Ratri Suktam: More Than a Hymn — A Path to Inner
Awakening.
Ratri Suktam is a revered Vedic hymn dedicated to Goddess Durga, embodying the sacred and subtle
energy that resides within Narayana and in every sincere seeker (sādhak). This hymn celebrates the
divine feminine force that governs both the inner and outer realms of existence.
Chanting Ratri Suktam is believed to awaken the latent spiritual energy within and enhance mental
clarity and focus. It is especially helpful for those experiencing sleep disturbances, as its vibrations
harmonize the mind and promote deep, restful sleep. Beyond its calming effects, the recitation of
this Suktam also revitalizes the body’s energy field, fostering balance and vitality.
ॐ विश्वेश्वरीं जगद्धात्रीं स्थितिसंहारकारिणीम् ।
निद्रां भगवतीं विष्णोरतुलां तेजसः प्रभुः ॥१॥
ŏm Viśve[a-īi]śvarīm Jagad-ḍhātrīm Sthiti-Samhāra-k͟hārinnīm |
ṇidrām Bhagavatīm Vissnnor-ātulām ṭejasah Prabhuh ||1||
Om, the goddess of the entire universe (Vishweshwari), who supports all the worlds (Jagatdhatri),
who is the underlying cause behind the continuance of existence (Sthiti) as well as withdrawing of
creation (Samhara), who is the goddess with unparalled tejas (power) and is the yoganidra of Vishnu;
(to that goddess sri Brahma said …)
ब्रह्मोवाच
त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका ।
सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता ॥२॥
Brahmo[a-ū]vāca
ṭvam Svāhā ṭvam Svadhā ṭvam ḥi Vassattkārah Svara-[ā]atmikā |
Sudhā ṭvam-ākssare ṇitye ṭridhā ṃātra-[ā]atmikā Sthitā ||2||
Brahma said: you are swaha (sacrificial oblations to the gods), you are swadha (sacrificial oblations
to the manes), you are indeed vasatkara (exclamation during sacrifice after which the oblation is
poured); you are the essence behind these swaras (exclamations during sacrificial oblations) (and
thus the one to whom all sacrificial oblations go), you are the nectar (of bliss) within the akshara
(om), residing eternally as the essence behind the three maatras (a-u-m).
अर्धमात्रास्थिता नित्या यानुच्चार्या विशेषतः ।
त्वमेव सन्ध्या सावित्री त्वं देवि जननी परा ॥३॥
ārdha-ṃātrā-Sthitā ṇityā ẏa-ānuccāryā Viśessatah |
ṭvam-ĕva Sandhyā Sāvitrī ṭvam ḍevi Jananī Parā ||3||
You eternally abide in the very subtle bindu of the omkara, which in particular, cannot be pronounced
at all, you indeed are the Sandhya (the approaching calmness of the night and the essence of the
sandhya worship) and you indeed are the Savitri (the power of the sun during the day and the
essence of the gayatri mantra); you are the devi who is the supreme mother.
त्वयैतद्धार्यते विश्वं त्वयैतत् सृज्यते जगत् ।
त्वयैतत् पाल्यते देवि ! त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा ॥४॥
ṭvayai[ā-ĕ]tad-ḍhāryate Viśvam ṭvayai[ā-ĕ]tat Srjyate Jagat |
ṭvayai[ā-ĕ]tat Pālyate ḍevi ! ṭvamatsy-ānte Ca Sarvadā ||4||
You bear this universe, you create this world (from your power), and you sustain this creation, O devi
(through your power), and finally you merge this creation within you, always.
विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरूपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने ।
तथा संहृतिरूपान्ते जगतोऽस्य जगन्मये ॥५॥
Visrssttau Srsstti-ṟūpā ṭvam Sthiti-ṟūpā Ca Pālane |
ṭathā Samhrti-ṟūpa-ānte Jagato[ah-ā]sya Jaganmaye ||5||
During creation you are sristhi-rupa (of the form of the creator of this world), during sustaining you
are sthiti-rupa (of the form of the abider within the creation for nourishing it), and during the end of
the world, you assume the form of samhriti (of the form of withdrawer of creation within yourself);
you are thus the jaganmayi (who contain the whole world within herself).
महाविद्या महामाया महामेधा महास्मृतिः ।
महामोहा च भवती महादेवी महासुरी ॥६॥
ṃahā-Vidyā ṃahā-ṃāyā ṃahā-ṃedhā ṃahā-Smrtih |
ṃahā-ṃohā Ca Bhavatī ṃahā-ḍevī ṃahā-Surī ||6||
You are Mahavidya (the great secret knowledge beyond the mind), you are Mahamaya (the
knowledge which enchants the mind), you are Mahamedha (the great intelligence beyond the mind)
and you are Mahasmriti (the universal memory which knows everything), you are Mahamoha (the
knowledge which confounds the limited mind); you are Mahadevi, the worshipful great goddess.
प्रकृतिस्त्वं च सर्वस्य गुणत्रयविभाविनी ।
कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिमोहरात्रिश्च दारुणा ॥७॥
Prakrtis-ṭvam Ca Sarvasya ġunna-ṭraya-Vibhāvinī |
k͟hālarātrir-ṃahārātri-ṃoharātriś-Ca ḍārunnā ||7||
Through your three gunas, you have given rise to the entire prakriti (the universal nature), you are
kalaratri (the great night behind prakriti which causes dissolution), you are maharatri (the great
night behind prakriti which is full of mystery), you are moharatri (the great night behind prakriti
which causes delusion), you are (indeed) very very deep.
