika Devi Sham Sheem Shoom Me Shubham Kuru
krāṃ krīṃ krūṃ kālikā devi śāṃ śīṃ śūṃ me śubhaṃ kuru
kram kreem kroom — Goddess Kalika; sham sheem shoom — bring me good fortune.
हुं हुं हुङ्काररूपिण्यै जं जं जं जम्भनादिनी ।
Hum Hum Humkara Rupinyai Jam Jam Jam Jambhanadini
huṃ huṃ huṅkārarūpiṇyai jaṃ jaṃ jaṃ jambhanādinī
Hum hum — you whose form is the sound Hum; jam jam jam — you whose roar crushes;
भ्रां भ्रीं भ्रूं भैरवी भद्रे भवान्यै ते नमो नमः ॥ ६ ॥
Bhram Bhreem Bhroom Bhairavi Bhadre Bhavanyai Te Namo Namah
bhrāṃ bhrīṃ bhrūṃ bhairavī bhadre bhavānyai te namo namaḥ
bhram bhreem bhroom — Bhairavi, gracious one, Bhavani, salutations to you again and again.
Verses 7–8
अं कं चं टं तं पं यं शं वीं दुं ऐं वीं हं क्षं
Am Kam Cham Tam Tam Pam Yam Sham Veem Doom Aim Veem Ham Ksham
aṃ kaṃ caṃ ṭaṃ taṃ paṃ yaṃ śaṃ vīṃ duṃ aiṃ vīṃ haṃ kṣaṃ
Am kam cham tam tam pam yam sham — the seeds of every letter of the alphabet — veem doom aim veem ham ksham,
धिजाग्रं धिजाग्रं त्रोटय त्रोटय दीप्तं कुरु कुरु स्वाहा ॥ ७ ॥
Dhijagram Dhijagram Trotaya Trotaya Diptam Kuru Kuru Svaha
dhijāgraṃ dhijāgraṃ troṭaya troṭaya dīptaṃ kuru kuru svāhā
awaken, awaken; break through, break through; make it shine, make it shine — svaha!
पां पीं पूं पार्वती पूर्णा खां खीं खूं खेचरी तथा ।
Pam Peem Poom Parvati Purna Kham Kheem Khoom Khechari Tatha
pāṃ pīṃ pūṃ pārvatī pūrṇā khāṃ khīṃ khūṃ khecarī tathā
Pam peem poom — Parvati, the complete; kham kheem khoom — she who moves through the sky;
सां सीं सूं सप्तशती देव्या मन्त्रसिद्धिं कुरुष्व मे ॥ ८ ॥
Sam Seem Soom Saptashati Devya Mantra Siddhim Kurushva Me
sāṃ sīṃ sūṃ saptaśatī devyā mantrasiddhiṃ kuruṣva me
sam seem soom — grant me success in the mantra of the Goddess’s Saptashati.
Closing
इदं तु कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रं मन्त्रजागर्तिहेतवे ।
Idam Tu Kunjika Stotram Mantra Jagarti Hetave
idaṃ tu kuñjikāstotraṃ mantrajāgartihetave
This Kunjika hymn exists to awaken the mantra.
अभक्ते नैव दातव्यं गोपितं रक्ष पार्वति ॥
Abhakte Naiva Datavyam Gopitam Raksha Parvati
abhakte naiva dātavyaṃ gopitaṃ rakṣa pārvati
Do not give it to one without devotion; keep it protected, O Parvati.
यस्तु कुञ्जिकया देवि हीनां सप्तशतीं पठेत् ।
Yastu Kunjikaya Devi Hinam Saptashatim Pathet
yastu kuñjikayā devi hīnāṃ saptaśatīṃ paṭhet
O Goddess, one who reads the Saptashati without the Kunjika —
न तस्य जायते सिद्धिररण्ये रोदनं यथा ॥
Na Tasya Jayate Siddhir Aranye Rodanam Yatha
na tasya jāyate siddhiraraṇye rodanaṃ yathā
gains no success; it is like crying in the wilderness.
