vedicrigvedaratrinight-goddess

𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿 𑌸𑍂𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍

Ratri Suktam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ vedic·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 At nightfall / before sleep; during Devi worship and Navaratri; before reciting the Durga Saptashati·📜 Rigveda (Mandala 10, Sukta 127)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Rigveda (Mandala 10, Sukta 127) · Rishika Ratri Bharadvaji (Kushika Saubhara) · Vedic period (c. 1500-1000 BCE)

The Ratri Suktam is one of the rare hymns of the Rigveda dedicated wholly to a goddess — Ratri, the Night — and by tradition the seer of the hymn is herself Ratri. In eight luminous verses the rishi beholds Night not as fearful darkness but as a radiant, immortal goddess who looks out over the world with a thousand starry eyes, fills the heights and depths, lulls villages, beasts and birds to rest, and at last yields gently to her sister Ushas, the Dawn. Because it praises the Goddess in her cosmic, protective aspect, the later Shakta tradition adopted it as the opening invocation of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya), linking the Puranic worship of Durga to this ancient Vedic hymn of the Night.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally said that one who recites the Ratri Suktam before sleep places the whole night under the goddess's protection, so that wolves, thieves and unseen terrors are kept far off and the sleeper is borne safely through to the dawn — just as the hymn prays, 'be easy for us to cross over.' In Devi worship its recitation before the Durga Saptashati is held to invoke the Mother's grace upon the entire reading.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍀 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌭𑌿𑌃 । 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌅𑌧𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌧𑌿𑌤 ॥௧॥

Rātrī vyakhyadāyatī purutrā devyakṣabhiḥ | viśvā adhi śriyo'dhita ||1||

Meaning:The goddess Night, drawing near, has looked abroad on every side with her eyes (the stars); she has put on all her glories.

Verse 2

𑌓𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾 𑌅𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌤𑍋 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌃 । 𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌷𑌾 𑌬𑌾𑌧𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌮𑌃 ॥௨॥

Orvaprā amartyā nivato devyudvataḥ | jyotiṣā bādhate tamaḥ ||2||

Meaning:The immortal goddess has filled the wide expanse, the low places and the heights; with her light she beats back the darkness.

Verse 3

𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍁 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍋𑌷𑌸𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍀 । 𑌅𑌪𑍇𑌦𑍁 𑌹𑌾𑌸𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌮𑌃 ॥௩॥

Niru svasāramaskṛtoṣasaṃ devyāyatī | apedu hāsate tamaḥ ||3||

Meaning:The goddess, drawing on, has sent forth her sister, the Dawn; and so the darkness too departs.

Verse 4

𑌸𑌾 𑌨𑍋 𑌅𑌦𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌵𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌿 𑌤𑍇 𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑌹𑌿 । 𑌵𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇 𑌨 𑌵𑌸𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌵𑌯𑌃 ॥௪॥

Sā no adya yasyā vayaṃ ni te yāmannavikṣmahi | vṛkṣe na vasatiṃ vayaḥ ||4||

Meaning:Be gracious to us this day, O Night, you at whose approach we have settled to rest, as birds settle in a tree for their nest.

Verse 5

𑌨𑌿 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌸𑍋 𑌅𑌵𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤 𑌨𑌿 𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍋 𑌨𑌿 𑌪𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌣𑌃 । 𑌨𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌨𑌾𑌸𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌨𑌃 ॥௫॥

Ni grāmāso avikṣata ni padvanto ni pakṣiṇaḥ | ni śyenāsaścidarthinaḥ ||5||

Meaning:The villages have gone to rest, and the footed creatures, and the winged birds, and even the swift, questing hawks.

Verse 6

𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌾 𑌵𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑍃𑌕𑌂 𑌯𑌵𑌯 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌨𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍍𑌯𑍇 । 𑌅𑌥𑌾 𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌰𑌾 𑌭𑌵 ॥௬॥

Yāvayā vṛkyaṃ vṛkaṃ yavaya stenamūrmye | athā naḥ sutarā bhava ||6||

Meaning:Keep away the she-wolf and the wolf; keep off the thief, O Night; and so be easy for us to pass through (bear us safely across the night).

Verse 7

𑌉𑌪 𑌮𑌾 𑌪𑍇𑌪𑌿𑌶𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌃 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤 । 𑌉𑌷 𑌋𑌣𑍇𑌵 𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌯 ॥௭॥

Upa mā pepiśattamaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ vyaktamasthita | uṣa ṛṇeva yātaya ||7||

Meaning:The black darkness, painted-on and palpable, has come close upon me; O Dawn, clear it away as one clears off a debt.

