TANTROKTAM RĀTRISŪKTAM, also known as Brahma-Stuti, is derived from the Devi Mahatmya in Markendeya Purana where Brahma is asking the Goddess to wake up Vishnu and ask him to kill the dangerous demons Madhu and Kaitabha.
The first story of the Devi Mahatmya depicts Devi in her universal form as Shakti. Here Devi is central and key to the creation; she is the power that induces Narayana’s deep slumber on the waters of the cosmic ocean prior to the manifestation of the Universe which is a continuous cycle of manifestation, destruction and re-manifestation. Vishnu manifests from all pervading Narayan and goes into deep slumber on Adi Sesha. Two demons arise as thought forms from Vishnu’s sleeping body and endeavour to vanquish Brahma who is preparing to create the next cycle of the Universe. Brahma sings to the Great Goddess, asking her to withdraw from Vishnu so he may awaken and slay the demons. Devi agrees to withdraw and Vishnu awakens and vanquishes the demons. Here Devi serves as the agent who allows the cosmic order to be restored.
Click on the link below to listen to the Stuti:
Longer version – Artist Unknown:
Shorter Version – Anuradha Paudwal:
ॐ विश्वेश्वरीं जगद्धात्रीं स्थितिसंहारकारिणीम् ।
निद्रां भगवतीं विष्णोरतुलां तेजसः प्रभुः ॥१॥
I worship the Goddess controlling this Universe, the support of this World, the Maintainer and Destroyer.
I worship the Beneficial Sleep, the uncomparable splendour and authority of Vishnu.
ब्रह्मोवाच
त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका ।
सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता ॥२॥
O Devi, you are Svaha, Svadha, Vashatkar. The Svara are a form of yours only.
You are the nectar giving life. You are present in the form of the three matras A, U and M of the indestructible syllable AUM.
अर्धमात्रास्थिता नित्या यानुच्चार्या विशेषतः ।
त्वमेव सन्ध्या सावित्री त्वं देवि जननी परा ॥३॥
You are the unpronounceable half matra at the end of AUM.
You are Sandhya, Savitri, O Devi, you are the original Mother.
त्वयैतद्धार्यते विश्वं त्वयैतत् सृज्यते जगत् ।
त्वयैतत् पाल्यते देवि ! त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा ॥४॥
You are supporting this Universe, you create this World, you sustain this World.
At the end of the Universe, you absorb everything in yourself.
विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरूपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने ।
तथा संहृतिरूपान्ते जगतोऽस्य जगन्मये ॥५॥
At the time of generation of this World you are Srushti – the Creation, while the world continues to exist you are Sthiti – its stability,
and at the time of Dissolution you are Samhriti – the Destroyer.
महाविद्या महामाया महामेधा महास्मृतिः ।
महामोहा च भवती महादेवी महासुरी ॥६॥
You are the ultimate Knowledge, Illusion, Intelligence, Memory, Ignorance, Goddess and Controller.
प्रकृतिस्त्वं च सर्वस्य गुणत्रयविभाविनी ।
कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिमोहरात्रिश्च दारुणा ॥७॥
You are the Prakriti – the Fundamental material – which creates the three Gunas – the properties.
You are three kinds of Night – Time, the Fundamental and Ignorance.
त्वं श्रीस्त्वमीश्वरी त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्बोधलक्षणा ।
लज्जा पुष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिस्त्वं शान्तिः क्षन्तिरेव च ॥८॥
You are Shri – the Wealth, Ishvari – the controller, Hri – modesty, and intelligence in the form of perceptions.
You are bashfulness, enrichment, satisfaction, peace and forgiveness.
खड्गिनी शूलिनी घोरा गदिनी चक्रिणी तथा ।
शङ्खिनी चापिनी बाणभुशुण्डी परिघायुधा ॥९॥
Holding the Sword and Trident, You manifest your eternal form with the other hands you hold the Mace, Discus, Conch Shell, Bow, Arrow, Bhusundi and Parigha
सौम्या सौम्यतराशेषसौम्येभ्यस्त्वतिसुन्दरी ।
पराऽपराणां परमा त्वमेव परमेश्वरी ॥१०॥
You are beauty and more beauty. You are most beautiful amongst all the Saumya things.
You are Parameshvari, the Supreme Goddess, beyond the things near and far.
यच्च किञ्चित् क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्वाऽखिलात्मिके ।
तस्य सर्वस्य या शाक्तिः सा त्वं किं स्तूयसे तदा ॥११॥
O Omnipresent Devi, whatever things are really there or really not there, and whatever is their ability, you are verily that.
Under this condition, how can we pray to you?
यया त्वया जगत्स्रष्टा जगत् पात्यत्ति यो जगत् ।
सोऽपि निद्रावशं नीतः कस्त्वां स्तोतुमिहेश्वरः ॥१२॥
You have put to sleep even Vishnu, who creates, maintains and destroys this World, under that condition who is able to pray to you?
विष्णुः शरीरग्रहणमहमीशान एव च ।
कारितास्ते यतोऽतस्त्वां कः स्तोतं शक्तिमान् भवेत् ॥१३॥
You have given a form to myself, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahadeva, so who has the ability to pray to you?
सा त्वमित्यं प्रभावैः स्वैरुदारैर्देवि संस्तुता ।
मोहयैतौ दुराधर्षावसुरौ मधुकैटभौ ॥१४॥
O Devi, you are praised due to these your beneficial abilities.
Please put under a spell these two Asurs, Madhu and Kaitabha, who are difficult to battle with.
प्रबोधं च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु ।
बोधश्च क्रियतामस्य हन्तुमेतौ महासुरौ ॥१५॥
Please wake up Vishnu quickly and also create an idea in him to kill these two mighty demons.
ईति तन्त्रोक्तं रात्रिसूक्तं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Thus ends the Tantrokta Ratrisuktam
