Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Literal Meaning of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra


ॐ aum = is a holy/otherworldly syllable in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. 

त्र्यम्बकं tryambakam = the three-peered toward one (accusative case), 

त्रि + अम्बकम् = tri + ambakam = three + eye 

यजामहे yajāmahe = We love, love, respect, love, 

सुगन्धिम् sugandhim = sweet scent, fragrant (accusative case), 

पुष्टि puṣṭi = A very much supported condition, flourishing, prosperous, completion of life, 

वर्धनम् vardhanam = One who supports, fortifies, causes to increment (in wellbeing, riches, prosperity); who heartens, elates, and reestablishes wellbeing; a great plant specialist, 

पुष्टि-वर्धनम् = puṣṭi+vardhanam = पुष्टि: वर्धते अनेन तत् = puṣṭiḥ vardhate anena tat (samas)= The person who sustains another person and gives his life completion. 

उर्वारुकमिव urvārukam-iva = like the cucumber or melon (in the accusative case); or like a major peach. 

बन्धनान् bandhanān = "from bondage" {i.e. from the stem of the cucumber} (of the gourd); (the closure is in reality long an, at that point - t, which changes to n/anusvara in view of sandhi) 

मृत्योर्मुक्षीय mṛtyormukṣīya = Free, free From death 

मृत्योः + मुक्षीय = mṛtyoḥ + mukṣīya= from death + free (Vedic utilization) 

माऽमृतात् mā'mṛtāt can be interpreted in various distinctive ways: 

1) मा + अमृतात् = mā + amṛtāt = not + interminability, nectar 

Interpretation would be: (Free me from death however) not from everlasting status. 

2) मा (माम्) + अमृतात् = mā (short type of mām) + amṛtāt = me + interminability