Here is the English translation and philosophical commentary on the 16 verses of the Nārāyaṇī Stuti from Chapter 11 of the Durga Saptashati (also called Devi Mahatmyam), followed by the refrain ”Nārāyaṇī namo’stu te” in each verse. This hymn is the culmination of the Devi’s triumph over evil and an invocation
of her sixteen-fold fullness (ṣoḍasa-kala).

1.Salutation to the Devi, who is welfare in all beings. Sarva mangala māṅgalye śive sarvārtha sādhike śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo’stu te O Auspiciousness in all that is auspicious, O Shiva (beneficent), O accomplisher of every objective, O refuge of all, O three-eyed Gauri, salutation to you, O Nārāyaṇī. Kalā: Maṅgala Kalā — Auspiciousness and the power to bless all endeavors.

2. Devi as Support of the Universe Śaraṇāgata dīnārta paritrāṇa parāyaṇe sarvasyaārtihare devi nārāyaṇi namo’stu te You are the savior of those who are helpless and afflicted, the refuge of all; You remove all suffering, O Devi, O Nārāyaṇī, salutation to you. Kalā: Karunā Kalā — Compassion, the power of protection and refuge.

3. Devi as Consciousness Sarva svarūpe sarveśe sarva śakti samanvite bhayebhyas trāhi no devi durge devi namo’stu te You are the essence of all forms, the ruler of all, and united with all powers; Deliver us from fear, O Durga Devi, salutation to you, O Nārāyaṇī. Kalā: Jñāna Kalā — Supreme Consciousness in all forms.

4. Devi as Mind and Intellect Ete chā sa kalāḥ pūrṇāḥ tvam eva parameshvari tato bhavasi sa sāre sa sāra nava setave These are but your aspects and partial manifestations, O Supreme Lady; You become the boat that helps us cross the ocean of existence. Kalā: Medhā Kalā — Intellect and discriminative insight.

5. Devi as the Sustaining Force Rogān aśeṣān apahamsi tuṣṭā ruṣṭā tu kāmān sakalān abhīṣṭān tvām āśritānā na vipanna rāṇā tvām āśritā hy āśrayatā prayānti When pleased, you destroy all ailments; when displeased, you destroy all desires; Those who take refuge in you never come to grief — you become the refuge itself. Kalā: Dhāraṇa Kalā — The power to sustain and heal.

6 Devi as Māyā and Wisdom Sarva bhūta yaṅā devī bhīteṣu bhaya hāriṇī trailokya vāsinī devī nārāyaṇi namo’stu te O Goddess abiding in all beings, removing the fears of the frightened, Dwelling in the three worlds — O Devi, Nārāyaṇī — salutations to you. Kalā: Māyā Kalā — The power of illusion and cosmic play.

7. Devi as Energy (Shakti) Sarvopadrava śāntyai devyai durgāyai te namah pratyakṣa bhavati trailokya dārikā śakti rūpiṇī To the goddess who brings peace amidst all calamities, to Durga, we bow; You manifest as visible power in the three worlds. Kalā: Kriyā Kalā — Power of divine action and intervention.

8. Devi as Strength and Courage Devi prasīda paripālaye mām bhaktyā hi yenaiva niyataḥ smarāmi tva devi viśva jagatā vadhūnā mātaḥ smṛtā bhavati mokṣa dātrī O Devi, be pleased! Protect me, for with devotion, I always remember you. You are the Mother of the universe, and remembrance of you bestows liberation. Kalā: Icchā Kalā — Divine Will; power to respond to devotion.

9. Devi as Supreme Knowledge Sarvaśruti samudbhūtē sarvākāra kriyātmike sarvaśakti maye devi nārāyaṇi namo’stu te You are born from all sacred texts, the essence of all forms and actions, O Devi, filled with all powers — salutation to you, O Nārāyaṇī! Kalā: Śruti Kalā — The essence of Vedic revelation and eternal wisdom.

10. Devi as the Embodiment of the Vedas Bindu rūpini śakti mālā vitatā śruti mātṛkā svarūpiṇī na māyā tvam para tattva mukti hetu mahēśvarī You are the power behind the seed-point (bindu), you are the garland of energy, You are the very syllables of the Vedas, not mere illusion — but the Supreme Truth and the giver of liberation. Kalā: Mokṣa Kalā — Liberating knowledge and transcendence.

11. Devi as the Fire in Sacrifice Havirbhuja havir dātṛ havya vahana kālikām yaṅyānām adhidaivatya devi sarva namāmy aham You are the offering, the giver of the offering, the receiver of the offering, You are the fire itself — the presiding deity of sacrifices. I bow to you. Kalā: Yajña Kalā — The power behind all sacred rituals and sacrifice.

12. Devi as Righteousness Dharmādharma vidhātrī tva sarva jña sarva dehina mātṛ rūpeṇa sa sthita devī tvām namay aham You ordain dharma and adharma; you are omniscient and reside in all beings in the form of the Mother — O Devi, I bow to you. Kalā: Dharma Kalā — Power of cosmic law, order, and justice.

13. Devi as Night and Day Rātri tvam kālarātriś ca mahā rātriś ca dāruṇā tva śivā śāntā śuddhā sārvāṅgī parameśvarī You are the dark night, the dreadful night, the great night, and also the auspicious night. You are pure, peaceful, pervading all limbs — O Supreme Lady. Kalā: Kāla Kalā — Time and transcendence of time.

14. Devi as Brahmavidya Brahma vidyā mahā vidyā śrī vidyā kāma sevitā kālī hṛllekha kālī ca śabda brahma mayī parā You are the supreme knowledge of Brahman, the great knowledge, the Śrīvidyā adored by those who desire fulfillment; You are Kālī, the power of the heart, the supreme Word-Brahman. Kalā: Para Kalā — Transcendental knowledge and mantra-shakti.

15. Devi as the Source of All Devas Tvam mātā sarva devānā sarva bhūta niḍhārikā tvam mūla prakṛtiḥ śuddhā avyaktā vyakta mūrtayaḥ You are the mother of all gods, the support of all beings. You are the pure root-nature (Mūla Prakṛti), both unmanifest and manifest. Kalā: Prakṛti Kalā — The original nature, manifesting creation.

16. Devi as Victory and Glory Jaya tvam devi chāmunde jaya bhūta hāriṇi jaya sarva gate devi kāla rātri namo’stu te Victory to you, O Devi Chāmunda, destroyer of evil beings. Victory to you, all-pervading goddess, obeisance to you, O Kālarātri. Kalā: Vijaya Kalā — Triumph, glory, and dissolution of negativity.