Goddess Ratri

rātri sūktam

(Ratri Suktam in English (IAST))

From Rigveda (10.127)

The Ratri Suktam is a powerful Vedic hymn from the tenth mandala of the Rigveda, dedicated to Ratri, the Goddess of Night. Unlike common perceptions of darkness, this hymn venerates the night as a divine, protective force that provides rest and sanctuary to all living beings. It is recited to invoke the grace of the Divine Mother, offering profound spiritual tranquility and protection from fear. In the context of the Devi Mahatmya, it is often chanted to prepare the mind for deep meditation, helping the practitioner overcome darkness, ignorance, and internal anxieties while inviting auspiciousness and clarity.

(ṛ.10.127)
asya śrī rātrīti sūktasya kuśika ṛṣiḥ rātrirdevatā, gāyatrīcchandaḥ,
śrījagadambā prītyarthe saptaśatīpāṭhādau jape viniyogaḥ |
rātrī॒ vya̭khyadāya॒tī pṷru॒trā de॒vya॒1̭kṣabhiḥ̭ |
viśvā॒ adhi॒ śriyo̭-'dhita || 1
orva̭prā॒ ama̭rtyā ni॒vato̭ de॒vyu॒1̭dvataḥ̭ |
jyoti̭ṣā bādhate॒ tamaḥ̭ || 2
niru॒ svasā̭ramaskṛto॒ṣasa̭-nde॒vyā̭ya॒tī |
apedṷ hāsate॒ tamaḥ̭ || 3
sā no̭ a॒dya yasyā̭ va॒ya-nni te॒ yāma॒nnavi̭kṣmahi |
vṛ॒kṣe na va̭sa॒tiṃ-va~yaḥ̭ || 4
ni grāmā̭so avikṣata॒ ni pa॒dvanto॒ ni pa॒kṣiṇaḥ̭ |
ni śye॒nāsa̭ścida॒rthinaḥ̭ || 5
yā॒vayā̭ vṛ॒kyaṃ॒1̭ vṛkaṃ̭-ya~॒vaya̭ ste॒namṷ̄rmye |
athā̭ na-ssu॒tarā̭ bhava || 6
upa̭ mā॒ pepi̭śa॒ttamaḥ̭ kṛ॒ṣṇaṃ-vya~̭ktamasthita |
uṣa̭ ṛ॒ṇeva̭ yātaya || 7
upa̭ te॒ gā i॒vāka̭raṃ-vṛ~ṇī॒ṣva dṷhitardivaḥ |
rātri॒ stoma॒-nna ji॒gyuṣḙ || 8

Explore More