Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali — Durga Aarti — Word-by-Word Meaning
अम्बे तू है जगदम्बे काली
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
अम्बे
Ambe
O Mother (Amba) — the Divine Mother
जगदम्बे
Jagdambe
Mother of the whole world (Jagat + Amba)
खप्पर वाली
Khappar Wali
She who bears the khappar (skull-bowl) — fierce form of the Goddess
सिंह सवारी
Sinh Sawari
She who rides the lion
दस भुजाओं वाली
Das Bhujaon Wali
The ten-armed Goddess
दुखियों के दुखड़े निवारती
Dukhiyon Ke Dukhde Nivarti
Remover of the sorrows of the suffering
ना सुनी कुमाता
Na Suni Kumata
A bad mother is never heard of (a child may stray, but a mother never abandons)
छोटा सा कोना
Chhota Sa Kona
A small corner (in your heart) — all the devotee asks for
Complete Translation
You are Amba, Mother of the world, Kali; victory to Durga who bears the skull-bowl. Bharati sings your praises — O Mother, we all offer you this aarti.
Great trouble has fallen upon your devotees, O Mother; fall upon the army of demons, riding your lion. Mightier than a hundred lions, ten-armed one, remover of the sorrows of the suffering — O Mother, we offer you this aarti.
The bond of mother and child in this world is the purest of all. There may be a wayward child, but never a bad mother. You who show compassion to all and rain down nectar — O Mother, we offer you this aarti.
We ask not for wealth or riches, neither silver nor gold; we ask only, O Mother, for a small corner in your heart.
Origin & History
Source: Traditional Hindi Durga aarti
Author: Traditional
Period: Traditional
This beloved aarti pictures the Goddess as both the fierce, lion-riding, ten-armed slayer of demons and the infinitely tender mother. Its genius is the turn at the end: after praising her power, the devotee asks for nothing of the world — no silver, no gold — but only 'a small corner' in the Mother's heart. That single line has made it one of the most quoted expressions of selfless devotion in Hindi, sung in homes and temples across North India every Navratri.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali' mean?▼
'You are Amba, the Mother of the whole world, you are Kali.' It hails the Divine Mother in her many forms — Amba, Jagadamba, Kali, Durga — and is sung as an aarti in her praise.
What is the meaning of the famous last line?▼
'We ask not for wealth or gold — only for a small corner in your heart.' It expresses pure, selfless devotion: the devotee wants nothing material, only a place in the Mother's love.
When is this aarti sung?▼
It is a staple of Navratri and Durga Puja and is sung at daily Devi aarti, especially in the evening, while waving the lamp before the Goddess.
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