Mantra.Tips

Tvam Svaha Tvam Svadha (Brahma's Stuti to Yoganidra) — Word-by-Word Meaning

त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा (ब्रह्मकृत योगनिद्रा स्तुति)

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

Word-by-Word Breakdown

त्वं स्वाहा
tvaṃ svāhā
You are Svaha (the sacred utterance offered to the gods in sacrifice)
त्वं स्वधा
tvaṃ svadhā
You are Svadha (the offering to the ancestors/Pitris)
वषट्कारः
vaṣaṭkāraḥ
The Vashatkara, the sacrificial exclamation
स्वरात्मिका
svarātmikā
The very soul/essence of sound and the accents
सुधा
sudhā
The nectar of immortality (amrita)
अक्षरे नित्ये
akṣare nitye
O imperishable, eternal One (the akshara Om)
त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका
tridhā mātrātmikā
Abiding as the three matras (A-U-M of the syllable Om)
अर्धमात्रा
ardhamātrā
The half-matra of Om that cannot be separately uttered
सन्ध्या सावित्री
sandhyā sāvitrī
You are the Sandhya worship and the Savitri (Gayatri)
जननी परा
jananī parā
The supreme Mother (of the gods and the worlds)
त्वयैतद्धार्यते विश्वं
tvayaitaddhāryate viśvaṃ
By you this universe is borne/upheld
सृज्यते जगत्
sṛjyate jagat
By you the world is created
अत्स्यन्ते
atsyante
You devour (the world) at the end of time
महाविद्या
mahāvidyā
The Great Knowledge that liberates
महामाया
mahāmāyā
The Great Illusion that deludes even the wise
महामेधा
mahāmedhā
The Great Intelligence
महास्मृतिः
mahāsmṛtiḥ
The Great Memory
श्रीः ... ह्रीः ... बुद्धिः
śrīḥ ... hrīḥ ... buddhiḥ
You are Shri (prosperity), Hri (modesty), and Buddhi (intelligence) marked by inner awakening
परमेश्वरी
parameśvarī
The Supreme Sovereign, highest of the high and low
मोहयैतौ ... मधुकैटभौ
mohayaitau ... madhukaiṭabhau
Delude these two (asuras) Madhu and Kaitabha
प्रबोधं ... अच्युतो लघु
prabodhaṃ ... acyuto laghu
And let the unfallen Lord (Vishnu), master of the world, be quickly awakened

Complete Translation

Brahma said: You are Svaha and Svadha; you are indeed the Vashatkara, the very soul of sound. You are the nectar Sudha, O eternal, imperishable One; you abide as the three matras of Om, and as the eternal half-matra that cannot be separately uttered. You yourself are the Sandhya, the Savitri, the supreme Mother of the gods, O Goddess. By you this universe is upheld, by you this world is created; by you it is sustained, O Goddess, and you ever devour it at the end. At creation you take the form of creation, in protection the form of sustenance, and at the world's end the form of dissolution, O you who are the world itself. You are the Mahavidya, Mahamaya, Mahamedha and Mahasmriti; you are the Mahamoha, the Mahadevi, the Maheshwari. You are Shri, you are Ishwari, you are Hri, you are the intellect marked by inner awakening; you are modesty, nourishment and contentment, tranquillity and forbearance. You are the supreme of the high and the low; you alone are the Supreme Sovereign. And whatever thing exists anywhere, real or unreal, O soul of all — of all that you are the Power; how then can I praise you fully? Delude these two unassailable asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, and let the Lord of the world, the unfallen Vishnu, be quickly brought to waking.

Origin & History

Source: Durga Saptashati Chapter 1

Author: Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana)

Period: Ancient (composed c. 400–600 CE as part of the Markandeya Purana)

In the Prathama Charita of the Devi Mahatmya, at the end of a cosmic cycle the universe becomes a single ocean and Vishnu lies in yogic sleep upon Ananta-Shesha. From the wax of his ears arise two terrible asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, who rush to slay Brahma seated on the lotus from Vishnu's navel. Unable to wake Vishnu, Brahma extols the Goddess of Sleep (Yoganidra) with this hymn, beginning 'Tvam svaha tvam svadha.' Pleased, she withdraws from Vishnu's body; he awakens and, after a five-thousand-year battle, slays the two demons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Yoganidra in this hymn?
Yoganidra is the Great Goddess (Mahamaya) in the form of the cosmic yogic sleep that overcomes Vishnu at the end of a kalpa. Brahma prays to her to release Vishnu from sleep so that he can slay the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, revealing the Goddess as the supreme power even over the Trimurti.
Where does 'Tvam Svaha Tvam Svadha' occur in the Durga Saptashati?
It is the opening of Brahma's stuti in Chapter 1 (the Madhu-Kaitabha episode), beginning at verse 63. It is one of the four great hymns (the first stuti) of the Devi Mahatmya.
What does it mean that the Goddess is Svaha, Svadha and Om?
It means she is the very power that makes all sacrifice, all sound and all scripture effective — Svaha (offering to gods), Svadha (offering to ancestors), and the syllable Om with its three-and-a-half matras. She is thus the living force behind all ritual and knowledge.
Can this hymn be recited on its own?
Yes. While it forms part of the full Saptashati paath, devotees also recite this first stuti independently as a complete prayer to Mahamaya, especially for awakening, protection and surrender to the divine Mother.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →