Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Meaning, Word by Word: Tryambakam Yajamahe Explained, When and How to Chant
The Mahamrityunjaya mantra means: we worship the three-eyed Shiva, fragrant and nourishing; as a ripe cucumber drops from its stem, free us from the bond, not from immortality. Rigveda 7.59.12, explained word by word with when and how to chant.
The Mahamrityunjaya mantra means, in plain English: "We worship the three-eyed one (Shiva), who is fragrant and who increases nourishment. As a ripe cucumber drops from its stem, free us from the grip of death — not from immortality." It is verse 7.59.12 of the Rigveda. Below you will find the word-by-word meaning, what the cucumber simile really says, and when and how to chant it.
The full mantra and how to pronounce it
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ॥
Transliteration: Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti-vardhanam, Urvarukam-iva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat.
Broken into syllables: Om | Tryam-ba-kam | Ya-jaa-ma-hay | Su-gan-dhim | Push-ti-var-dha-nam || Ur-vaa-ru-kam-i-va | Ban-dha-naat | Mrit-yor | Muk-shee-ya | Maa | Am-ri-taat ||
Two spots need care. First, "bandhanan-mrityor" is not one word. It is "bandhanat" (from the bond) and "mrityor" (from death) joined together. Sanskrit joins neighbouring words this way, a rule called sandhi. Second, "maamritat" is really two words, "ma" (not) and "amritat" (from immortality). In the Devanagari text the mark ऽ, called an avagraha, sits between them to show the join. These two spots are where both pronunciation and meaning most often go wrong.
Where does the Mahamrityunjaya mantra come from?
The mantra is verse 12 of hymn 59 in the seventh book (mandala) of the Rigveda, written as Rigveda 7.59.12. The same verse also appears in the Yajurveda. By traditional attribution, its rishi is Vasishtha and its devata is Rudra. A rishi is the seer to whom tradition says the verse was revealed; the devata is the deity the verse addresses. Tradition identifies Rudra with Shiva, which is why this is known as a Shiva mantra.
Because it opens with the word "tryambakam", it is also called the Tryambaka mantra.
Mahamrityunjaya mantra meaning, word by word
The table below gives each word, its transliteration and its plain meaning. Read it once, and the sense of each word travels with you as you chant.
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ॐ | Om | the sacred syllable that opens the mantra |
| त्र्यम्बकं | Tryambakam | the three-eyed one (Shiva) |
| यजामहे | Yajamahe | we worship |
| सुगन्धिं | Sugandhim | fragrant |
| पुष्टिवर्धनम् | Pushti-vardhanam | who increases nourishment and well-being |
| उर्वारुकमिव | Urvarukam-iva | like the cucumber (gourd) |
| बन्धनात् | Bandhanat | from the bond (the stem) |
| मृत्योर् | Mrityor | from death |
| मुक्षीय | Mukshiya | may we be freed |
| मा | Ma | not |
| अमृतात् | Amritat | from immortality |
The first line is praise: whom we worship, and why. The second line is the request: what we ask for. Note "yajamahe". It is "we worship", not "I worship". The mantra is collective from its very first verb.
"Pushti-vardhanam" deserves a second look. Pushti means nourishment, fullness, good health; vardhanam means one who increases it. This is why tradition ties the mantra so closely to prayers for recovery. The mantra itself speaks of nourishment and well-being.
What does the cucumber simile actually mean?
This is the most beautiful part of the mantra, and the most misunderstood. Urvaruka is a cucumber or gourd, a fruit that grows on a vine. An unripe cucumber is held tightly to the vine. Pull it, and either the fruit tears or the stem snaps. But when the cucumber is fully ripe, the stem loosens on its own. The fruit separates from the vine without a tug and without a wound. Nothing is hurt, neither the vine nor the fruit.
The mantra prays through this image: free us from the bond in exactly this way, like a ripe fruit, gently, without struggle. It is not a demand to "defeat" or "postpone" anything. It is a prayer for ripening, for completeness, and for a natural letting go. That is why it is understood as a mantra of fearlessness rather than fear.
