Rātri Sūktam — Hymn to the Divine Night

The Gentle Descent of the Goddess of Night

When the brilliance of the sun withdraws and the world slips into silence, the Vedas invoke Rātri Devī, the goddess of the night. She is not darkness that blinds, but darkness that protects — a soothing veil allowing rest, introspection, and renewal.

Rātri Sūktam, from the Ṛgveda (Mandala 10, Hymn 127), is a timeless ode that celebrates the sacred rhythm of nature — the coming of night as divine order, not absence of light. The seer of this hymn is Rishi Kushika, and it forms a pair with Uṣas Sūktam, the hymn to Dawn.

The Meaning and Essence

In Rātri Sūktam, the goddess is described as shining with stars, spreading her darkness like a cloak. She draws the daylight to its rest, allowing beings to retreat into calmness. She is the guardian of beings, restraining harm and ensuring safety through the stillness of night.

She represents the mystery of the unseen, the power of rest and withdrawal, and the sacred feminine that nourishes the cosmos by rhythm and balance.

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Sanskrit

॥ अथ तन्त्रोक्तं रात्रिसूक्तम् ॥

ॐ विश्वेश्वरीं जगद्धात्रीं स्थितिसंहारकारिणीम्।

निद्रां भगवतीं विष्णोरतुलां तेजसः प्रभुः॥ १॥

ब्रह्मोवाच:त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका।

सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता॥ २॥

अर्धमात्रास्थिता नित्या यानुच्चार्या विशेषतः।

त्वमेव सन्ध्या सावित्री त्वं देवि जननी परा॥ ३॥

त्वयैतद्धार्यते विश्वं त्वयैतत्सृज्यते जगत्।

त्वयैतत्पाल्यते देवि त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा॥ ४॥

विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरुपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने।

तथा संहृतिरूपान्ते जगतोऽस्य जगन्मये॥ ५॥

महाविद्या महामाया महामेधा महास्मृतिः।

महामोहा च भवती महादेवी महासुरी॥ ६॥

प्रकृतिस्त्वं च सर्वस्य गुणत्रयविभाविनी।

कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिर्मोहरात्रिश्च दारुणा॥ ७॥

त्वं श्रीस्त्वमीश्वरी त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्बोधलक्षणा।

लज्जा पुष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिस्त्वं शान्तिः क्षान्तिरेव च॥ ८॥

खड्गिनी शूलिनी घोरा गदिनी चक्रिणी तथा।

शङ्खिनी चापिनी बाणभुशुण्डीपरिघायुधा॥ ९॥

सौम्या सौम्यतराशेषसौम्येभ्यस्त्वतिसुन्दरी।

परापराणां परमा त्वमेव परमेश्वरी॥ १०॥

यच्च किञ्चित् क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्वाखिलात्मिके।

