Durga Saptashati: Keelakam Stotram Lyrics, Meaning & Benefits

Keelakam Stotram is a hymn of 14 verses recited with Shri Durga Saptashati, after the Devi Kavacham and Argala Stotram. Narrated by Sage Markandeya, it explains why Lord Shiva placed a "lock" (Keelaka) on the Saptashati, how that lock is removed by reciting the hymn with understanding, and what the devotee gains by doing so.

On this page you can read the complete Keelakam Stotram in Sanskrit with English transliteration and the meaning of each verse, followed by its benefits and a short guide to reciting it.

What Is Keelakam Stotram?

Keelakam Stotram, also called Keelak Stotram or Keelaka Stotra, takes its name from the word Keelaka (कीलक) – a pin, peg or bolt; something that locks. According to the hymn, Lord Shiva foresaw that people would treat the Saptashati as a shortcut to every attainment, and so he "pinned" it (Verses 5–8). The devotee who recites the Keelakam, understands its method and comes to the Goddess with complete offering removes this pin; the Saptashati then becomes Nishkeela – unlocked – and bears its full fruit (Verses 9–11).

Its Viniyoga names Lord Shiva as the Rishi (seer) of the hymn, Anushtup as its metre and Shri Mahasaraswati as its deity, which is why the first verse salutes Shiva before the Goddess is praised.

Place of Keelakam Stotram in Durga Saptashati

In the traditional Chandi Path, the Keelakam is the third of the preliminary hymns recited before the main text:

Devi Kavacham → Argala Stotram → Keelakam Stotram → Vedoktam Ratri Suktam

The remaining preparatory prayers and the main Saptashati follow. Each of the three hymns has a distinct role:

- Devi Kavacham is a prayer for the Goddess's protection.

- Argala Stotram praises the Goddess and repeatedly asks for her blessings.

- Keelakam Stotram explains the lock placed on the Saptashati and removes it.

Keelakam Stotram Sanskrit Lyrics with English Meaning

॥ अथ कीलकम् ॥

Viniyoga

ॐ अस्य श्रीकीलकमन्त्रस्य शिव ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, श्रीमहासरस्वती देवता, श्रीजगदम्बाप्रीत्यर्थं सप्तशतीपाठाङ्गत्वेन जपे विनियोगः।

Om Asya Shri-Kilaka-Mantrasya Shiva Rishih, Anushtup Chhandah, Shri-Mahasarasvati Devata, Shri-Jagadamba-Prityartham Saptashati-Pathangatvena Jape Viniyogah |

Meaning: The Rishi of the Shri Keelaka mantra is Lord Shiva, its metre is Anushtup and its deity is Shri Mahasaraswati. It is recited to please Shri Jagadamba, as part of the Durga Saptashati Path.

ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै॥

Om Namash Chandikayai ||

Meaning: Salutations to Goddess Chandika.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच (Markandeya Uvacha – Sage Markandeya said)

Verse 1

ॐ विशुद्धज्ञानदेहाय त्रिवेदीदिव्यचक्षुषे।
श्रेयःप्राप्तिनिमित्ताय नमः सोमार्धधारिणे॥१॥

Om Vishuddha-Jnana-Dehaya Trivedi-Divya-Chakshushe |
Shreyah-Prapti-Nimittaya Namah Somardha-Dharine || 1 ||

Meaning: Salutations to Lord Shiva, whose body is pure knowledge, whose three divine eyes are the three Vedas, who is the means of attaining the highest good, and who bears the crescent moon.

Verse 2

सर्वमेतद्विजानीयान्मन्त्राणामभिकीलकम्।
सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सततं जाप्यतत्परः॥२॥

Sarvam Etad Vijaniyan Mantranam Abhikilakam |
So'pi Kshemam Avapnoti Satatam Japya-Tatparah || 2 ||

Meaning: One should know this whole hymn to be the Keelaka – the pin that locks the mantras of the Saptashati. One who understands this and remains ever devoted to its recitation attains well-being.

Verse 3

सिद्ध्यन्त्युच्चाटनादीनि वस्तूनि सकलान्यपि।
एतेन स्तुवतां देवी स्तोत्रमात्रेण सिद्ध्यति॥३॥

Siddhyanty Uchchatanadini Vastuni Sakalanyapi |
Etena Stuvatam Devi Stotra-Matrena Siddhyati || 3 ||

Meaning: For those who praise the Goddess with this hymn, all aims – even special rites such as Uchchatana – are accomplished, and through this stotra alone the Goddess herself is attained.

