The Wisdom of the Mother: A Hymn of the Modern Age
In the world of spiritual hymns, few texts possess the profound philosophical depth of the Durga Pancha Ratnam (Five Jewels to Durga). This five-verse composition is highly distinct because it was authored not in ancient times, but by one of the most revered spiritual figures of the 20th century, H.H. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swami—the Kanchi Paramacharya.
The power of this hymn lies in its ability to reconcile intense devotion (Bhakti) with the ultimate non-dual realization (Advaita). It doesn’t just praise Goddess Durga for killing demons; it praises her as the fundamental, underlying power of the universe.
The Paramacharya composed this text by extracting the very essence of the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, a scripture known for its exploration of Shakti (Divine Energy) and its relationship with the Supreme Being (Parameśvara). By invoking Durga through the lens of this wisdom, the hymn becomes a direct tool for both protection and ultimate liberation.
The Core Refrain: The Dual Purpose
The devotion is beautifully encapsulated in the repeated refrain at the end of each verse:
māṁ pāhi sarveśvari mokṣadātrī “O Goddess of all, O Giver of Liberation, please protect me.”
This phrase instantly defines the dual purpose of the hymn:
1. Protection (Māṁ Pāhi): It acknowledges Durga as Sarveśvari (Ruler of All), capable of protecting the devotee from every worldly distress.
2. Liberation (Mokṣadātrī): Crucially, it asks her to grant Mokṣa (liberation), reminding the seeker that the ultimate goal is not merely a comfortable life, but the cessation of suffering.
Unpacking the Upaniṣadic Jewels
Each of the five verses is a powerful spiritual concept, directly affirming Durga’s identity as the Para Śakti, or Supreme Energy:
– Jewel One: The Hidden Power. This verse states that those engaged in deep meditation (dhyāna-yoga) see her as the Divine Goddess hidden in her own qualities (svaguṇairnigūḍhām). It affirms that the seemingly separate powers and qualities in the universe are all her essence, secretly veiled.
– Jewel Two: The Vedic Voice. It recognizes her as the Self-Power of the Divine (Devātma Śaktiḥ), celebrated in the Vedic texts. She is the presence that grants grace to the great Rishis (sages), being the foundation (pratiṣṭhā) of the ultimate reality (sataḥ).
– Jewel Three: The Natural Law. Directly referencing the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, this verse praises her as the Para Śakti whose power is heard in many ways. It establishes her as the Svābhāvikī Jñāna-Bala-Kriyā—the Inherent Power of Knowledge, Strength, and Action—which drives the cosmos.
– Jewel Four: Cutting the Knot. This verse is key for practical sadhana. It recognizes her as the one famed for cutting the rope of worldly attachment (pāśa-vicchedakarī). The rope (pāśa) that binds the soul to Samsara is severed by her grace, leading the devotee away from rebirth.
– Jewel Five: The Form of Wisdom. The final jewel identifies her with Brahma-Pratiṣṭhā—the foundation of Brahman—a profound concept from the Bhagavad Gītā. She is Jñāna-Svarūpā (the very embodiment of Wisdom), reminding us that seeking Durga is seeking the highest knowledge.
The Gift of Holistic Purity
Reciting the Durga Pancha Ratnam is a highly recommended practice, especially on auspicious days like Fridays and during Navaratri. It works by:
– Elevating Devotion: It transforms ordinary worship into a profound meditation on non-dual truth.
– Granting Clarity: By appealing to the Jñāna-Bala-Kriyā (Knowledge-Power-Action) inherent in the Goddess, the devotee finds their mind clear, their resolve strong, and their efforts fruitful.
– Protection for the Journey: The constant request for protection (māṁ pāhi) ensures safety while the underlying focus on liberation (mokṣadātrī) keeps the spiritual goal always in sight.
The Durga Pancha Ratnam is a precious spiritual inheritance, a clear, logical, and beautiful prayer that asks the Divine Mother to secure our journey in this world while never letting us forget the path out of it.
Durga Pancha Ratnam Stotram Sankrit Lyrics
दुर्गा पञ्च रत्नम्
ते ध्यानयोगानुगता अपश्यन्
त्वामेव देवीं स्वगुणैर्निगूढाम् ।
त्वमेव शक्तिः परमेश्वरस्य
मां पाहि सर्वेश्वरि मोक्षदात्रि ॥ 1 ॥
देवात्मशक्तिः श्रुतिवाक्यगीता
महर्षिलोकस्य पुरः प्रसन्ना ।
गुहा परं व्योम सतः प्रतिष्ठा
मां पाहि सर्वेश्वरि मोक्षदात्रि ॥ 2 ॥
परास्य शक्तिः विविधैव श्रूयसे
श्वेताश्ववाक्योदितदेवि दुर्गे ।
स्वाभाविकी ज्ञानबलक्रिया ते
मां पाहि सर्वेश्वरि मोक्षदात्रि ॥ 3 ॥
देवात्मशब्देन शिवात्मभूता
यत्कूर्मवायव्यवचोविवृत्या
त्वं पाशविच्छेदकरी प्रसिद्धा
मां पाहि सर्वेश्वरि मोक्षदात्रि ॥ 4 ॥
त्वं ब्रह्मपुच्छा विविधा मयूरी
ब्रह्मप्रतिष्ठास्युपदिष्टगीता ।
ज्ञानस्वरूपात्मतयाखिलानां
मां पाहि सर्वेश्वरि मोक्षदात्रि ॥ 5 ॥
इति परमपूज्य श्री चन्द्रशेखरेन्द्र सरस्वती स्वामि कृतं दुर्गा पञ्चरत्नं सम्पूर्णम् ।
Durga Pancha Ratnam Stotram English Lyrics
tē dhyānayōgānugatā apaśyan
tvāmēva dēvīṃ svaguṇairnigūḍhām ।
tvamēva śaktiḥ paramēśvarasya
māṃ pāhi sarvēśvari mōkṣadātri ॥ 1 ॥
dēvātmaśaktiḥ śrutivākyagītā
maharṣilōkasya puraḥ prasannā ।
guhā paraṃ vyōma sataḥ pratiṣṭhā
māṃ pāhi sarvēśvari mōkṣadātri ॥ 2 ॥
parāsya śaktiḥ vividhaiva śrūyasē
śvētāśvavākyōditadēvi durgē ।
svābhāvikī jñānabalakriyā tē
māṃ pāhi sarvēśvari mōkṣadātri ॥ 3 ॥
dēvātmaśabdēna śivātmabhūtā
yatkūrmavāyavyavachōvivṛtyā
tvaṃ pāśavichChēdakarī prasiddhā
māṃ pāhi sarvēśvari mōkṣadātri ॥ 4 ॥
tvaṃ brahmapuchChā vividhā mayūrī
brahmapratiṣṭhāsyupadiṣṭagītā ।
jñānasvarūpātmatayākhilānāṃ
māṃ pāhi sarvēśvari mōkṣadātri ॥ 5 ॥
iti paramapūjya śrī chandraśēkharēndra sarasvatī svāmi kṛtaṃ durgā pañcharatnaṃ sampūrṇam ।
Durga Pancha Ratnam Stotram Video
https://youtu.be/9n1i1DxJSGQ
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