Many pages, in Hindi and in English, render this line as "free us from death and grant us immortality." That translation drops the cucumber altogether and reverses the last two words. Dropping the simile changes the whole spirit of the verse. The request is "free us", and the simile tells us how: gently, when ripe, without being torn away.
"Ma amritat": not from immortality
The last two words are ma (not) and amritat (from immortality). The verb "mukshiya", may we be freed, applies to both halves: may we be freed from death, but not freed from immortality. In plain words: release us from the bond, but do not separate us from amrit, the immortal essence.
In one line: let go of the vine, not of the life-sap. The difference looks small, but the whole mantra rests on it. "Grant us immortality" is a demand. "Do not cut us off from amrit" is a statement of trust, that amrit is already ours and we ask only not to be severed from it.
When should you chant the Mahamrityunjaya mantra?
Tradition gives three main occasions.
- Monday: Monday is regarded as Shiva's day. Offering water on the Shivling and chanting the Mahamrityunjaya mantra go together on this day. If you have wondered why water is offered on the Shivling on Mondays, that is covered in a separate article.
- Shivratri: Mahashivratri, and also the Masik Shivratri that comes every month, are considered fitting for this japa. The vrat and puja method for the Masik Shivratri of 10 September 2026 is here.
- For someone's recovery: When someone at home is unwell or undergoing treatment, the family chants this mantra for them. This is its most common everyday use.
Many people also keep it as a daily practice. No date or day is compulsory. The mantra can be chanted on any day, at any time. Monday and Shivratri are simply the occasions tradition holds special.
How to chant the Mahamrityunjaya mantra
- Bathe and sit in a quiet place. A Shivling or a picture of Shiva in front of you is good, but not required.
- Tradition favours 108 repetitions, one round of a mala (prayer beads). Count on a rudraksha mala or any mala you have. If time is short, chant whatever number is comfortable; clear pronunciation and attention matter more than the count.
- Keep a slow pace. Be especially clear on "bandhanan-mrityor" and "maamritat". These are the first to slur when you hurry.
- If you are chanting for someone else, say their name and state your intention silently at the start. This is called a sankalp, a clear statement of purpose.
- When you finish, sit in silence for a few moments before getting up.
One thing matters here. The mantra is a prayer, not a substitute for treatment. Chant it for someone's recovery, and let their medical care continue alongside. Tradition itself says the same: prayer and treatment, together.
Common questions about the Mahamrityunjaya mantra
Can anyone chant the Mahamrityunjaya mantra?
Yes. The verb "yajamahe" is plural, "we worship". It is not the mantra of one person or one group; it is a collective prayer. Men and women of any age can chant it. The belief is that sincerity and clear pronunciation are enough.
Can you chant it for someone else?
Yes, and this is the most common reason people take it up. When someone in the family is unwell, the household chants with a sankalp in that person's name. It can be done for someone far away too. Since the mantra itself says "we", including another person in the prayer fits its spirit exactly.
What if I mispronounce it?
Do not stop; correct it. Practise slowly with the syllable-by-syllable line above. The belief is that the feeling comes first and accuracy follows with practice.
Can it be chanted silently?
Yes. Tradition accepts chanting aloud, in a low voice, and silently in the mind. When you are travelling or somewhere speaking is awkward, silent japa is the natural choice.
Is it all right to chant without knowing the meaning?
You can, but chanting with the meaning is a different experience. When you see the ripe cucumber as you say "urvarukam-iva", and hold on to amrit as you say "maamritat", the mantra stops being repetition and becomes a prayer.
In short: the Mahamrityunjaya mantra is not a mantra of fear. It is a prayer to let go as gently as a ripe fruit, and to stay joined to the immortal essence. If you want to check the tithi for the next Monday or Shivratri, our daily panchang carries the tithi and vrat details every day.