Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 4
The Kātyāyanī-vrata, the Stealing of the Gopīs’ Garments, and Kṛṣṇa’s Teaching on Purified Desire
कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि । नन्दगोपसुतं देवि पतिं मे कुरु ते नम: । इति मन्त्रं जपन्त्यस्ता: पूजां चक्रु: कुमारिका: ॥ ४ ॥
kātyāyani mahā-māye mahā-yoginy adhīśvari nanda-gopa-sutaṁ devi patiṁ me kuru te namaḥ iti mantraṁ japantyas tāḥ pūjāṁ cakruḥ kumārikāḥ
Each of the young unmarried girls performed her worship while chanting the following mantra. “O goddess Kātyāyanī, O great potency of the Lord, O possessor of great mystic power and mighty controller of all, please make the son of Nanda Mahārāja my husband. I offer my obeisances unto you.”
According to various ācāryas, the goddess Durgā mentioned in this verse is not the illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa called Māyā but rather the internal potency of the Lord known as Yoga-māyā. The distinction between the internal and external, or illusory, potency of the Lord is described in the Nārada-pañcarātra, in the conversation between Śruti and Vidyā:
FAQs
In Canto 10, Chapter 22, the Bhagavatam describes the unmarried girls of Vraja worshiping Goddess Kātyāyanī, chanting a mantra and performing pūjā, praying for Kṛṣṇa (the son of Nanda) to become their husband.
Because their hearts were fixed on Kṛṣṇa alone; following a traditional vow for an ideal husband, they worshiped Kātyāyanī, expressing their exclusive desire for Kṛṣṇa in a socially recognized devotional form.
It highlights focused intention and disciplined practice: sincere prayer, steady repetition (japa), and consistent worship can be aligned toward one’s highest spiritual aim—loving devotion to the Supreme.