त्वं श्रीस्त्वमीश्वरी त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्बोधलक्षणा ।
लज्जा पुष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिस्त्वं शान्तिः क्षन्तिरेव च ॥८॥
ṭvam ṣrīs-ṭvam-īiśvarī ṭvam ḥrīs-ṭvam Buddhir-Bodha-l̤akssannā |
l̤ajjā Pussttis-ṭathā ṭussttis-ṭvam ṣāntih k͟hssantir-ĕva Ca ||8||
You are Sri (srim, the bija mantra of sri), you are the goddess (who brings prosperity), you are Hri
(hrim, the bija mantra of prana and heart space), you are (the power which awakens) the intelligence
and understanding, you are the feminine energy manifesting as modesty, nourishment, as well as
contentment; you are indeed peace and the power of forbearance.
खड्गिनी शूलिनी घोरा गदिनी चक्रिणी तथा ।
शङ्खिनी चापिनी बाणभुशुण्डी परिघायुधा ॥९॥
k͟hhaddginī ṣūlinī ġhorā ġadinī Cakrinnī ṭathā |
ṣangkhinī Cāpinī Bānna-Bhuśunnddī Parigha-[ā]ayudhā ||9||
Holding the khadga (sword, scymitar) and trishula (trident) you manifest your dreadful form (making
a terrible sound); with the other hands holding the gada (mace) and chakra (discus), and (holding)
shankha (conch shell), caapa (bow), bana (arrow), bhusundi (a type of weapon) and the weapon
parigha (club studded with iron).
सौम्या सौम्यतराशेषसौम्येभ्यस्त्वतिसुन्दरी ।
पराऽपराणां परमा त्वमेव परमेश्वरी ॥१०॥
Saumyā Saumyatara-āśessa-āaumyebhyas-ṭva[u-ā]ti-Sundarī |
Parā-[ā]parānnām Paramā ṭvam-ĕva Parame[a-īi]śvarī ||10||
You are Saumya (cool and placid like the moon), a greater manifestation of saumya, perfect and
whole, and surpassing all that is saumya; you are indeed exceedingly beautiful, you are beyond both
para (knowledge relating to the divine) and apara (knowledge relating to the world); you indeed are
the supreme goddess.
यच्च किञ्चित् क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्वाऽखिलात्मिके ।
तस्य सर्वस्य या शाक्तिः सा त्वं किं स्तूयसे तदा ॥११॥
ẏac-Ca k͟hin.cit k͟hvacid-Vastu Sad-āsad-Va-ākhila-[ā]atmike |
ṭasya Sarvasya ẏā ṣāktih Sā ṭvam k͟him Stūyase ṭadā ||11||
Whatever thing, however insignificant, present anywhere, whether they are sat (based on eternal
truth, lasting) or asat (not based on eternal truth, transient), O the atman (soul) of the whole
universe, are all manifestations of your shakti; how then can anyone praise you? (the praiser also
being part of you).
यया त्वया जगत्स्रष्टा जगत् पात्यत्ति यो जगत् ।
सोऽपि निद्रावशं नीतः कस्त्वां स्तोतुमिहेश्वरः ॥१२॥
ẏayā ṭvayā Jagat-Srassttā Jagat Pātyatti ẏo Jagat |
So[ah-ā]pi ṇidrā-Vaśam ṇītah k͟has-ṭvām Stotum-īhe[a-īi]śvarah ||12||
By you, (he who is) the creator of the world, the destroyer of the world, he who is the world itself (i.e.
the preserver of the world), even him (i.e. Vishnu), you have overpowered with sleep; what (further)
praise can therefore be uttered by me now, O Ishwara?
विष्णुः शरीरग्रहणमहमीशान एव च ।
कारितास्ते यतोऽतस्त्वां कः स्तोतं शक्तिमान् भवेत् ॥१३॥
Vissnnuh ṣarīra-ġrahannam-āham-īiśāna ĕva Ca |
k͟hārita-āste ẏato(ah-ā)tas-ṭvām k͟hah Stotam ṣaktimān Bhavet ||13||
You are indeed bearing the bodies of Vishnu, myself and Ishana (Shiva), they are all created from
your power; hence from what power of mine can I praise you? (since behind everything is your
power).
सा त्वमित्यं प्रभावैः स्वैरुदारैर्देवि संस्तुता ।
मोहयैतौ दुराधर्षावसुरौ मधुकैटभौ ॥१४॥
Sā ṭvam-ītyam Prabhāvaih Svair-ūdārair-ḍevi Samstutā |
ṃohayai[a-ĕ]tau ḍurādharssāva[au-āa]surau ṃadhu-k͟haittabhau ||14||
Even with all your powers thus (mentioned), O devi, you are praised for your great generosity,
therefore, (o devi), please delude these invincible demons, Madhu and Kaitabha.
प्रबोधं च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु ।
बोधश्च क्रियतामस्य हन्तुमेतौ महासुरौ ॥१५॥
Prabodham Ca Jagat-Svāmī ṇīyatām-ācyuto l̤aghu |
Bodhaś-Ca k͟hriyatām-āsya ḥantum-ĕtau ṃaha-āsurau ||15||
O devi, please wake up the lord of the world (i.e. Vishnu), and guide the Achyuta (another name of
Vishnu) quickly, please make known to him about these great demons, so that he can kill them.
