Sacred Learning
Asato mā sad gamaya
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28 (pavamāna śānti).
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28 (pavamāna śānti).
Canonical source text
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
IAST transliteration
oṃ asato mā sad gamaya | tamaso mā jyotir gamaya | mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya | oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Close translation
From the unreal, lead me to the real. From darkness, lead me to light. From death, lead me to the deathless. Oṃ peace, peace, peace.
Reader-friendly meaning
Three steps of leading: truth, light, immortality. A prayer, not a boast that one has already arrived.
Meenananda editorial explanation
Sing it when the house feels small. The leading is asked of the teacher and of the Light — not seized as a slogan.
Practice context
A śānti for study and evening. No promised result.
Word meanings
- असतः — from the unreal
- सत् — the real
Bṛhadāraṇyaka 1.3.28; public-domain. Sanskrit: public domain. Foundation translations: CC BY-SA 4.0.