ॐ त्र्यम्बकम् यजामहे सुगन्धिम् पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माम्रतात् ।।

Om Tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushhti vardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhanan mrityor mukshiya maamritath.

aum tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam

urvārukam iva banmukṣīya māmṛtāt

We hail the fragrant Three-eyed One who nourishes [all] and increases the [sweet] fullness of life. As the cucumber is liberated from captivity [from its stem], may we [also] be liberated (mukshiya) from death (mrityor) not from immortality (maamritaat).

· ॐ = oṁ = is a sacred/mystical syllable in Sanatan Dharma or hindu religions, i.e. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism (symbol of ultimate reality).

· त्र्यम्बकम् = tryambakam, त्रि (Try=Three)+ अम्बकम् (Ambakam=Eyes)= “one who has three eyes” referring to Rudra or Siva who share the same attributes. (1) Firstly, in His ‘vishwaroopa’ or universal form, the three eyes symbolically signify the sun, moon and fire. Sunlight during the day, moon at night and fire in their absence signify illumination. (2) Secondly, the pair of eyes give sight to the material world and its experiences. The third eye is symbolic of ‘atma-jnana’ or knowledge of the Self through which one sees the higher reality. Kamadeva or Manmatha is the God of Desire perennially churning the mind and causing restlessness.

· यजामहे=yajāmahe = We worship, adore, honour, revere you

· सुगन्धिम् = sugandhim = sweet smelling, the fragrant (spiritual Essence). The fragrance The word in the mantra does not refer to physical fragrance, ie perfume but fragrance of character. Perfume emanates from a source and spreads to a reasonable distance. As such noble character spreads with warmth.

· पुष्टि = puṣṭi = A well-nourished condition, thriving, prosperous, fullness of life.

· वर्धनम् vardhanam =  is one who nourishes, strengthens or restores (in health, wealth, well-being); a good gardener.

· उर्वारुकमिव urvārukamiva: उर्वारु, (Urvaaru=Cucumber) इव (Iva=Like, In the same manner)= like the cucumber, here ‘urva’ means ‘vishal’ or big, powerful or deadly. ‘Arukam’ means disease. Thus ‘urvarukam means deadly and overpowering diseases. The pumpkin or cucumber interpretation is given to show detachment. The diseases are those caused by the negative effects of the three gunas and therefore (a) ‘avidya’ – ignorance or falsehood and (b) ‘sadripu’ – a constraint of the physical body.

· बन्धनात् (bandhanāt)=means bound down, Bondage [of Samsara or Worldly Life]'I am bound down just like a cucumber (to a vine)'.

· मृत्यु (mrtyu) = Death

· मुक्षीय (mukṣīya) = Liberation

· मृत्योर्मुक्षीय mṛtyormukṣīya = Free, Liberate us from the fear of Death

· मामृतात् (Maa-Amrtaat): Liberate us from the death (for the sake of Immortality); मा (Maa) = Not, अमृत (Amrta) = Immortal