Verse 1
सर्वे वै देवा देवीमुपतस्थुः । कासि त्वं महादेवि । साब्रवीदहं ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी । मत्तः प्रकृतिपुरुषात्मकं जगच्छून्यं चाशून्यं च । अहमानन्दानानन्दाः विज्ञानाविज्ञाने अहम् । ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मणि वेदितव्ये । इत्याहाथर्वणि श्रुतिः ॥ १॥
sarve vai devā devīmupatasthuḥ . kāsi tvaṃ mahādevi . sābravīdahṃ brahmasvarūpiṇī . mattaḥ prakṛtipuruṣātmakaṃ jagacchūnyaṃ cāśūnyaṃ ca . ahamānandānānandāḥ vijñānāvijñāne aham . brahmā brahmaṇi veditavye . ityāhātharvaṇi śrutiḥ .. 1..
All the gods approached the Goddess and asked, 'Who are You, O Great Goddess?' She replied, 'I am the form of Brahman. From Me originates the world consisting of Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (spirit), the void and the non-void. I am bliss and non-bliss. I am knowledge and ignorance. I am Brahman and non-Brahman. Thus says the Atharva Veda.
Verse 2
अहं पञ्चभूतान्यपञ्चभूतानि । अहमखिलं जगत् । वेदोऽहमवेदोऽहम् । विद्याहमविद्याहम् । अजाहमनजाहम् । अधश्चोर्ध्वं च तिर्यक्चाहम् । अहं रुद्रेभिर्वसुभिश्चराम्यहमादित्यैरुत विश्वदेवैः । अहं मित्रावरुणावुभौ बिभर्म्यहमिन्द्राग्नी अहमश्विनावुभौ । अहं सोमं त्वष्टारं पूषणं भगं दधाम्यहम् । विष्णुमुरुक्रमं ब्रह्माणमुत प्रजापतिं दधामि । अहं दधामि द्रविणं हविष्मते सुप्राव्ये ३ यजमानाय सुन्वते ॥ २॥
ahaṃ pañcabhūtānyapañcabhūtāni . ahamakhilaṃ jagat . vedo’hamavedo’ham . vidyāhamavidyāham . ajāhamanajāham . adhaścordhvaṃ ca tiryakcāham . ahaṃ rudrebhirvasubhiścarāmyahamādityairuta viśvadevaiḥ . ahaṃ mitrāvaruṇāvubhau bibharmyahamindrāgnī ahamaśvināvubhau . ahaṃ somaṃ tvaṣṭāraṃ pūṣaṇaṃ bhagaṃ dadhāmyaham . viṣṇumurukramaṃ brahmāṇamuta prajāpatiṃ dadhāmi . ahaṃ dadhāmi draviṇaṃ haviṣmate suprāvye 3 yajamānāya sunvate .. 2..
I am the five elements and the non-elements. I am the entire universe. I am the Veda and the non-Veda. I am knowledge and ignorance. I am the unborn and the born. I am below, above, and across. I move with the Rudras and the Vasus, with the Adityas and the All-Gods (Vishvadevas). I support Mitra and Varuna, Indra and Agni, and the two Ashvins. I support Soma, Tvashtar, Pushan, and Bhaga. I support Vishnu the wide-stepper, Brahma, and Prajapati. I grant wealth to the sacrificer who offers oblations and presses the Soma.
Verse 3
अहं राष्ट्री सङ्गमनी वसूनामहं सुवे पितरमस्य मूर्धन्मम योनिरप्स्वन्तः समुद्रे । य एवं वेद स देवीपदमाप्नोति । ते देवा अब्रुवन् । नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः । नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम् ॥ ३॥
ahaṃ rāṣṭrī saṅgamanī vasūnāmahaṃ suve pitaramasya mūrdhanmama yonirapsvantaḥ samudre . ya evaṃ veda sa devīpadamāpnoti . te devā abruvan . namo devyai mahādevyai śivāyai satataṃ namaḥ . namaḥ prakṛtyai bhadrāyai niyatāḥ praṇatāḥ sma tām .. 3..
I am the Empress, the gatherer of treasures. I bring forth the Father (Sky) at the summit. My womb is in the waters, in the deep ocean. He who knows this attains the abode of the Devi. The gods said: 'Salutations to the Goddess, the Great Goddess; to Shiva (the Auspicious One), constant salutations. Salutations to Prakriti (Nature), the Gracious One; we humble ourselves before Her.'
Verse 4
तामग्निवर्णां तपसा ज्वलन्तीं वैरोचनीं कर्मफलेषु जुष्टाम् । दुर्गां देवीं शरणमहं प्रपद्ये सुतरां नाशयते तमः ॥ ४॥
tāmagnivarṇāṃ tapasā jvalantīṃ vairocanīṃ karmaphaleṣu juṣṭām . durgāṃ devīṃ śaraṇamahaṃ prapadye sutarāṃ nāśayate tamaḥ .. 4..
