Durga Saptashati
The Devi Mahatmya — 700 verses in 13 chapters across three caritas. This is the chapter outline and the nine-day reading map.
Durga Saptashati
The Durga Saptashati — also called the Devi Mahatmya or Chandi Path — is a scripture of 700 verses in 13 chapters, forming part of the Markandeya Purana. It is recited through the nine days of Navratri. What follows is an outline only: the chapter structure and themes. The text divides into three caritas (narrative cycles) — Prathama (chapter 1), Madhyama (chapters 2–4), and Uttama (chapters 5–13) — associated respectively with Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati.
The thirteen chapters
Prathama Charita
मधुकैटभ-वध
The Slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha
King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi, both stripped of all they had, take refuge with the sage Medhas, who narrates the Devi's glory. As Yoga-nidra she wakes Vishnu, who then slays the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. The whole of the Prathama Charita.
Madhyama Charita
महिषासुर-सैन्य-वध
The Destruction of Mahishasura's Army
The buffalo-demon Mahishasura conquers heaven. From the combined tejas of all the gods the Devi takes form — many-armed, lion-mounted, bearing every weapon — and her host shatters the demon army.
महिषासुर-वध
The Slaying of Mahishasura
The duel itself — Mahishasura shifts between buffalo, lion, elephant, and man. The Devi pins him down and severs his head, and from this episode is known as Mahishasura-mardini.
शक्रादि-स्तुति
The Hymn of Indra and the Gods
After Mahishasura is slain, Indra and the gods sing the Shakradi Stuti — the hymn of praise that begins "śakrādayaḥ suragaṇāḥ" — extolling the Devi as the supreme power in whom the strength of all the gods is gathered. The close of the Madhyama Charita.
Uttama Charita
देवी-दूत-संवाद
The Devi and the Demons' Messenger
The demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, hearing of the Devi's beauty, send a messenger to demand her. She sets her condition: only the one who defeats her in battle may win her. The Uttama Charita opens.
धूम्रलोचन-वध
The Slaying of Dhumralochana
Shumbha sends his general Dhumralochana to seize the Devi. She reduces him to ashes with a single cry, and her lion devours his host.
चण्डमुण्ड-वध
The Slaying of Chanda and Munda
The generals Chanda and Munda attack. From the Devi's brow springs Kali, who slays them both — and from this episode the Devi is called Chamunda.
रक्तबीज-वध
The Slaying of Raktabija
The demon Raktabija multiplies from every drop of his blood that touches the earth. The seven Matrikas join the battle, and Kali drinks his blood as it falls, ending him.
निशुम्भ-वध
The Slaying of Nishumbha
Nishumbha himself enters the field. After a long duel the Devi vanquishes him.
शुम्भ-वध
The Slaying of Shumbha
Shumbha taunts the Devi for fighting with the help of many goddesses. She withdraws all her forms into herself — "all these are but my own forms" — and slays him in single combat.
नारायणी-स्तुति
The Hymn to Narayani
The gods sing the Narayani Stuti, praising the Devi as the universal mother. She grants the boon that those who recite the Mahatmya on the appointed days will be freed from calamity.
भगवती-वाक्य
The Devi's Promise
The Devi declares the fruits of reciting the Mahatmya (the phala-shruti), and promises to incarnate again and again whenever dharma is endangered.
सुरथ-वैश्य-वरप्रदान
Suratha and the Merchant Receive Their Boons
King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi worship the Devi for three years. She appears and grants their boons — a kingdom restored and a coming birth as a Manu for the king, releasing knowledge for the merchant. The frame story closes.
The nine-day reading
Chapter 1
Prathama Charita — the Mahakali tattva.
Chapter 2 · 3 · 4
Madhyama Charita — the slaying of Mahishasura.
Chapter 5 · 6 · 7 · 8
The Uttama Charita opens; the Chamunda episode.
Chapter 9 · 10
The slaying of Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Chapter 11
The Narayani Stuti.
Chapter 12
The Devi's promise of future incarnations.
Chapter 13
Suratha and the merchant receive their boons.
Chapter 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13
A re-reading of all thirteen chapters on Maha Ashtami.
Chapter 11 · 12 · 13
The closing — the hymn and phala-shruti chapters.
This is one widely-used distribution of the thirteen chapters across the nine days. Some lineages read all thirteen chapters every day; others group the days differently. A reader should follow the practice of their family or guru.
This is an outline — the 700 verses are not reproduced here.