Durga Suktam — Word-by-Word Meaning
दुर्गा सूक्तम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
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
Complete Translation
We press the Soma juice for Jataveda (Agni). May he who knows all burn away our enemies. May that fire carry us across all dangers like a boat across the ocean.
I take refuge in Goddess Durga — who is fire-colored, blazing with austerity, radiant, worshipped for the fruits of karma. Salutations to you who help us cross over all difficulties.
O Agni, being ever new, carry us across all dangers with your blessings. May the earth be vast and wide for us. Be the source of happiness for our children and descendants.
O Jataveda, destroyer of all difficulties, carry us across all sorrows like a boat across the ocean. O Agni, being mindful like Sage Atri, be the protector of our bodies.
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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