Mrythyunjaya Manthram's real meaning

त्रियम्बकं यजा महे सुघन्धिं पुष्टि वर्धनं

उर्वारुकं इव बन्धनान म्र्युथ्रोयोर मुक्षीय मामृथात

Thriyambakam Yajamahe Suganthim Pushtivardhanam
Urvaaru kamiva Bandhanan Mruthyor Muksheeya Maamruthath

The Mruthyunjaya Mantram is commonly miscontrued, as the name itself (Mruthyu-Jaya) suggests, to win over Death. Far from the truth. In the Mantram, there is a referernce to Urvaaru ( Sanskrit word for CUCUMBER).

The cucumber is seldom plucked by force from the plant. Any such cucumber forced out is quite bitter. Those cucumbers that are ripe usually fall off themselves and are usually collected for consumption. They are the cool and tasty ones.

The prayer indicates- just like the Cucumber usually comes out on it's own from the plant, and not forcibly plucked, the death for the individual should also come naturally, and not be untimely - in other words, this prayer is only for saving from ApaMrthyu or untimely death, and not from Death itself.

As the saying goes, the only two certain things in life are Death and Taxes!!