Mrityunjaya Mantra, also known as "Rudra mantra" is found in "Rig veda VII.59.12",  "Yajur Veda III.60", Atharva Veda XIV.1.17", "Shiva Purana" among others. According to the legend Mantra was given by Lord Shiva himself to sage Sukracharya.
We worship the Three-eyed Lord who is fragrant and who nourishes and nurtures all beings. (1)
As is the ripened cucumber (with the intervention of the gardener) is freed from its bondage (to the creeper), may he liberate us from death for the sake of immortality. (2)
Word by word Meaning of Lyrics
ॠ= oṠ= is a sacred/mystical syllable in Sanatan Dharma or hindu religions, i.e. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism (symbol of ultimate reality).
तà¥à¤°à¥à¤¯à¤®à¥à¤¬à¤•मॠ= tryambakam, तà¥à¤°à¤¿ (Try=Three)+ अमà¥à¤¬à¤•मॠ(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=yajÄmahe = We worship, adore, honour, revere you
सà¥à¤—नà¥à¤§à¤¿à¤®à¥ = 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.
पà¥à¤·à¥à¤Ÿà¤¿ = puá¹£á¹i = A well-nourished condition, thriving, prosperous, fullness of life.
वरà¥à¤§à¤¨à¤®à¥ vardhanam =  is one who nourishes, strengthens or restores (in health, wealth, well-being); a good gardener.
उरà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤°à¥à¤•मिव urvÄrukamiva: उरà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤°à¥, (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.
बनà¥à¤§à¤¨à¤¾à¤¤à¥ (bandhanÄt)=means bound down, Bondage [of Samsara or Worldly Life]'I am bound down just like a cucumber (to a vine)'.
मृतà¥à¤¯à¥ (mrtyu) = Death
मà¥à¤•à¥à¤·à¥€à¤¯ (mukṣīya) = Liberation
मृतà¥à¤¯à¥‹à¤°à¥à¤®à¥à¤•à¥à¤·à¥€à¤¯ má¹›tyormukṣīya = Free, Liberate us from the fear of Death
मामृतातॠ(Maa-Amrtaat): Liberate us from the death (for the sake of Immortality); मा (Maa) = Not, अमृत (Amrta) = Immortal
Benefits of recitation:Â
It is said to be good for mental, emotional & physical helath.