To Her who is the color of fire, burning with ascetic heat, the Resplendent One, who is sought for the fruit of actions—to that Durga, the Goddess, I take refuge. May She destroy the darkness entirely.
Verse 5
देवीं वाचमजनयन्त देवास्तां विश्वरूपाः पशवो वदन्ति । सा नो मन्द्रेशमूर्जं दुहाना धेनुर्वागस्मानुपसुष्टुतैतु ॥ ५॥
devīṃ vācamajanayanta devāstāṃ viśvarūpāḥ paśavo vadanti . sā no mandreṣamūrjaṃ duhānā dhenurvāgasmānupasuṣṭutaitu .. 5..
The gods generated the Goddess Vach (Speech), whom animals of all forms speak. May that Cow (Speech), yielding nourishment and strength, approach us who praise her well.
Verse 6
कालरात्रिं ब्रह्मस्तुतां वैष्णवीं स्कन्दमातरम् । सरस्वतीमदितिं दक्षदुहितरं नमामः पावनां शिवाम् ॥ ६॥
kālarātriṃ brahmastutāṃ vaiṣṇavīṃ skandamātaram . sarasvatīmaditiṃ dakṣaduhitaraṃ namāmaḥ pāvanāṃ śivām .. 6..
We bow to Kalaratri (the Dark Night), praised by Brahma, to the Power of Vishnu (Vaishnavi), to the Mother of Skanda, to Saraswati, to Aditi the daughter of Daksha, the Purifier, the Auspicious One.
Verse 7
महालक्ष्मीश्च विद्महे सर्वसिद्धिश्च धीमहि । तन्नो देवी प्रचोदयात् ॥ ७॥
mahālakṣmīśca vidmahe sarvasiddhiśca dhīmahi . tanno devī pracodayāt .. 7..
We know Mahalakshmi and we meditate on the Bestower of all Success (Sarvasiddhi). May that Goddess inspire and guide us.
Verse 8
अदितिर्ह्यजनिष्ट दक्ष या दुहिता तव । तां देवा अन्वजायन्त भद्रा अमृतबन्धवः ॥ ८॥
aditirhyajaniṣṭa dakṣa yā duhitā tava . tāṃ devā anvajāyanta bhadrā amṛtabandhavaḥ .. 8..
Aditi was born, O Daksha, she who is your daughter. After her were born the gods, the auspicious kinsmen of immortality.
Verse 9
कामो योनिः कामकला वज्रपाणिर्गुहा हसा । मातरिश्वाभ्रमिन्द्रः पुनर्गुहा सकला मायया च पुनः कोशा विश्वमाता दिवि द्योम् ॥ ९॥
kāmo yoniḥ kāmakalā vajrapāṇirguhā hasā . mātariśvābhramindraḥ punarguhā sakalā māyayā ca punaḥ kośā viśvamātā divi dyom .. 9..
This verse describes the Panchadashi Mantra: Kama (Ka), Yoni (E), Kamakala (I), Vajrapani (La), Guha (Hrim), Hasa (Ha, Sa), Matarishva (Ka), Abhra (Ha), Indra (La), again Guha (Hrim), Sakala (Sa, Ka, La), and with Maya (Hrim). This is the World-Mother, the Divine Light.
Verse 10
एषात्मशक्तिः । एषा विश्वमोहिनी पाशाङ्कुशधनुर्बाणधरा । एषा श्रीमहाविद्या । य एवं वेद स शोकं तरति । नमस्ते अस्तु भगवति भवति मातरस्मान्पातु सर्वतः । सैषाष्टौ वसवः । सैषैकादश रुद्राः । सैषा द्वादशादित्याः । सैषा विश्वेदेवाः सोमपा असोमपाश्च । सैषा यातुधानु असुरा रक्षांसि पिशाचयक्षाः सिद्धाः । सैषा सत्त्वरजस्तमांसि । सैषा प्रजापतीन्द्रमनवः । सैषा ग्रहा नक्षत्रज्योतींषि कलाकाष्ठादिकालरूपिणी । तामहं प्रणौमि नित्यम् । तापापहारिणीं देवीं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनीम् । अनन्तां विजयां शुद्धां शरण्यां शिवदां शिवाम् ॥ १०॥
eṣātmaśaktiḥ . eṣā viśvamohinī pāśāṅkuśadhanurbāṇadharā . eṣā śrīmahāvidyā . ya evaṃ veda sa śokaṃ tarati . namaste astu bhagavati bhavati mātarasmānpātu sarvataḥ . saiṣāṣṭau vasavaḥ . saiṣaikādaśa rudrāḥ . saiṣā dvādaśādityāḥ . saiṣā viśvedevāḥ somapā asomapāśca . saiṣā yātudhānu asurā rakṣāṃsi piśācayakṣāḥ siddhāḥ . saiṣā sattvarajastamāṃsi . saiṣā prajāpatīndramanavaḥ . saiṣā grahā nakṣatrajyotīṃṣi kalākāṣṭhādikālarūpiṇī . tāmahaṃ praṇaumi nityam . tāpāpahāriṇīṃ devīṃ bhuktimuktipradāyinīm . anantāṃ vijayāṃ śuddhāṃ śaraṇyāṃ śivadāṃ śivām .. 10..
