Tantrokta Ratri Suktam

The Tantrokta Ratri Suktam is one of the important readings of the Shri Durga Saptashati. It is recited after the Devi Kavach, Argala Stotra, Keelaka and Vedokta Ratri Suktam. In it, Bhagavati is remembered in many forms, such as Vishveshvari, Jagaddhatri, Mahamaya, Mahavidya, Mahadevi and Narayani. The Goddess is described as the power that creates, sustains and dissolves the universe. In this sukta, the Goddess is also asked to awaken Lord Vishnu from his yoganidra (divine sleep) and to destroy demons such as Madhu and Kaitabha.

Atha Tantroktam Ratrisuktam (॥ अथ तन्त्रोक्तं रात्रिसूक्तम् ॥)

Verse 1

ॐ विश्वेश्वरीं जगद्धात्रीं स्थितिसंहारकारिणीम्। निद्रां भगवतीं विष्णोरतुलां तेजसः प्रभुः॥1॥

Om Vishveshvarim Jagaddhatrim Sthiti-Samhara-Karinim | Nidram Bhagavatim Vishnor Atulam Tejasah Prabhuh || 1 ||

Meaning: Salutations to Bhagavati Nidra (the Goddess of Sleep), the divine and wondrous power of Lord Vishnu, who is the ruler of the whole universe, who nourishes and sustains the world, and who also dissolves it when the time comes.

Brahma Uvacha (ब्रह्मोवाच)

Verse 2

त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका। सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता॥2॥

Tvam Svaha Tvam Svadha Tvam Hi Vashatkarah Svaratmika | Sudha Tvamakshare Nitye Tridha Matratmika Sthita || 2 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! You are Svaha, through which offerings are made to the gods. You are Svadha, through which offerings are made to the ancestors. You are also the power of the Vashatkara and of sound (svara). You are of the nature of nectar and are imperishable. You abide in the form of the three matras (the three measures of Om).

Verse 3

अर्धमात्रास्थिता नित्या यानुच्चार्या विशेषतः। त्वमेव सन्ध्या सावित्री त्वं देवि जननी परा॥3॥

Ardhamatra-Sthita Nitya Yanuchcharya Visheshatah | Tvameva Sandhya Savitri Tvam Devi Janani Para || 3 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! You abide in that eternal half-matra which cannot be fully pronounced. You are Sandhya, you are Savitri, and you are the supreme Mother.

Verse 4

त्वयैतद्धार्यते विश्वं त्वयैतत्सृज्यते जगत्। त्वयैतत्पाल्यते देवि त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा॥4॥

Tvayaitad Dharyate Vishvam Tvayaitat Srijyate Jagat | Tvayaitat Palyate Devi Tvamatsyante Cha Sarvada || 4 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! This entire universe is upheld by your power. It is by your power that it is created, it is your strength that sustains it, and in the end it is by your power that it is dissolved.

Verse 5

विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरुपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने। तथा संहृतिरूपान्ते जगतोऽस्य जगन्मये॥5॥

Visrishtau Srishtirupa Tvam Sthitirupa Cha Palane | Tatha Samhriti-Rupante Jagato'sya Jaganmaye || 5 ||

Meaning: O Goddess who pervades the universe! At the time of creation you take the form of creation, at the time of preservation the form of sustenance, and at the end of the world the form of dissolution.

Verse 6

महाविद्या महामाया महामेधा महास्मृतिः। महामोहा च भवती महादेवी महासुरी॥6॥

Mahavidya Mahamaya Mahamedha Mahasmritih | Mahamoha Cha Bhavati Mahadevi Mahasuri || 6 ||

Meaning: You are Mahavidya (supreme knowledge), Mahamaya, great intellect, great memory and the power of great delusion. You are Mahadevi, and you are also the great power that destroys the demons.

Verse 7

प्रकृतिस्त्वं च सर्वस्य गुणत्रयविभाविनी। कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिर्मोहरात्रिश्च दारुणा॥7॥

Prakritis Tvam Cha Sarvasya Gunatraya-Vibhavini | Kalaratrir Maharatrir Moharatrish Cha Daruna || 7 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! You are the primordial nature (prakriti) of the whole universe and the one who brings forth the three gunas — sattva, rajas and tamas. You also abide as Kalaratri, Maharatri and the terrible Moharatri.