Verse 4

न मन्त्रो नौषधं तत्र न किञ्चिदपि विद्यते।
विना जाप्येन सिद्ध्येत सर्वमुच्चाटनादिकम्॥४॥

Na Mantro Naushadham Tatra Na Kinchidapi Vidyate |
Vina Japyena Siddhyet Sarvam Uchchatana-Adikam || 4 ||

Meaning: For such a devotee no other mantra, medicine or means is needed. Without any other japa, everything – Uchchatana and the rest – is accomplished through this hymn alone.

Verse 5

समग्राण्यपि सिद्ध्यन्ति लोकशङ्कामिमां हरः।
कृत्वा निमन्त्रयामास सर्वमेवमिदं शुभम्॥५॥

Samagranyapi Siddhyanti Loka-Shankam Imam Harah |
Kritva Nimantrayamasa Sarvam Evam Idam Shubham || 5 ||

Meaning: "By this alone everything is accomplished" – keeping in view this misgiving of the world, Lord Shiva placed a restriction on this whole auspicious hymn, and so locked it.

Verse 6

स्तोत्रं वै चण्डिकायास्तु तच्च गुप्तं चकार सः।
समाप्तिर्न च पुण्यस्य तां यथावन्नियन्त्रणाम्॥६॥

Stotram Vai Chandikayas Tu Tachcha Guptam Chakara Sah |
Samaptirna Cha Punyasya Tam Yathavan Niyantranam || 6 ||

Meaning: He kept this hymn of Chandika hidden. Since the merit of its recitation has no end, he placed upon it a fitting restraint – the Keelaka.

Verse 7

सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सर्वमेवं न संशयः।
कृष्णायां वा चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां वा समाहितः॥७॥

So'pi Kshemam Avapnoti Sarvamevam Na Samshayah |
Krishnayam Va Chaturdashyam Ashtamyam Va Samahitah || 7 ||

Meaning: One who observes that restraint in the proper way attains all welfare – of this there is no doubt. This is done with a concentrated mind, on the Chaturdashi or the Ashtami of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha).

Verse 8

ददाति प्रतिगृह्णाति नान्यथैषा प्रसीदति।
इत्थं रूपेण कीलेन महादेवेन कीलितम्॥८॥

Dadati Pratigrihnati Nanyathaisha Prasidati |
Ittham Rupena Kilena Mahadevena Kilitam || 8 ||

Meaning: The devotee offers everything to the Goddess and receives her grace in return; she is not pleased otherwise. In this way Mahadeva has pinned the Saptashati with this Keelaka.

Verse 9

यो निष्कीलां विधायैनां नित्यं जपति संस्फुटम्।
स सिद्धः स गणः सोऽपि गन्धर्वो जायते नरः॥९॥

Yo Nishkilam Vidhayainam Nityam Japati Samsphutam |
Sa Siddhah Sa Ganah So'pi Gandharvo Jayate Narah || 9 ||

Meaning: The man who frees the Saptashati of its pin (Nishkeela) and then recites it daily and distinctly becomes a Siddha, a Gana (attendant of the Goddess) and a Gandharva.

Verse 10

न चैवाप्यटतस्तस्य भयं क्वापीह जायते।
नापमृत्युवशं याति मृतो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्॥१०॥

Na Chaivapy Atatas Tasya Bhayam Kvapiha Jayate |
Napamrityu-Vasham Yati Mrito Moksham Avapnuyat || 10 ||

Meaning: Wherever he goes in this world, no fear arises for him. He does not fall prey to untimely death, and after death he attains liberation (Moksha).

Verse 11

ज्ञात्वा प्रारभ्य कुर्वीत न कुर्वाणो विनश्यति।
ततो ज्ञात्वैव सम्पन्नमिदं प्रारभ्यते बुधैः॥११॥

Jnatva Prarabhya Kurvita Na Kurvano Vinashyati |
Tato Jnatvaiva Sampannam Idam Prarabhyate Budhaih || 11 ||

Meaning: One should begin the recitation only after knowing this – the Keelaka and its method; one who begins without knowing it comes to ruin. That is why the wise take up the Saptashati only after knowing the Keelaka and completing it in this way.

Verse 12

सौभाग्यादि च यत्किञ्चिद् दृश्यते ललनाजने।
तत्सर्वं तत्प्रसादेन तेन जाप्यमिदं शुभम्॥१२॥

Saubhagyadi Cha Yatkinchid Drishyate Lalanajane |
Tatsarvam Tatprasadena Tena Japyamidam Shubham || 12 ||

Meaning: Whatever good fortune and beauty is seen among women is all by the grace of the Goddess; therefore this auspicious hymn should be recited.