She is the Power of the Self. She is the Enchantress of the Universe, holding the noose, goad, bow, and arrows. She is the Great Knowledge (Mahavidya). He who knows this crosses grief. Salutations to you, O Bhagavati; O Mother, protect us from all sides. She is the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, the twelve Adityas. She is the All-Gods, those who drink Soma and those who do not. She is the goblins, demons, evil spirits, ghosts, Yakshas, and Siddhas. She is Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. She is Prajapati, Indra, and the Manus. She is the planets, stars, and luminaries; She is the form of Time. I bow to Her forever, the remover of suffering, the granter of enjoyment and liberation, the Infinite, the Victorious, the Pure, the Refuge, the Giver of auspiciousness, the Auspicious One.
Verse 11
वियदाकारसंयुक्तं वीतिहोत्रसमन्वितम् । अर्धेन्दुलसितं देव्या बीजं सर्वार्थसाधकम् ॥ ११॥
viyadākārasaṃyuktaṃ vītihotrasamanvitam . ardhendulasitaṃ devyā bījaṃ sarvārthasādhakam .. 11..
Combined with the syllable of the sky (Ha), united with the fire (Ra), adorned with the half-moon (Bindu)—this is the seed-mantra (Bija Hrim) of the Goddess, which achieves all ends.
Verse 12
एवमेकाक्षरं मन्त्रं यतयः शुद्धचेतसः । ध्यायन्ति परमानन्दमया ज्ञानाम्बुराशयः ॥ १२॥
evamekākṣaraṃ mantraṃ yatayaḥ śuddhacetasaḥ . dhyāyanti paramānandamayā jñānāmburāśayaḥ .. 12..
Thus, the ascetics of pure mind, who are oceans of knowledge and filled with supreme bliss, meditate on this single-syllabled mantra.
Verse 13
वाङ्मया ब्रह्मभूतस्मात्षष्ठं वक्त्रसमन्वितम् । सूर्यो वामश्रोत्रबिन्दुः संयुताष्टकतृतीयकः ॥ १३॥
vāṅmayā brahmabhūtasmātṣaṣṭhaṃ vaktrasamanvitam . sūryo vāmaśrotrabinduḥ saṃyutāṣṭakatṛtīyakaḥ .. 13..
Speech (Aim), the source of Brahman (Hrim), the sixth letter (Kli), combined with the face (Cha), the Sun (M), the left ear (u), the dot (Bindu), combined with the third of the eighth group (Da).
Verse 14
नारायणेन संयुक्तो वायुश्चाधरसंयुतः । विच्चे नवार्णकोऽर्णः स्यान्महदानन्ददायकः ॥ १४॥
nārāyaṇena saṃyukto vāyuścādharasaṃyutaḥ . vicce navārṇako’rṇaḥ syānmahadānandadāyakaḥ .. 14..
Combined with Narayana (A), and Vayu (Y) combined with the lips (Ai), and 'vicce'. This consists of nine syllables (Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicce) and is the giver of great bliss.
Verse 15
हृत्पुण्डरीकमध्यस्थां प्रातःसूर्यसमप्रभाम् । पाशाङ्कुशधरां सौम्यां वरदाभयहस्तकाम् । त्रिनेत्रां रक्तवसनां भक्तकामदुघां भजे ॥ १५॥
hṛtpuṇḍarīkamadhyasthāṃ prātaḥsūryasamaprabhām . pāśāṅkuśadharāṃ saumyāṃ varadābhayahastakām . trinetrāṃ raktavasanāṃ bhaktakāmadughāṃ bhaje .. 15..
I worship Her who dwells in the center of the lotus of the heart, resplendent like the morning sun, holding the noose and goad, gentle, with hands showing the gestures of boon-giving and fearlessness, three-eyed, wearing red garments, granting the desires of devotees.
Verse 16
नमामि त्वामहं देवीं महाभयविनाशिनीम् । महादुर्गप्रशमनीं महाकारुण्यरूपिणीम् ॥ १६॥
namāmi tvāmahaṃ devīṃ mahābhayavināśinīm . mahādurgapraśamanīṃ mahākāruṇyarūpiṇīm .. 16..