Verse 8

त्वं श्रीस्त्वमीश्वरी त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्बोधलक्षणा। लज्जा पुष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिस्त्वं शान्तिः क्षान्तिरेव च॥8॥

Tvam Shris Tvam Ishvari Tvam Hristvam Buddhir Bodhalakshana | Lajja Pushtistatha Tushtistvam Shantih Kshantireva Cha || 8 ||

Meaning: You are Shri, that is, prosperity; you are Ishvari; you are Hri, the power of humility and propriety. You are intellect and knowledge. You also dwell in all beings as modesty, nourishment, contentment, peace and forgiveness.

Verse 9

खड्गिनी शूलिनी घोरा गदिनी चक्रिणी तथा। शङ्खिनी चापिनी बाणभुशुण्डीपरिघायुधा॥9॥

Khadgini Shulini Ghora Gadini Chakrini Tatha | Shankhini Chapini Bana-Bhushundi-Parighayudha || 9 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! You bear many weapons, such as the sword, trident, mace, discus, conch, bow and arrows, bhushundi and parigha (iron club), and your form is terrifying to the wicked.

Verse 10

सौम्या सौम्यतराशेषसौम्येभ्यस्त्वतिसुन्दरी। परापराणां परमा त्वमेव परमेश्वरी॥10॥

Saumya Saumyatarashesha-Saumyebhyas Tvatisundari | Paraparanam Parama Tvameva Parameshvari || 10 ||

Meaning: Your form is supremely calm, gentle and beautiful. You are more beautiful than all beautiful and gentle things. You are higher than the highest, and you are the Supreme Goddess.

Verse 11

यच्च किञ्चित् क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्वाखिलात्मिके। तस्य सर्वस्य या शक्तिः सा त्वं किं स्तूयसे तदा॥11॥

Yachcha Kinchit Kvachidvastu Sadasad Vakhilatmike | Tasya Sarvasya Ya Shaktih Sa Tvam Kim Stuyase Tada || 11 ||

Meaning: O Goddess whose form is the whole universe! Whatever exists anywhere in the world, whether visible or invisible, its power is you alone. Therefore it is not even possible to describe your glory.

Verse 12

यया त्वया जगत्स्रष्टा जगत्पात्यत्ति यो जगत्। सोऽपि निद्रावशं नीतः कस्त्वां स्तोतुमिहेश्वरः॥12॥

Yaya Tvaya Jagatsrashta Jagat Patyatti Yo Jagat | So'pi Nidravasham Nitah Kastvam Stotum Iheshvarah || 12 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! Even Lord Vishnu — whose power allows Brahma to create the world and who himself sustains it — has come under the sway of your yoganidra. Who could be capable of fully praising such a great power?

Verse 13

विष्णुः शरीरग्रहणमहमीशान एव च। कारितास्ते यतोऽतस्त्वां कः स्तोतुं शक्तिमान् भवेत्॥13॥

Vishnuh Sharira-Grahanam Aham Ishana Eva Cha | Karitaste Yato'tastvam Kah Stotum Shaktiman Bhavet || 13 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and I, Brahma, are each established in our own work and form only because of your power. Who, then, is capable of describing your full glory?

Verse 14

सा त्वमित्थं प्रभावैः स्वैरुदारैर्देवि संस्तुता। मोहयैतौ दुराधर्षावसुरौ मधुकैटभौ॥14॥

Sa Tvamittham Prabhavaih Svair Udarair Devi Samstuta | Mohayaitau Duradharshav Asurau Madhu-Kaitabhau || 14 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! We praise you through these great and wondrous powers of yours. Now, by your maya, bewilder the mighty demons Madhu and Kaitabha.

Verse 15

प्रबोधं च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु। बोधश्च क्रियतामस्य हन्तुमेतौ महासुरौ॥15॥

Prabodham Cha Jagatsvami Niyatam Achyuto Laghu | Bodhashcha Kriyatamasya Hantumetau Mahasurau || 15 ||

Meaning: O Goddess! Quickly awaken Lord Vishnu, the master of the universe, from his sleep, and having awakened him, give him the power to slay these two mighty demons.

Conclusion

॥ इति रात्रिसूक्तम् ॥

|| Iti Ratrisuktam ||

The Tantrokta Ratri Suktam salutes the all-pervading power of the Goddess and ends with the prayer to awaken Lord Vishnu so that Madhu and Kaitabha can be slain.