Verse 8

𑌉𑌪 𑌤𑍇 𑌗𑌾 𑌇𑌵𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌵 𑌦𑍁𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌵𑌃 । 𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌮𑌂 𑌨 𑌜𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌷𑍇 ॥௮॥

Upa te gā ivākaraṃ vṛṇīṣva duhitardivaḥ | rātri stomaṃ na jigyuṣe ||8||

Meaning:I have offered to you, O Daughter of Heaven, my praise like cattle (driven to their lord); accept it, O Night, as a hymn of praise offered to a victor.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀🔊rātrīThe Night (goddess Ratri)

𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍍 𑌆𑌯𑌤𑍀🔊vyakhyat āyatīApproaching, has looked out and made herself manifest in all directions

𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾🔊purutrāIn many places, on every side

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍀 𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌭𑌿𑌃🔊devī akṣabhiḥThe goddess, with her eyes (the countless stars)

𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌅𑌧𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌃 𑌅𑌧𑌿𑌤🔊viśvā adhi śriyaḥ adhitaShe has put on (donned) all her glories and splendours

𑌓𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾🔊orvaprāShe who pervades and fills the wide expanse

𑌅𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾🔊amartyāThe immortal one

𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌤𑌃 𑌉𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌤𑌃🔊nivataḥ udvataḥThe low places (valleys) and the high places (heights)

𑌜𑍍𑌯𑍋𑌤𑌿𑌷𑌾 𑌬𑌾𑌧𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌮𑌃🔊jyotiṣā bādhate tamaḥWith her light (of moon and stars) she drives back the darkness

𑌨𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤 𑌉𑌷𑌸𑌂🔊niḥ svasāram askṛta uṣasaṃShe has sent forth her sister, the Dawn (Ushas)

𑌅𑌪 𑌇𑌤𑍍 𑌊 𑌹𑌾𑌸𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌮𑌃🔊apa it ū hāsate tamaḥAnd so the darkness departs and vanishes

𑌸𑌾 𑌨𑌃 𑌅𑌦𑍍𑌯🔊sā naḥ adyaMay she (be gracious) to us today

𑌵𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇 𑌨 𑌵𑌸𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌵𑌯𑌃🔊vṛkṣe na vasatiṃ vayaḥAs birds settle to rest in a tree (so we rest in her)

𑌨𑌿 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌸𑌃 𑌅𑌵𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤🔊ni grāmāsaḥ avikṣataThe villages have settled down to rest

𑌨𑌿 𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌨𑌿 𑌪𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌣𑌃🔊ni padvantaḥ ni pakṣiṇaḥThe footed creatures and the winged birds have gone to rest

𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌯 𑌵𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑍃𑌕𑌂🔊yāvaya vṛkyaṃ vṛkaṃKeep away the she-wolf and the wolf (all harm)

𑌯𑌵𑌯 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌨𑌮𑍍 𑌊𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍍𑌯𑍇🔊yavaya stenam ūrmyeDrive off the thief, O Night (Urmya — the enveloping one)

𑌅𑌥𑌾 𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌰𑌾 𑌭𑌵🔊athā naḥ sutarā bhavaAnd so be easy for us to cross over (carry us safely through the night)

𑌉𑌷 𑌋𑌣𑍇𑌵 𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌯🔊uṣa ṛṇeva yātayaO Dawn, drive away (the darkness) as one collects a debt

𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌵 𑌦𑍁𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌃 𑌦𑌿𑌵𑌃🔊vṛṇīṣva duhitaḥ divaḥAccept (this praise), O Daughter of Heaven

𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌮𑌂 𑌨 𑌜𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌷𑍇🔊rātri stomaṃ na jigyuṣeO Night, (accept) this hymn of praise as offered to a victor

Benefits of Chanting Ratri Suktam

✦

Invokes Ratri Devi, the goddess of the Night, for protection through the hours of darkness

✦

Prayed for safety from wolves, thieves and unseen dangers ('yavaya stenam urmye')

✦

Bestows peaceful, restful sleep — Night gives rest to all beings, as birds rest in a tree

✦

One of the foundational hymns of the Devi tradition, recited before the Durga Saptashati

✦

Calms fear of the dark and brings a sense of being safely held until dawn

✦

Adores the cosmic order by which Night yields to her sister Dawn (Ushas)

✦

Recited at night for protection, serenity and freedom from nightmares

How to Chant Ratri Suktam

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAt nightfall / before sleep; during Devi worship and Navaratri; before reciting the Durga Saptashati

Recite at dusk or before sleeping, sitting calmly and facing east or north, meditating on Ratri as the gentle, protective goddess of night. The eight verses are chanted slowly with clear Vedic pronunciation. In Devi worship it is recited together with the Durga Saptashati, where the Ratri Suktam traditionally opens the recitation. For protection and peaceful sleep, recite it nightly, or three times before rest, surrendering the night into the goddess's care.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Ratri Suktam written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a hymn of eight verses from the Rigveda (Mandala 10, Sukta 127) addressed to Ratri, the goddess of Night. It praises Night as a benevolent goddess who fills the world, drives off darkness with her starlight, gives rest to all creatures, and protects beings from danger until the coming of Dawn.

Ratri is the divine personification of Night in the Veda — a luminous, protective goddess, sister of Ushas (Dawn) and daughter of Heaven (Dyaus). She watches over the world with countless starry 'eyes', grants rest and shelter, and keeps away wolves, thieves and harm through the night. She is revered as a form of the Devi.

The Ratri Suktam is one of the foundational Vedic hymns to the Goddess, so the Devi tradition placed it at the very beginning of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya) recitation, as an invocation. Reciting it first connects the later Puranic praise of Durga to its ancient Vedic root in the worship of Ratri.

It is most fitting at nightfall or before sleep, recited for protection through the night, peaceful rest and freedom from fear and nightmares. It is also chanted during Navaratri and Devi worship. The hymn itself asks Night to ward off wolves and thieves and to carry the worshipper safely across to dawn.