Sri Durgä-Süktam
Taittiriya
Äranyakam – IV.10.2
It
is said that the obstacles in life may be overcome by chanting this Süktam. In
many places of the Rgveda, we come
across hymns dedicated to Agni. In Taittiriya
Äranyakam, these mantras are combined
into a Süktam titled Durgä-Süktam. Interestingly, the Devatä is Agni (1, 3-7).
Durgä as a deity is invoked only in mantra
2 and 8.
1.
‘jätavedase sunaväma somamarätiyato
nidahäti vedah|
sa nah
parshadati durgäni visvä näveva sindhum duritätyagnih||
We
extract the juice of the soma creeper for (to offer as an oblation in the fire
to) the Omniscient Isvara. The all-knowing Isvara destroys without a trace our
(internal) enemies. May the Lord in the altar of fire (the Fire deity), who is
the forerunner of the universe; help us cross the obstacles, as if a ship helps
us cross the ocean. May he destroy all our worn deeds, and make us rise above
them. (1)
2.
‘täm-agnivarnäm tapasä jvalantim
vairocanim karmaphaleshu jushtam|
durgäm devim(gm) saranam-aham prapadye
sutarasi tarase namah’||
I
surrender myself to (take refuge in) Goddess Durgä, who shining brilliantly
like the fire. The Consort of the Lord manifests in a variety of forms (the
Universe). The devotees propitiate Her through prayer, and enjoy the results of
their actions granted by her. O Durgä!, May You help me cross (the ocean of samsära). My prostrations unto you.
Kindly take me across (the ocean of samsära).
(2)
3.
‘agne tvam pärayä navyo asmän
svastibhir-ati durgäni visvä|
püsca prthvi bahulä na
urvi bhavä tokäya tanayäya samyoh’||
O
Ever-Young Lord! Kindly confer benedictions upon us, and help us cross all the
obstacles, and reach the goal (of human life). Kindly grant us auspicious
residence, land, and agricultural holdings. Kindly grant prosperity to our
children, and their children as well, and drive away all adversity. (3)
4.
‘visväni no durgahä jätavedas-sindhunnanävä
duritäti parshi|
agne! atrivan manasä grnäno’smäkam bodhyavitä
tanünäm’||
O
Lord! Kindly drive away the obstacles in our path, and eliminate all our
blemishes. You are like the ship, which can take us across the ocean of samsära. Like the noble sage Atri, I
constantly chant Your glory in my mind. Kindly be alert in protecting our
bodies (health). (4)
5.
‘prtanäjitam(gm) sahamäna-ugram-agnim
huvema paramät-sadhasthät|
sa nah parshadati-durgäni visväkshämaddevo
ati duritätygnih’||
We
invoke Isvara, the forerunner of the Universe (worshipped at the altar of
fire), who conquers, and destroys the armies of the enemies from His supreme
abode. May He, the brilliant One, help us overcome all the obstacles (in the
path of righteousness) and rise above the transient (world of objects). May He
forgive our misdeeds and protect us by helping us rise above the misdeeds. (5)
6.
‘pratnoshi kamidyo adhvareshu sanäcca hotä
navyasca satsi|
sväncä’gne tanuvam piprayasväsmabhyam ca saubhagamäyajasva||
O
Isvara! You spread happiness all around. You are extolled in the Vedic rituals
(by the Hotä priest), and You alone are present in the form of that priest in
the most ancient rituals of the gods, as well as in the present rituals of the
human-beings. (or you are extolled from time immemorial, and You shower
blessings on your devotees even now). Please cherish your form (as fire with
the oblations, as the Universe, with grace), and satiate that form. At the same
time, also bestow welfare on us. (6)
7.
‘gobhir-jushtam-ayujo nishiktam
tavendra-vishnor-anusancarema|
näkasya prshtham-abhisamvasäno vaishnavim
loka iha mädayantäm||
O
Lord! You pervade all, and You are untainted by any (blemish or sorrow). We
worship You, and follow Your footsteps (so that we also will not be tainted).
You abide happily above the heavens. We are Your people, living and serving You
in this world. Kindly bestow upon us cattle-wealth, so that there will be
plenty of milk (in our homes), and happiness (in our hearts). (7)
8.
‘kätyäyanäya vidmahe kanyakumäri dhimahi|
tan-no durgih pracodayät||
We
know and meditate upon Goddess Durgä, the offspring of Katya. May the Goddess,
in the form of the young daughter Umä of Himavän, inspire us in that
(meditation). (8)
Om
Peace Peace Peace.
***