तस्य सर्वस्य या शक्तिः सा त्वं किं स्तूयसे तदा॥ ११॥

यया त्वया जगत्स्रष्टा जगत्पात्यत्ति यो जगत्।

सोऽपि निद्रावशं नीतः कस्त्वां स्तोतुमिहेश्वरः॥ १२॥

विष्णुः शरीरग्रहणमहमीशान एव च।

कारितास्ते यतोऽतस्त्वां कः स्तोतुं शक्तिमान् भवेत्॥ १३॥

सा त्वमित्थं प्रभावैः स्वैरुदारैर्देवि संस्तुता।

मोहयैतौ दुराधर्षावसुरौ मधुकैटभौ॥ १४॥

प्रबोधं च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु।

बोधश्च क्रियतामस्य हन्तुमेतौ महासुरौ॥ १५॥

॥ इति रात्रिसूक्तम् ॥

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English

|| atha tantrōktaṁ rātrisūktam ||

ōṁ viśvēśvarīṁ jagaddhātrīṁ sthitisaṁhārakāriṇīm|

nidrāṁ bhagavatīṁ viṣṇōratulāṁ tējasaḥ prabhuḥ|| 1||

brahmōvāca:tvaṁ svāhā tvaṁ svadhā tvaṁ hi vaṣaṭkāraḥ svarātmikā|

sudhā tvamakṣarē nityē tridhā mātrātmikā sthitā|| 2||

ardhamātrāsthitā nityā yānuccāryā viśēṣataḥ|

tvamēva sandhyā sāvitrī tvaṁ dēvi jananī parā|| 3||

tvayaitaddhāryatē viśvaṁ tvayaitatsr̥jyatē jagat|

tvayaitatpālyatē dēvi tvamatsyantē ca sarvadā|| 4||

visr̥ṣṭau sr̥ṣṭirupā tvaṁ sthitirūpā ca pālanē|

tathā saṁhr̥tirūpāntē jagatō’sya jaganmayē|| 5||

mahāvidyā mahāmāyā mahāmēdhā mahāsmr̥tiḥ|

mahāmōhā ca bhavatī mahādēvī mahāsurī|| 6||

prakr̥tistvaṁ ca sarvasya guṇatrayavibhāvinī|

kālarātrirmahārātrirmōharātriśca dāruṇā|| 7||

tvaṁ śrīstvamīśvarī tvaṁ hrīstvaṁ buddhirbōdhalakṣaṇā|

lajjā puṣṭistathā tuṣṭistvaṁ śāntiḥ kṣāntirēva ca|| 8||

khaḍginī śūlinī ghōrā gadinī cakriṇī tathā|

śaṅkhinī cāpinī bāṇabhuśuṇḍīparighāyudhā|| 9||

saumyā saumyatarāśēṣasaumyēbhyastvatisundarī|

parāparāṇāṁ paramā tvamēva paramēśvarī|| 10||

yacca kiñcit kvacidvastu sadasadvākhilātmikē|

tasya sarvasya yā śaktiḥ sā tvaṁ kiṁ stūyasē tadā|| 11||

yayā tvayā jagatsraṣṭā jagatpātyatti yō jagat|

sō’pi nidrāvaśaṁ nītaḥ kastvāṁ stōtumihēśvaraḥ|| 12||

viṣṇuḥ śarīragrahaṇamahamīśāna ēva ca|

kāritāstē yatō’tastvāṁ kaḥ stōtuṁ śaktimān bhavēt|| 13||

sā tvamitthaṁ prabhāvaiḥ svairudārairdēvi saṁstutā|

mōhayaitau durādharṣāvasurau madhukaiṭabhau|| 14||

prabōdhaṁ ca jagatsvāmī nīyatāmacyutō laghu|

bōdhaśca kriyatāmasya hantumētau mahāsurau|| 15||

|| iti rātrisūktam ||

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Chanting Guide

atha tantroktam' raatrisooktam ..

om vishveshvareem' jagaddhaatreem' sthitisam'haarakaarineem.

nidraam' bhagavateem' vishnoratulaam' tejasah' prabhuh'.. 1..

brahmovaacha:tvam' svaahaa tvam' svadhaa tvam' hi vashat'kaarah' svaraatmikaa.

sudhaa tvamakshare nitye tridhaa maatraatmikaa sthitaa.. 2..

ardhamaatraasthitaa nityaa yaanuchchaaryaa visheshatah'.

tvameva sandhyaa saavitree tvam' devi jananee paraa.. 3..

tvayaitaddhaaryate vishvam' tvayaitatsri'jyate jagat.

tvayaitatpaalyate devi tvamatsyante cha sarvadaa.. 4..

visri'sht'au sri'sht'irupaa tvam' sthitiroopaa cha paalane.

tathaa sam'hri'tiroopaante jagato'sya jaganmaye.. 5..

mahaavidyaa mahaamaayaa mahaamedhaa mahaasmri'tih'.

mahaamohaa cha bhavatee mahaadevee mahaasuree.. 6..

prakri'tistvam' cha sarvasya gunatrayavibhaavinee.

kaalaraatrirmahaaraatrirmoharaatrishcha daarunaa.. 7..

tvam' shreestvameeshvaree tvam' hreestvam' buddhirbodhalakshanaa.

lajjaa pusht'istathaa tusht'istvam' shaantih' kshaantireva cha.. 8..

khad'ginee shoolinee ghoraa gadinee chakrinee tathaa.

shankhinee chaapinee baanabhushund'eeparighaayudhaa.. 9..

saumyaa saumyataraasheshasaumyebhyastvatisundaree.

paraaparaanaam' paramaa tvameva parameshvaree.. 10..

yachcha kinchit kvachidvastu sadasadvaakhilaatmike.

tasya sarvasya yaa shaktih' saa tvam' kim' stooyase tadaa.. 11..

yayaa tvayaa jagatsrasht'aa jagatpaatyatti yo jagat.

so'pi nidraavasham' neetah' kastvaam' stotumiheshvarah'.. 12..

vishnuh' shareeragrahanamahameeshaana eva cha.

kaaritaaste yato'tastvaam' kah' stotum' shaktimaan bhavet.. 13..

saa tvamittham' prabhaavaih' svairudaarairdevi sam'stutaa.

mohayaitau duraadharshaavasurau madhukait'abhau.. 14..

prabodham' cha jagatsvaamee neeyataamachyuto laghu.

bodhashcha kriyataamasya hantumetau mahaasurau.. 15..

.. iti raatrisooktam ..

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The Deeper Message

Rātri Devī teaches us to embrace silence and pause.Just as the body needs rest, the mind too requires retreat. In the night’s stillness, awareness turns inward — and there, the inner light shines brightest.

The hymn invites us to surrender control, to trust the unseen, and to recognize that creation itself breathes through cycles of light and dark, action and rest, day and night.

How to Chant

• When: After sunset or before sleep; during Navarātri, Amāvasyā, or any night of spiritual observance.

• Where: In a calm space, with a small lamp or diya lit — symbolizing the inner flame that burns through the night.

• How: Chant with a slow, meditative rhythm. You may follow the Ghana Pāṭha or simple Pada Pāṭha form, letting the sound ripple through silence.

• Intention: Invoke protection, peace, and inner stillness.

Reflection

Just as Uṣas Sūktam celebrates awakening, Rātri Sūktam celebrates rest — both essential halves of divine rhythm.Chanting this hymn attunes our body and mind to cosmic order (ṛta), bringing a sense of harmony, security, and quiet joy.

Let this Diwali season, or on any sacred night, be your moment to bow to the goddess of stillness — the eternal Rātri Devī who guards all beings in her tranquil embrace.