Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
The great hymn from the Devi Mahatmya that sees the Divine Mother in everything — as consciousness, wisdom, sleep, hunger, strength, peace, faith, beauty and compassion — bowing to her again and again in every form.
From the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), chapter 5
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Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu
Son of Kali · Sacred Navaratri Chants
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति शब्दिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Vishnu Mayeti Shabdita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu viṣṇumāyeti śabditā
The Goddess who, in all beings, is called the power of Vishnu’s maya —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु चेतनेत्यभिधीयते ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Chetanetyabhidhiyate
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu cetanetyabhidhīyate
The Goddess who, in all beings, is known as consciousness —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Buddhi Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu buddhirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as intelligence —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु निद्रारूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Nidra Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu nidrārūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as sleep —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षुधारूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Kshudha Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu kṣudhārūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as hunger —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु छायारूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Chhaya Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu chāyārūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as shadow, as shelter —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shakti Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śaktirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as power, as energy —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तृष्णारूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Trishna Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu tṛṣṇārūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as thirst, as longing —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Kshanti Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu kṣāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as patience and forgiveness —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु जातिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Jati Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu jātirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as birth and kinship —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लज्जारूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Lajja Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu lajjārūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as modesty and humility —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shanti Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as peace —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु श्रद्धारूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shraddha Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śraddhārūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as faith —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु कान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Kanti Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu kāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as beauty and radiance —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Lakshmi Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu lakṣmīrūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as Lakshmi, good fortune —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु वृत्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Vritti Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu vṛttirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as livelihood and activity —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु स्मृतिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Smriti Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu smṛtirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as memory —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु दयारूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Daya Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu dayārūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as compassion —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तुष्टिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Tushti Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu tuṣṭirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as contentment —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Matri Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu mātṛrūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings as the Mother —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु भ्रान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Bhranti Rupena Samsthita
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu bhrāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
The Goddess who dwells in all beings even as illusion —
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her — again and again I bow.
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu comes from the Devi Mahatmya (also called the Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path), the great scripture of the Goddess, in the hymn the gods sing in its fifth chapter. It is chanted everywhere during Navaratri and Durga Puja.
The structure is simple and hypnotic. Each verse begins yā devī sarvabhūteṣu… — “the Goddess who dwells in all beings as…” — and names one quality: consciousness, intelligence, sleep, hunger, shadow, power, thirst, patience, kinship, modesty, peace, faith, beauty, good fortune, livelihood, memory, compassion, contentment, motherhood — even illusion. Then comes the refrain: namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ — “I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her, again and again.”
The teaching is radical and tender: the Goddess is not only in temples or in grand moments. She is present in our tiredness and our hunger, in our memory and our faith, in every mother and in every act of compassion. To see her everywhere is to treat all of life as sacred.
In the Devi Mahatmya, the demon brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha conquered the three worlds and drove out the gods. The gods went to the Himalaya, to the banks of the Ganga, and began to sing praises to the Goddess — and this hymn is part of that song.
As they sang, Parvati came to bathe in the river, and from her body emerged a radiant goddess, Ambika, who would go on to defeat the demons. The hymn is the gods remembering that the Mother they seek is already everywhere.
The last form named is bhrānti — confusion or illusion. It may seem strange to bow to illusion, but in the Devi Mahatmya the Goddess is also Mahamaya, the great power that veils reality.
The same power that hides the truth can reveal it. By honouring her even in confusion, the devotee asks the Mother to lift the veil.
When to chant
How many times
Once through all 21 forms is a complete practice. Many repeat a single form (for example “śakti-rūpeṇa”) 108 times as a meditation.
Light a lamp before an image of the Goddess, or simply close your eyes.
Listen to the recording and join in on the repeated refrain.
With each verse, think of where that quality appears in your own life.
Bow slightly (or simply in your heart) on each “namastasyai.”
Finish by sitting quietly with a sense of the Mother all around you.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
sarvabhūteṣu
sar-va-bhoo-tay-shu — “in all beings.”
rūpeṇa
roo-pay-na, ṇ with the tongue curled back — “in the form of.”
saṃsthitā
sum-sthi-taa — “dwelling.”
namastasyai
na-mus-tus-yai — “I bow to her,” ending like “eye.”
The music
by Son of Kali
What does Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu mean?
“The Goddess who dwells in all beings.” Each verse continues “…in the form of” a quality such as power, peace or compassion, and ends “I bow to her again and again.”
Where does Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu come from?
It is from chapter 5 of the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), part of the Markandeya Purana, in the hymn sung by the gods to the Goddess.
When is it chanted?
Especially during Navaratri and Durga Puja, and on Fridays, Tuesdays and Ashtami.
What is the meaning of “Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah”?
“Salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations again and again.” The repetition expresses wholehearted devotion.
How many forms of the Goddess are named?
The popular version names 21 forms, from Vishnumaya (the power of Vishnu) and consciousness to illusion. The full Devi Mahatmya hymn repeats each with slight variations.