I bow to you, O Goddess, destroyer of great fear, pacifier of great difficulties, the embodiment of great compassion.
Verse 17
यस्याः स्वरूपं ब्रह्मादयो न जानन्ति तस्मादुच्यतेऽज्ञेया । यस्या अन्तो न विद्यते तस्मादुच्यतेऽनन्ता । यस्या ग्रहणं नोपलभ्यते तस्मादुच्यतेऽलक्ष्या । यस्या जननं नोपलभ्यते तस्मादुच्यतेऽजा । एकैव सर्वत्र वर्तते तस्मादुच्यत एका । एकैव विश्वरूपिणी तस्मादुच्यते नैका ऽत एवोच्यतेऽज्ञेयानन्तालक्ष्याजैका नैकेति । मन्त्राणां मातृका देवी शब्दानां ज्ञानरूपिणी । ज्ञानानां चिन्मयातीता शून्यानां शून्यसाक्षिणी ॥ १७॥
yasyāḥ svarūpaṃ brahmādayo na jānanti tasmāducyate’jñeyā . yasyā anto na vidyate tasmāducyate’nantā . yasyā grahaṇaṃ nopalabhyate tasmāducyate’lakṣyā . yasyā jananaṃ nopalabhyate tasmāducyate’jā . ekaiva sarvatra vartate tasmāducyata ekā . ekaiva viśvarūpiṇī tasmāducyate naikā ’ta evocyate’jñeyānantālakṣyājaikā naiketi . mantrāṇāṃ mātṛkā devī śabdānāṃ jñānarūpiṇī . jñānānāṃ cinmayātītā śūnyānāṃ śūnyasākṣiṇī .. 17..
Brahma and others do not know Her true nature, hence She is called the Unknowable (Ajneya). She has no end, hence She is called the Infinite (Ananta). Her grasp is not perceived, hence She is called the Imperceptible (Alakshya). Her birth is not found, hence She is called the Unborn (Aja). She alone exists everywhere, hence She is called the One (Eka). She alone takes the form of the universe, hence She is called the Many (Naika). Therefore, She is called Unknowable, Infinite, Imperceptible, Unborn, One, and Many. The Goddess is the source (Matrika) of mantras, the knowledge-form of words, the transcendental consciousness beyond knowledge, the witness of the void in voids.
Verse 18
यस्याः परतरं नास्ति सैषा दुर्गा प्रकीर्तिता । दुर्गात्संत्रायते यस्माद्देवी दुर्गेति कथ्यते ॥ १८॥
yasyāḥ parataraṃ nāsti saiṣā durgā prakīrtitā . durgātsaṃtrāyate yasmāddevī durgeti kathyate .. 18..
She beyond whom there is nothing is celebrated as Durga. Since She saves from difficult situations (Durga), the Goddess is called Durga.
Verse 19
प्रपद्ये शरणं देवीं दुंदुर्गे दुरितं हर । तां दुर्गां दुर्गमां देवीं दुराचारविघातिनीम् । नमामि भवभीतोऽहं संसारार्णवतारिणीम् ॥ १९॥
prapadye śaraṇaṃ devīṃ duṃdurge duritaṃ hara . tāṃ durgāṃ durgamāṃ devīṃ durācāravighātinīm . namāmi bhavabhīto’haṃ saṃsārārṇavatāriṇīm .. 19..
I take refuge in the Goddess; O Dum Durga, remove my distress. To that Durga, the unapproachable Goddess, the destroyer of bad conduct, I bow, afraid of existence, to Her who carries one across the ocean of worldly existence.
Verse 20
इदमथर्वशीर्षं योऽधीते पञ्चाथर्वशीर्षजपफलमवाप्नोति । इदमथर्वशीर्षं ज्ञात्वा योऽर्चां स्थापयति । शतलक्षं प्रजप्त्वापि सोऽर्चासिद्धिं च विन्दति । शतमष्टोत्तरं चास्याः पुरश्चर्याविधिः स्मृतः ॥ २०॥
idamatharvaśīrṣaṃ yo’dhīte pañcātharvaśīrṣajapaphalamāpnoti . idamatharvaśīrṣaṃ jñātvā yo’rcāṃ sthāpayati . śatalakṣaṃ prajaptvāpi so’rcāsiddhiṃ ca vindati . śatamaṣṭottaraṃ cāsyāḥ puraścaryāvidhiḥ smṛtaḥ .. 20..
He who studies this Atharvashirsha obtains the fruit of reciting the five Atharvashirshas. He who, knowing this Atharvashirsha, installs an image (and worships), even by reciting it a hundred thousand times, attains the perfection of worship. One hundred and eight repetitions are known as the method of Purascharana for this.