Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu is the hymn the gods sing to the Goddess in the Devi Mahatmya. Each verse sees the Devi in a different part of life, such as intelligence, sleep, hunger or peace. Then it bows to her 3 times.
Its repeating line, namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah, is one of the best-known chants of Navaratri. This page gives the full hymn in Sanskrit with transliteration and the meaning of every verse in simple English.
In this article
Where the Hymn Comes From
The Devi Mahatmya is part of the Markandeya Purana. It is also called Durga Saptashati, the 700 verses to Durga, and it is read in full during Navaratri.
In chapter 5 the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha take over heaven and drive out the gods. The gods go to the Himalaya and remember the goddess who once saved them from Mahisha. There they sing this hymn to call her.
It is also called the Aparajita Stuti, the hymn to the unconquered goddess. In answer to it, Parvati appears, and from her body comes the goddess Ambika, who goes on to defeat the demons.
How to Recite Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu
Recite it during Navaratri, or daily in the morning or evening.
Sit before an image of the Devi and light a lamp. A red flower or kumkum can be offered.
Say the refrain slowly after each verse. Many people bow with folded hands at each namah.
If time is short, recite verses 6 to 26, the ya devi verses, on their own.
Pause on the quality named in each verse. The hymn asks you to see the goddess in it.
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Lyrics with Meaning
The hymn has 28 verses in this popular form, given here in 3 parts.
Verses 1 to 5: Salutations to the Great Goddess
नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः ।
नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम् ॥१॥Namo devyai mahadevyai shivayai satatam namah |
namah prakrityai bhadrayai niyatah pranatah sma tam || 1 ||
Meaning: Salutations to the Devi, to the Great Goddess, to the auspicious one, salutations always. Salutations to Prakriti, to the kind one; with a steady mind we bow to her.
रौद्रायै नमो नित्यायै गौर्यै धात्र्यै नमो नमः ।
ज्योत्स्नायै चेन्दुरूपिण्यै सुखायै सततं नमः ॥२॥Raudrayai namo nityayai gauryai dhatryai namo namah |
jyotsnayai chendurupinyai sukhayai satatam namah || 2 ||
Meaning: Salutations to the fierce one, to the eternal one, to Gauri, to the one who supports all, salutations again and again. Salutations always to her who is moonlight, who has the form of the moon, who is happiness.
कल्याण्यै प्रणता वृद्धयै सिद्धयै कुर्मो नमो नमः ।
नैर्ऋत्यै भूभृतां लक्ष्म्यै शर्वाण्यै ते नमो नमः ॥३॥Kalyanyai pranata vriddhayai siddhayai kurmo namo namah |
nairrityai bhubhritam lakshmyai sharvanyai te namo namah || 3 ||
Meaning: Bowing, we offer salutations again and again to the auspicious one, to growth and to success. Salutations again and again to you who are Nairriti, the prosperity of kings, and Sharvani.
दुर्गायै दुर्गपारायै सारायै सर्वकारिण्यै ।
ख्यात्यै तथैव कृष्णायै धूम्रायै सततं नमः ॥४॥Durgayai durgaparayai sarayai sarvakarinyai |
khyatyai tathaiva krishnayai dhumrayai satatam namah || 4 ||
Meaning: Salutations to Durga, who carries us across what is hard to cross, to the essence, to the maker of all. Salutations always to fame, to the dark one and to the smoky one.
अतिसौम्यातिरौद्रायै नतास्तस्यै नमो नमः ।
नमो जगत्प्रतिष्ठायै देव्यै कृत्यै नमो नमः ॥५॥Atisaumyatiraudrayai natastasyai namo namah |
namo jagatpratishthayai devyai krityai namo namah || 5 ||
Meaning: We bow to her who is most gentle and most fierce; salutations to her again and again. Salutations to the ground of the world, to the goddess who is action, salutations again and again.
Verses 6 to 26: The Devi in All Beings
Each of these verses ends with the same line, namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah. It means: salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति शब्दिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥६॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Vishnumayeti shabdita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 6 ||
Meaning: The Devi is called Vishnumaya in all beings. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु चेतनेत्यभिधीयते ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥७॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu chetanetyabhidhiyate |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 7 ||
Meaning: The Devi is known as consciousness in all beings. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥८॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu buddhirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 8 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of intelligence. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु निद्रारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥९॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu nidrarupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 9 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of sleep. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षुधारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१०॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu kshudharupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 10 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of hunger. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु छायारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥११॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu chhayarupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 11 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of shadow. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१२॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu shaktirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 12 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of power. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तृष्णारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१३॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu trishnarupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 13 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of thirst. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१४॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu kshantirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 14 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of patience. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु जातिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१५॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu jatirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 15 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of birth and kind. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लज्जारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१६॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu lajjarupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 16 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of modesty. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१७॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu shantirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 17 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of peace. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु श्रद्धारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१८॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu shraddharupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 18 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of faith. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु कान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१९॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu kantirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 19 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of beauty. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२०॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu lakshmirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 20 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of good fortune. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु वृत्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२१॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu vrittirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 21 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of activity. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु स्मृतिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२२॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu smritirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 22 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of memory. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु दयारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२३॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu dayarupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 23 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of compassion. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तुष्टिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२४॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu tushtirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 24 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of contentment. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२५॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu matrirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 25 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of mother. Salutations to her again and again.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु भ्रान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२६॥Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu bhrantirupena samsthita |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 26 ||
Meaning: The Devi lives in all beings in the form of delusion. Salutations to her again and again.
Verses 27 to 28: The Consciousness in All
इन्द्रियाणामधिष्ठात्री भुतानां चाखिलेषु या ।
भूतेषु सततं तस्यै व्याप्तिदेव्यै नमो नमः ॥२७॥Indriyanamadhishthatri bhutanam chakhileshu ya |
bhuteshu satatam tasyai vyaptidevyai namo namah || 27 ||
Meaning: She rules over the senses of all beings and is always present in them. Salutations again and again to her, the goddess who pervades all.
चितिरूपेण या कृत्स्नमेतद्व्याप्य स्थिता जगत् ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२८॥Chitirupena ya kritsnametadvyapya sthita jagat |
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah || 28 ||
Meaning: She pervades this whole world and lives in it as pure consciousness. Salutations to her again and again.
Source: Markandeya Purana, Devi Mahatmya, chapter 5. The transliteration and English meaning are by Vedicmarga.
What the Hymn Teaches
The hymn finds the goddess in intelligence and memory, and also in sleep, hunger, thirst and even delusion. It treats every state of the mind as a form of the same power. Reciting it is a way to bow to that power in daily life, whatever the day brings.
Devotees recite it for peace of mind, for faith, and for the protection of the Devi during Navaratri and in times of trouble.
The Devi and Rahu in Your Chart
In Vedic astrology, worship of Durga is a common remedy for Rahu. Rahu brings fear and false ideas, and this hymn names even delusion (bhranti) as a form of the goddess. Read more about Rahu in Vedic astrology.
Recite it during a Rahu dasha, or when Rahu sits with the Moon and the mind feels restless. For the story of the buffalo demon, read Mahishasura Mardini Stotram.
To see how Rahu works in your own chart, book a Vedic astrology consultation.
Summary
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu is the gods' hymn to the Devi from chapter 5 of the Devi Mahatmya. It bows to her as the power that lives in every being, in every state from intelligence to sleep. Recite it during Navaratri or daily, saying the refrain after each verse, and pause on the quality each verse names.
