Sanskrit Encyclopaedia

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

From Rig Veda (7.59.12), attributed to Rishi Markandeya

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Also known as the Tryambakam Mantra or the Great Death-Conquering Mantra. It is addressed to Lord Shiva (Tryambaka — the three-eyed one) and is chanted for healing, protection, and liberation from the cycle of death.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे — Om, we worship the three-eyed one ॐ (om): the sacred syllable, the primordial sound त्र्यम्बकम् (tryambakam): the three-eyed one (tri = three, ambaka = eye) — an epithet of Shiva यजामहे (yajāmahe): we worship, we offer (first person plural of yaj = to worship)
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् — The fragrant one who nourishes and strengthens all beings सुगन्धिम् (sugandhim): the fragrant one, the one of sweet fragrance (su = good, gandhi = fragrance) पुष्टि (puṣṭi): nourishment, prosperity, well-being वर्धनम् (vardhanam): the one who increases, who causes to grow (from vṛdh = to grow)
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् — Like a cucumber from its stem उर्वारुकम् (urvārukam): cucumber, melon (a ripe fruit) इव (iva): like, as, just as बन्धनात् (bandhanāt): from bondage, from the stem (ablative of bandhana = bond, tie)
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् — May I be liberated from death, not from immortality मृत्योः (mṛtyoḥ): from death (ablative of mṛtyu) मुक्षीय (mukṣīya): may I be liberated, may I be freed (optative of muc = to release) मा (mā): not अमृतात् (amṛtāt): from immortality, from the nectar of immortality (a = not, mṛta = death; amṛta = deathlessness)

Full Meaning

We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva, who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings. Just as a ripe cucumber is effortlessly separated from its vine, may we be liberated from death — but not from immortality.