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Durga Suktam Meaning — Line by Line

दुर्गा सूक्तम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Durga Suktam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Om jatavedase sunavama somamaratiyato nidahati vedah
  2. Verse 2. Tamagnivarnam tapasa jvalantim vairochanim karmaphaleshu jushtam
  3. Verse 3. Agne tvam paraya navyo asman svastibhirati durgani vishva
  4. Verse 4. Vishvani no durgaha jatavedah sindhum na nava duritatiparshi
  5. Verse 5. Pritanajitam sahamanamugramagnim huvema paramatsadhasthat
  6. Verse 6. Pratnoshi kamidyo adhvareshu sanachcha hota navyashcha satsi
  7. Verse 7. Gobhirjushtamayujo nishiktam tavendra vishnoranusamcharema
Verse 1#

Om jatavedase sunavama somamaratiyato nidahati vedah

जातवेदसे सुनवाम सोममरातीयतो निदहाति वेदः नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा नावेव सिन्धुं दुरितात्यग्निः

Om jatavedase sunavama somamaratiyato nidahati vedah Sa nah parshadati durgani vishva naveva sindhum duritatyagnih

MeaningLet us press the Soma for Jatavedas (Agni, knower of all beings); may he burn away the wealth of those who are hostile to us. May that Agni carry us safely across all perils, as a boat carries one across a river, beyond every difficulty.

Verse 2#

Tamagnivarnam tapasa jvalantim vairochanim karmaphaleshu jushtam

तामग्निवर्णां तपसा ज्वलन्तीं वैरोचनीं कर्मफलेषु जुष्टाम् दुर्गां देवीं शरणमहं प्रपद्ये सुतरसि तरसे नमः

Tamagnivarnam tapasa jvalantim vairochanim karmaphaleshu jushtam Durgam devim sharanamaham prapadye sutarasi tarase namah

MeaningTo that Goddess Durga — fire-hued, blazing with austerity, the radiant power of the Sun, worshipped for the fruits of action — I surrender myself for refuge. O you who ferry us safely across, salutations to you who help us cross.

Verse 3#

Agne tvam paraya navyo asman svastibhirati durgani vishva

अग्ने त्वं पारया नव्यो अस्मान् स्वस्तिभिरति दुर्गाणि विश्वा पूश्च पृथ्वी बहुला उर्वी भवा तोकाय तनयाय शंयोः

Agne tvam paraya navyo asman svastibhirati durgani vishva Pushcha prithvi bahula na urvi bhava tokaya tanayaya shamyoh

MeaningO Agni, worthy of praise, carry us across all perils by auspicious paths; and may the broad earth and the wide expanse be ample for us — grant well-being to our children and our descendants.

Verse 4#

Vishvani no durgaha jatavedah sindhum na nava duritatiparshi

विश्वानि नो दुर्गहा जातवेदः सिन्धुं नावा दुरितातिपर्षि अग्ने अत्रिवन्मनसा गृणानोऽस्माकं बोध्यविता तनूनाम्

Vishvani no durgaha jatavedah sindhum na nava duritatiparshi Agne atrivanmanasa grinanosmakam bodhyavita tanunam

MeaningO Jatavedas, destroyer of all perils, carry us beyond every difficulty as a boat across a river. O Agni, praised by our minds like the sage Atri, become the protector of our very selves.

Verse 5#

Pritanajitam sahamanamugramagnim huvema paramatsadhasthat

पृतनाजितं सहमानमुग्रमग्निं हुवेम परमात्सधस्थात् नः पर्षदति दुर्गाणि विश्वा क्षामद्देवो अति दुरितात्यग्निः

Pritanajitam sahamanamugramagnim huvema paramatsadhasthat Sa nah parshadati durgani vishva kshamaddevo ati duritatyagnih

MeaningWe invoke from the highest abode that fierce Agni who conquers armies and overpowers the foe. May that scorching god carry us safely across all perils, beyond every difficulty.

Verse 6#

Pratnoshi kamidyo adhvareshu sanachcha hota navyashcha satsi

प्रत्नोषि कमीड्यो अध्वरेषु सनाच्च होता नव्यश्च सत्सि स्वां चाग्ने तनुवं पिप्रयस्वास्मभ्यं सौभगमायजस्व

Pratnoshi kamidyo adhvareshu sanachcha hota navyashcha satsi Svam chagne tanuvam piprayasvasmabhyam cha saubhagamayajasva

MeaningO adorable Agni, you kindle the worship-rites; you abide as the priest (hota), both the ancient and the ever-new. Gladden your own form, and win for us auspicious fortune.

Verse 7#

Gobhirjushtamayujo nishiktam tavendra vishnoranusamcharema

गोभिर्जुष्टमयुजो निषिक्तं तवेन्द्र विष्णोरनुसंचरेम नाकस्य पृष्ठमभि संवसानो वैष्णवीं लोक इह मादयन्ताम्

Gobhirjushtamayujo nishiktam tavendra vishnoranusamcharema Nakasya prishthamabhi samvasano vaishnavim loka iha madayantam

MeaningUnited with the rays of light, the unequalled, the all-pervading — may we ever follow after that (supreme step) of Vishnu. Abiding upon the summit of heaven, may the gods rejoice here in the realm of Vishnu.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

जातवेदसे
Jatavedase
To Agni (fire), the all-knowing
सोम
Soma
The sacred offering/nectar
दुर्गाणि
Durgani
Difficulties, dangers, obstacles
नावा
Nava
Like a boat
सिन्धुं
Sindhum
The ocean
अग्निवर्णां
Agnivarnam
Of the color of fire
तपसा ज्वलन्तीं
Tapasa Jvalanteem
Blazing with austerity
वैरोचनीं
Vairochaneem
Radiant, luminous
कर्मफलेषु
Karmaphaleshu
In the fruits of action/karma
दुर्गां
Durgam
Durga — she who is hard to approach/overcome
शरणम्
Sharanam
Refuge, shelter
प्रपद्ये
Prapadye
I surrender/take refuge
स्वस्तिभिः
Svastibhih
With blessings of well-being
दुर्गहा
Durgaha
Destroyer of difficulties

Origin & History

Source: Rigveda & Taittiriya Aranyaka (Yajurveda)

Author: Vedic Rishis

Period: 1500-1000 BCE

The Durga Suktam is among the oldest hymns to the divine feminine in human civilization. It appears in both the Rigveda and the Taittiriya Aranyaka. The hymn invokes Durga through Agni (fire), the Vedic intermediary between humans and gods. The very concept of 'Durga' as the goddess who carries us across impossible dangers originates from this suktam — making it the foundational text of all Durga worship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Durga Suktam?
A Vedic hymn from the Rigveda and Taittiriya Aranyaka invoking Goddess Durga through Agni (fire). It is one of the oldest references to Durga in Vedic literature and the source of her very name.
Why is Durga associated with fire?
In this Vedic hymn, Durga is described as 'Agnivarnam' (fire-colored) and 'Tapasa Jvalanteem' (blazing with austerity). Fire represents the transformative power that burns away ignorance, evil and suffering — this IS Durga's nature.
What does Durga mean?
The word 'Durga' comes from 'durgani' in this very suktam, meaning 'difficulties/dangers that are hard to cross.' Durga is the goddess who takes us across (tara) these insurmountable dangers — like a boat across a stormy ocean.

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