Durga Sūktam
🕉️ Chant Text
ॐ जातवेदसे सुनवाम सोम मरातीयतो निदहाति वेदः। स नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा नावेव सिन्धुं दुरितात्यग्निः।
तामग्निवर्णां तपसा ज्वलन्तीं वैरोचनीं कर्मफलेषु जुष्टाम्। दुर्गां देवीं शरणमहं प्रपद्ये सुतरसि तरसे नमः।
अग्ने त्वं पारया नव्यो अस्मान् स्वस्तिभिरति दुर्गाणि विश्वा। पूश्च पृथ्वी बहुला न उर्वी भवा तोकाय तनयाय शंयोः।
विश्वानि नो दुर्गहा जातवेदः सिन्धुं न नावा दुरितातिपर्षि। अग्ने अत्रिवन्मनसा गृणानोऽस्माकं बोध्यविता तनूनाम्।
पृतनाजितं सहमानमुग्रमग्निं हुवेम परमात्सदस्थात्। स नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा क्षामद्देवो अति दुरितात्यग्निः।
प्रत्नोषि कमीड्यो अध्वरेषु सनाच्च होता नव्यश्च सत्सि। स्वां चाग्ने तनुवं पिप्रयस्वास्मभ्यं च सौभगमायजस्व।
गोभिर्जुष्टमयुजो नि षिक्तं तवेंद्र विष्णोरनुसंचरेम। नाकस्य पृष्ठमभि संवसानो वैष्णवीं लोक इहा मादयन्ताम्॥
(ॐ कात्यायनाय विद्महे कन्यकुमारि धीमहि। तन्नो दुर्गिः प्रचोदयात्॥)
🔊 Listen to the Chant (audio coming soon)
Audio will be added after recording.
🪔 Significance
Durga Sūktam appears in two places: first as an eight-ṛk hymn in Ṛg-Veda 1.99 and later in the Taittirīya Āraṇyaka (Kṛṣṇa-Yajur-Veda 4.10.1–8). In Vedic symbolism Agni (cosmic fire) is praised as Mother Durga—the radiant, protective power who ferries devotees through life’s “difficult crossings.”
Key ideas distilled from the traditional commentary
| Verse(s) | Core theme | Essence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agni as Jātaveda (source of all knowledge) | We press the soma of devotion so that blazing wisdom burns away ignorance and carries us over every danger like a sturdy boat on a vast sea. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} |
| 2 | Fiery, tapas-filled Mother | Durga is “fire-coloured,” blazing with tapas; surrendering to her feet lets us cross safely and swiftly (“sutarasi”). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} |
| 3 – 4 | Universal guardian | Invoked as the friendly Agni who grants svasti (well-being) and wards off all “durgāṇi” (hard-to-cross perils), preserving both family and future. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} |
| 5 | Victor in every battle | She is the terrible, invincible fire that crushes inner and outer foes, guiding us beyond the field of suffering. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} |
| 6 – 7 | Giver of prosperity & ascent | As the timeless Hotṛ-fire, she bestows auspicious fortune and lifts us toward the “summit of the heavens,” the Vaiṣṇava realm of higher consciousness. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} |
| 8 | Threefold Peace | The hymn closes with “ॐ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ,” inviting quietude in body, mind, and cosmic space. |
In one line:
Durga Sūktam kindles the inner fire that destroys ignorance, protects on every plane, and ushers the chanter to fearless peace.