Śānti Mantra (Peace Prayer)

This verse is the famous Śānti Mantra (Peace Prayer) from the Atharva Veda, commonly chanted before studying Upaniṣads such as the Praśna, Muṇḍaka, and Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣads.

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः ।
भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ॥
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिः ।
व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ॥

Om bhadraṁ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ |
bhadraṁ paśyemākṣabhiryajatrāḥ ||
sthirairaṅgaistuṣṭuvāṁsastanūbhiḥ |
vyaśema devahitaṁ yadāyuḥ ||

स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः ।
स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः ॥
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः ।
स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥

svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ |
svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ ||
svasti nastārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ |
svasti no bṛhaspatirdadhātu ||

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||

Om.
O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious and noble.
O Worshipful Ones, may we see with our eyes what is good and divine.
May we live with strong, steady limbs and healthy bodies, offering our praise to You, and enjoy the full lifespan allotted to us by the Divine.
May Lord Indra of ancient fame grant us well-being.
May Pūṣan, the all-knowing nourisher, grant us well-being.
May Tārkṣya (Garuḍa), the protector from all harm, grant us well-being.
May Lord Bṛhaspati, the lord of wisdom, bestow upon us auspiciousness and spiritual clarity.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

bhadraṁ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ
bhadram = auspicious/good
karṇebhiḥ = through ears
śṛṇuyāma = may we hear
devāḥ = O Devas/divine powers
O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious and noble.


bhadraṁ paśyemākṣabhiryajatrāḥ
paśyema = may we see
akṣabhiḥ = with eyes
yajatrāḥ = O worthy of worship
O Worshipful Ones, may we see with our eyes what is auspicious.


sthirairaṅgaistuṣṭuvāṁsastanūbhiḥ
sthiraiḥ = strong/steady
aṅgaiḥ = limbs/body
tuṣṭuvāṁsaḥ = praising
tanūbhiḥ = bodies
May we live with steady limbs and healthy bodies, singing Your praises.


vyaśema devahitaṁ yadāyuḥ
vyaśema = may we enjoy/attain
devahitam = allotted by the divine
yat = which
āyuḥ = lifespan
May we enjoy the full lifespan allotted to us for divine purpose.


Indra (Indro vṛddhaśravāḥ)
Of ancient and widespread fame
May Lord Indra of ancient fame grant us auspiciousness.

Pūṣan (Pūṣā viśvavedāḥ)
All-knowing nourisher/protector
May Pūṣan, the knower of all things, grant us auspiciousness.

Tārkṣya (Tārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ)
Garuḍa, the protector from harm
May Tārkṣya (Garuḍa), the remover of obstacles, grant us well-being.

Bṛhaspati (Bṛhaspatirdadhātu)
Lord of wisdom and spiritual knowledge
May Lord Bṛhaspati grant us auspiciousness and clarity.


Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ
May there be peace from physical obstacles (Ādhibhautika)
From cosmic forces (Ādhidaivika)
And from internal disturbances (Ādhyātmika).

Acharya Tadany