Verse 13

शनैस्तु जप्यमानेऽस्मिन् स्तोत्रे सम्पत्तिरुच्चकैः।
भवत्येव समग्रापि ततः प्रारभ्यमेव तत्॥१३॥

Shanaistu Japyamane'smin Stotre Sampattir Uchchakaih |
Bhavatyeva Samagrapi Tatah Prarabhyam Eva Tat || 13 ||

Meaning: Even when this hymn is recited slowly and softly, abundant prosperity arises in full. Therefore it should certainly be taken up.

Verse 14

ऐश्वर्यं यत्प्रसादेन सौभाग्यारोग्यसम्पदः। शत्रुहानिः परो मोक्षः स्तूयते सा न किं जनैः॥१४॥

Aishvaryam Yatprasadena Saubhagyarogya-Sampadah| Shatruhanih Paro Mokshah Stuyate Sa Na Kim Janaih || 14 ||

Meaning: Why would people not praise her, by whose grace come lordship, good fortune, health, wealth, the destruction of enemies and supreme liberation?

॥ इति देव्याः कीलकस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

|| Iti Devyah Kilaka-Stotram Sampurnam ||

Meaning: Thus ends the Keelaka Stotra of the Goddess.

Keelakam Stotram Benefits

Unlike the Argala Stotram, the Keelakam does not ask for blessings; it states what follows when the Saptashati is recited with its lock removed. The fruits it names:

Benefit	Where the hymn says it
Well-being (Kshema)	Verses 2 and 7
Success in every undertaking	Verses 3 and 4
Siddhi and exalted states – Siddha, Gana, Gandharva	Verse 9
Freedom from fear and from untimely death	Verse 10
Liberation (Moksha)	Verses 10 and 14
Good fortune	Verse 12
Abundant prosperity	Verse 13
Lordship, health, wealth and the defeat of enemies	Verse 14

These are the fruits the scripture describes for devoted practice – not guaranteed outcomes.

How and When to Recite Keelakam Stotram

Keelakam Stotram is recited whenever the Durga Saptashati is read, most often during Navratri and Durga Puja. The hymn itself names the Chaturdashi and the Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) as days for concentrated recitation (Verse 7).

To recite it:

Sit in a clean, quiet place with a calm and focused mind.
If you are performing the full Chandi Path, recite the Devi Kavacham and Argala Stotram first; the Keelakam comes next.
Recite the Sanskrit verses clearly and attentively, keeping their meaning in mind – the hymn itself asks to be understood before the Saptashati is begun (Verse 11).
Continue with the Ratri Suktam and the remaining portions of the Saptashati as your tradition prescribes.

Pronunciation and ritual details differ between traditions; follow the method of your Guru, family tradition or priest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it necessary to recite Keelakam Stotram before the Durga Saptashati?

In the traditional sequence, yes. The hymn itself says the wise begin the Saptashati only after knowing the Keelaka, and that one who begins without it comes to ruin (Verse 11). Devotees following a particular lineage should keep to its method.

Can Keelakam Stotram be recited on its own?

Its purpose is tied to the Saptashati – it is the hymn that unlocks the main text – so it is traditionally recited within the Chandi Path sequence rather than as a stand-alone prayer. Those who wish to recite it separately should follow the guidance of their tradition or Guru.

What does "Dadati Pratigrihnati" (gives and receives) in Verse 8 mean?

It describes the attitude that removes the lock: the devotee offers everything – the recitation, its fruit and himself – to the Goddess, and receives her grace in return. Without this offering, the verse says, she is not pleased.

Why does the Viniyoga name Mahasaraswati when the hymn salutes Chandika?

Mahasaraswati is one of the three forms of the Goddess in the Durga Saptashati, with Mahakali and Mahalakshmi. The Argala Stotram is assigned to Mahalakshmi and the Keelakam to Mahasaraswati – forms of the one Goddess who is praised throughout the Saptashati as Chandika.

Conclusion

Keelakam Stotram is the key to the Durga Saptashati: it explains why Lord Shiva locked the text, how the devotee unlocks it through understanding, concentration and complete offering, and what follows – well-being, freedom from fear, prosperity and liberation. Recited in its place after the Devi Kavacham and Argala Stotram, it prepares the devotee to take up the Saptashati in the proper way.