Durga Suktam

durgā sūktam is a Vedic prayer to the divine power that carries the seeker across difficulty. It is recited in the Taittiriya/Mahanarayana Upanishadic tradition of the Krishna Yajurveda, while several of its mantras are also connected with older Vedic sources addressed to Agni. The received liturgical hymn joins Vedic Agni symbolism with the later and living devotion to durgā dēvī.

The enduring power of this Vedic hymn comes from its honest naming of life: there are durgāṇi, hard crossings, dangers, obstructions, and inner knots that cannot be solved by wishful thinking. The prayer asks jātavēdas, the all-knowing Fire, to burn hostile forces and ferry the devotee across, just as a boat crosses the sea.

ōm ॥ jā̠tavē̍dasē sunavāma̠ sōma̍ marātīya̠tō nida̍hāti̠ vēda̍ḥ ।
sa na̍ḥ par-ṣa̠dati̍ du̠rgāṇi̠ viśvā̍ nā̠vēva̠ sindhu̍-nduri̠tā-'tya̠gniḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
We offer Soma to Agni, the knower of all births, who burns away hostile obstruction. May that Agni carry us across every difficulty, as a boat carries one across a river, and may he take us beyond all wrongdoing and suffering.

tāma̠gniva̍rṇā̠-ntapa̍sā jvala̠ntīṃ vai̍rōcha̠nī-ṅka̍rmapha̠lēṣu̠ juṣṭā̎m ।
du̠rgā-ndē̠vīgṃ śara̍ṇama̠ha-mprapa̍dyē su̠tara̍si tarasē̠ nama̍ḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
I take refuge in Goddess Durga, radiant like fire, blazing with tapas, shining universally, and present in the moral law of action and its fruits. Salutations to that swift saving power that carries us safely across.

agnē̠ tva-mpā̍rayā̠ navyō̍ a̠smānthsva̠stibhi̠rati̍ du̠rgāṇi̠ viśvā̎ ।
pūścha̍ pṛ̠thvī ba̍hu̠lā na̍ u̠rvī bhavā̍ tō̠kāya̠ tana̍yāya̠ śaṃyōḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Agni, ever-renewing guide, carry us with auspicious protections across all difficulties. May our dwelling and earth be broad, abundant, and peaceful for us, for our children, and for future generations.

viśvā̍ni nō du̠rgahā̍ jātavēda̠-ssindhu̠nna nā̠vā du̍ri̠tā-'ti̍par-ṣi ।
agnē̍ atri̠vanmana̍sā gṛṇā̠nō̎-'smāka̍-mbōdhyavi̠tā ta̠nūnā̎m ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Jatavedas, remover of difficulty, carry us beyond all misfortune like a boat across a river. Praised with a clear and devoted mind, be awake for us as the protector of our bodies and lives.

pṛ̠ta̠nā̠ jita̠gṃ̠ saha̍mānamu̠grama̠gnigṃ hu̍vēma para̠māthsa̠dhasthā̎t ।
sa na̍ḥ par-ṣa̠dati̍ du̠rgāṇi̠ viśvā̠ kṣāma̍ddē̠vō ati̍ duri̠tā-'tya̠gniḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
We invoke mighty Agni, conqueror of hostile forces, from the highest seat. May that divine Agni carry us across all dangers and beyond every misfortune.

pra̠tnōṣi̍ ka̠mīḍyō̍ adhva̠rēṣu̍ sa̠nāchcha̠ hōtā̠ navya̍ścha̠ satsi̍ ।
svāñchā̎-'gnē ta̠nuva̍-mpi̠praya̍svā̠smabhya̍-ñcha̠ saubha̍ga̠māya̍jasva ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Agni, ancient and ever worthy of praise, you are the priest in sacred acts from the beginning and yet are ever new. Nourish your own form and bring auspicious well-being for us.

gōbhi̠rjuṣṭa̍mayujō̠ niṣi̍kta̠-ntavē̎mdra viṣṇō̠ranu̠sañcha̍rēma ।
nāka̍sya pṛ̠ṣṭhama̠bhi sa̠ṃvasā̍nō̠ vaiṣṇa̍vīṃ lō̠ka i̠ha mā̍dayantām ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May we move in the luminous path of Indra and Vishnu, blessed and anointed by divine light. Dwelling toward the high heavenly summit, may the Vishnu realm gladden us even here.

ō-ṅkā̠tyā̠ya̠nāya̍ vi̠dmahē̍ kanyaku̠māri̍ dhīmahi । tannō̍ durgiḥ prachō̠dayā̎t ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May we know the Goddess associated with Katyayana; we meditate on the ever-pure Kanyakumari. May Durga inspire and guide our understanding.

ōṃ śānti̠-śśānti̠-śśānti̍ḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May peace settle at every level: in divine forces, in the outer world, and within the mind, so that the crossing over difficulty becomes complete.

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