Shanti Mantras
The Vedic prayers for peace, with the meaning of each in English and Hindi
Printed from jeevandrishti.com/books/shanti-mantras, where the meaning of every verse is in English and Hindi.
Faith · Devotion · Peace
About the Shanti Mantras
Shanti means peace. The Shanti Mantras are short prayers from the Vedas and the Upanishads. Teachers and students recite them before they begin to study and when they finish; each of the principal Upanishads opens with one. The same prayers are said at the start and end of worship, and by many people every morning and evening.
Most of them end with “Om shantih shantih shantih”: peace said three times. Tradition explains the three as peace within ourselves (in body and mind), peace with the world around us (other people and beings), and peace from the forces beyond our control (nature and fate).
They ask for simple things: that we learn well together, see and hear what is good, speak the truth, and that all beings be happy and free from sorrow. A calm reading of all ten takes about eight minutes. They can be read aloud or silently, alone or with family.
Om Purnamadah
From the Shukla Yajurveda. It opens the Isha Upanishad and appears in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (5.1.1).
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om purnamadah purnamidam purnat purnamudachyate.
Purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavashishyate.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
वह पूर्ण है, यह भी पूर्ण है। पूर्ण से ही पूर्ण प्रकट होता है। पूर्ण में से पूर्ण निकाल लेने पर भी पूर्ण ही शेष रहता है। (अनंत सदा पूर्ण रहता है: उसमें से कुछ लेने पर भी वह घटता नहीं।) ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
That is whole; this is whole. From the whole, the whole comes forth. When the whole is taken from the whole, the whole alone remains. (The infinite stays complete: nothing taken from it makes it less.) Om, peace, peace, peace.
Asato Ma Sad Gamaya
From the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.3.28), where it is called the Pavamana mantra.
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om asato ma sad gamaya.
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya.
Mrityor ma amritam gamaya.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
मुझे असत्य से सत्य की ओर ले चलो। अंधकार से प्रकाश की ओर ले चलो। मृत्यु से अमरता की ओर ले चलो। ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
Lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to the deathless. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Om Dyauh Shantih
From the Shukla Yajurveda (Vajasaneyi Samhita 36.17): a prayer that peace fill the whole of creation.
ॐ द्यौः शान्तिरन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः
पृथिवी शान्तिरापः शान्तिरोषधयः शान्तिः।
वनस्पतयः शान्तिर्विश्वेदेवाः शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्तिः
सर्वं शान्तिः शान्तिरेव शान्तिः सा मा शान्तिरेधि॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om dyauh shantir antariksham shantih
prithivi shantir apah shantir oshadhayah shantih.
Vanaspatayah shantir vishvedevah shantir brahma shantih
sarvam shantih shantir eva shantih sa ma shantir edhi.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
आकाश में शान्ति हो, अंतरिक्ष में शान्ति हो। पृथ्वी पर शान्ति हो, जल में शान्ति हो, औषधियों में शान्ति हो। वनस्पतियों में शान्ति हो, सभी देवताओं में शान्ति हो, ब्रह्म में शान्ति हो। सब में शान्ति हो; शान्ति ही शान्ति हो। वह शान्ति मुझे भी प्राप्त हो। ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
May there be peace in the sky, and peace in the space between. Peace on the earth, peace in the waters, peace in the healing plants. Peace in the trees, peace in all the gods, peace in Brahman. Peace in everything; peace, and only peace. May that peace come to me. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Om Bhadram Karnebhih
Verses from the Rigveda (1.89.8 and 1.89.6). It opens the Prashna, Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads.
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः।
भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः।
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिः।
व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः॥
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः।
स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः।
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः।
स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om bhadram karnebhih shrinuyama devah.
Bhadram pashyemakshabhir yajatrah.
Sthirair angais tushtuvamsas tanubhih.
Vyashema devahitam yadayuh.
Svasti na indro vriddhashravah.
Svasti nah pusha vishvavedah.
Svasti nas tarkshyo arishtanemih.
Svasti no brihaspatir dadhatu.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
हे देवताओ, हम कानों से शुभ सुनें। हे पूज्य देवो, हम आँखों से शुभ देखें। स्थिर अंगों और शरीर से आपकी स्तुति करते हुए, हम देवताओं द्वारा दी गई पूरी आयु जिएँ। महान यश वाले इन्द्र हमारा कल्याण करें। सब कुछ जानने वाले पूषा हमारा कल्याण करें। जिनकी गति को कोई बाधा नहीं रोकती, वे गरुड़ हमारा कल्याण करें। बृहस्पति हमें कल्याण प्रदान करें। ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
O gods, may we hear with our ears what is good. O worthy ones, may we see with our eyes what is good. With steady limbs and bodies, praising you, may we live out the span of life the gods have given. May Indra, of great renown, bless us. May Pushan, who knows all, bless us. May Garuda, whom no harm can stop, bless us. May Brihaspati grant us well-being. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Om Sham No Mitrah
The first lesson of the Taittiriya Upanishad (1.1.1), from the Krishna Yajurveda: a prayer for blessing and protection, with a vow to speak what is right and true.
ॐ शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः। शं नो भवत्वर्यमा।
शं न इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः। शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः।
नमो ब्रह्मणे। नमस्ते वायो। त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि।
त्वामेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्म वदिष्यामि। ऋतं वदिष्यामि। सत्यं वदिष्यामि।
तन्मामवतु। तद्वक्तारमवतु। अवतु माम्। अवतु वक्तारम्॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om sham no mitrah sham varunah. Sham no bhavatvaryama.
Sham na indro brihaspatih. Sham no vishnur urukramah.
Namo brahmane. Namaste vayo. Tvam eva pratyaksham brahmasi.
Tvam eva pratyaksham brahma vadishyami. Ritam vadishyami. Satyam vadishyami.
Tan mam avatu. Tad vaktaram avatu. Avatu mam. Avatu vaktaram.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
मित्र हमारे लिए कल्याणकारी हों, वरुण कल्याणकारी हों। अर्यमा हमारे लिए कल्याणकारी हों। इन्द्र और बृहस्पति हमारे लिए कल्याणकारी हों, विशाल पग वाले विष्णु कल्याणकारी हों। ब्रह्म को नमस्कार। हे वायु, आपको नमस्कार: आप ही प्रत्यक्ष ब्रह्म हैं। मैं आपको ही प्रत्यक्ष ब्रह्म कहूँगा। मैं ऋत (उचित) बोलूँगा; मैं सत्य बोलूँगा। वह मेरी रक्षा करे; वह गुरु की रक्षा करे। मेरी रक्षा करे; गुरु की रक्षा करे। ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
May Mitra be kind to us, and Varuna. May Aryaman be kind to us. May Indra and Brihaspati be kind to us, and Vishnu of the wide strides. Salutation to Brahman. Salutation to you, Vayu: you are Brahman that can be seen. I will call you the visible Brahman. I will speak what is right; I will speak what is true. May that protect me; may it protect the teacher. May it protect me; may it protect the teacher. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Om Apyayantu
From the Samaveda. It opens the Kena and Chandogya Upanishads.
ॐ आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक्प्राणश्चक्षुः श्रोत्रमथो बलमिन्द्रियाणि च सर्वाणि।
सर्वं ब्रह्मौपनिषदं माऽहं ब्रह्म निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म निराकरोत्।
अनिराकरणमस्त्वनिराकरणं मेऽस्तु।
तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om apyayantu mamangani vak pranash chakshuh shrotram atho balam indriyani cha sarvani.
Sarvam brahmaupanishadam maham brahma nirakuryam ma ma brahma nirakarot.
Anirakaranam astv anirakaranam me'stu.
Tad atmani nirate ya upanishatsu dharmas te mayi santu te mayi santu.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
मेरे अंग पुष्ट हों: वाणी, प्राण, आँखें, कान, बल और सभी इन्द्रियाँ। सब कुछ ब्रह्म है, जैसा उपनिषद कहते हैं। मैं कभी ब्रह्म से विमुख न होऊँ; ब्रह्म कभी मुझसे विमुख न हो। कोई विमुखता न हो; मेरी ओर से कोई विमुखता न हो। उपनिषदों में कहे गए गुण मुझमें, जो आत्मा में रमा है, बसें; वे मुझमें बसें। ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
May my limbs grow strong: my speech, breath, eyes and ears, my strength and all my senses. All is Brahman, as the Upanishads teach. May I never turn away from Brahman; may Brahman never turn away from me. Let there be no turning away; let there be none from me. May the virtues the Upanishads speak of live in me, who delight in the Self; may they live in me. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Om Vang Me Manasi
From the Rigveda tradition. It opens the Aitareya and Kaushitaki Upanishads: a prayer that what we say and what we mean be one.
ॐ वाङ् मे मनसि प्रतिष्ठिता मनो मे वाचि प्रतिष्ठितम्।
आविरावीर्म एधि। वेदस्य म आणीस्थः श्रुतं मे मा प्रहासीः।
अनेनाधीतेनाहोरात्रान्सन्दधाम्यृतं वदिष्यामि सत्यं वदिष्यामि।
तन्मामवतु तद्वक्तारमवतु अवतु मामवतु वक्तारमवतु वक्तारम्॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om vang me manasi pratishthita mano me vachi pratishthitam.
Avir avir ma edhi. Vedasya ma anisthah shrutam me ma prahasih.
Anenadhitenahoratran sandadhamy ritam vadishyami satyam vadishyami.
Tan mam avatu tad vaktaram avatu avatu mam avatu vaktaram avatu vaktaram.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
मेरी वाणी मन में स्थित हो और मन वाणी में स्थित हो। हे स्वयं-प्रकाश, मेरे सामने प्रकट हो। दोनों (वाणी और मन) मुझे वेद का सत्य दें; जो मैंने सुना है वह मुझे न छोड़े। इस अध्ययन से मैं दिन और रात को जोड़ूँगा। मैं ऋत (उचित) बोलूँगा; मैं सत्य बोलूँगा। वह मेरी रक्षा करे; वह गुरु की रक्षा करे। मेरी रक्षा करे, गुरु की रक्षा करे, गुरु की। ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
May my speech rest in my mind, and my mind rest in my speech. O self-shining one, show yourself to me. May both bring me the truth of the Veda; may what I have heard not leave me. Day and night I will hold on to what I have studied. I will speak what is right; I will speak what is true. May that protect me; may it protect the teacher. May it protect me, may it protect the teacher, the teacher. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
A traditional prayer for the happiness of all beings, often said at the end of worship and prayer.
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु। मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत्॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramayah.
Sarve bhadrani pashyantu, ma kashchid duhkhabhag bhavet.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
सभी सुखी हों। सभी रोग से मुक्त हों। सभी शुभ देखें। किसी को भी दुख का भागी न होना पड़े। ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
May all be happy. May all be free from illness. May all see what is good. May no one have any share of sorrow. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu
A traditional blessing for all, often said together with the prayer above.
ॐ सर्वेषां स्वस्तिर्भवतु। सर्वेषां शान्तिर्भवतु।
सर्वेषां पूर्णं भवतु। सर्वेषां मङ्गलं भवतु॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Om sarvesham svastir bhavatu, sarvesham shantir bhavatu.
Sarvesham purnam bhavatu, sarvesham mangalam bhavatu.
Om shantih shantih shantih.
सबका कल्याण हो। सबको शान्ति मिले। सबको पूर्णता मिले। सबका मंगल हो। ॐ शान्ति, शान्ति, शान्ति।
May there be well-being for all. May there be peace for all. May there be fullness for all. May there be good fortune for all. Om, peace, peace, peace.
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
The meanings here are written in plain words and follow the common reading of each line. Small differences in the Sanskrit text are found between editions and traditions. This page is for reading and prayer; it is not a substitute for medical or other professional help. If you are going through a hard time, please also talk to someone you trust.
Questions people ask
What are the Shanti Mantras?
Short prayers for peace from the Vedas and the Upanishads. Each of the principal Upanishads opens with one, and teachers and students recite them before and after study.
Why is “shanti” said three times?
Tradition explains it as peace within ourselves (body and mind), peace with the world around us, and peace from the forces beyond our control, such as nature.
When are they recited?
Before study or any new work, at the start and end of worship, and by many people in the morning and evening. There is no fixed day.
Do I need to know Sanskrit?
No. Turn on “English letters” on this page to read every mantra in Roman script, and read the meaning in English or Hindi under it.
How long does it take to read them all?
About eight minutes for all ten at a calm pace. Many people choose one or two and say them every day.

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