Shiva Sankalpa Suktam
यज्जाग्रतो दूरमुदैति दैवं तदु सुप्तस्य तथैवैति । दूरङ्गमं ज्योतिषां ज्योतिरेकं तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु ॥Also known as Shiva Sankalpa Upanishad
In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.
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What the Shiva Sankalpa Suktam is
The Shiva Sankalpa Suktam is a prayer of six mantras addressed to the human mind, found in the Shukla Yajurveda at Vajasaneyi Samhita 34.1-6, in the Madhyandina recension. Its deity, by the traditional reckoning, is the mind itself. Each mantra views manas from a fresh side and closes on one refrain, tanme manah shivasankalpamastu, 'may that mind of mine hold auspicious resolve'. Shiva here means auspicious or benevolent; the verses never name the god, though Shaiva worship later took them up. The sequence runs from the mind that travels far in waking and in dream, to the mind through which the wise do their work at the sacrifice, to the inner light without which no act is done, to the deathless power that holds past, present and future, to the hub in which the three Vedas are fixed, and last to the charioteer seated in the heart. The text is printed here without accent marks; chanting it with the svaras is learned from a teacher.
A sacrificial chapter read as an Upanishad
No legend of composition is attached to these six mantras. They belong to the anonymous Vedic layer of the Yajurveda and open its thirty-fourth chapter, among formulas used in the sacrifice. Their own imagery points to that setting: the skilled and the wise performing their works at the yajna and in the vidathas, and a rite carried out by seven hotars, which commentators read as the seven priests a shrauta sacrifice such as the Agnishtoma requires. Because the verses turn from the ritual to the nature of the one performing it, later readers treated them as a small Upanishad, and they circulate as the Shiva Sankalpa Upanishad, much as the fortieth chapter of the same samhita became the Isha Upanishad. The classical commentators on the Vajasaneyi Samhita, Uvata and Mahidhara, explained them line by line. The parallel Kanva recension keeps only the first mantra, in its thirty-third chapter. A far longer Shiva Sankalpa of more than twenty verses, beginning yenedam bhutam, survives among the khila, or supplementary, hymns of the Rigveda; it is a separate expansion and is not printed here. In Shaiva worship that follows the Shukla Yajurveda, the first chapter of the Rudrashtadhyayi, or Rudri, is this prayer for a settled and benevolent mind, and tradition recites the Rudri through the month of Shravana.
The mantra, in six scripts
- यज्जाग्रतो
- yajjāgrato — which, of one awake
- दूरमुदैति
- dūramudaiti — goes far out
- दैवं
- daivaṃ — the divine
- तदु
- tadu — and that
- सुप्तस्य
- suptasya — of one asleep
- तथैवैति
- tathaivaiti — goes likewise
- दूरङ्गमं
- dūraṅgamaṃ — far-ranging
- ज्योतिषां
- jyotiṣāṃ — of the lights
- ज्योतिरेकं
- jyotirekaṃ — the one light
- तन्मे
- tanme — that, of mine
- मनः
- manaḥ — mind
- शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु
- śivasaṅkalpamastu — may be of auspicious resolve
Shiva Sankalpa Suktam lyrics in full
The six mantras of Vajasaneyi Samhita 34.1-6, without the opening Om and closing shanti that some printings add.
All 6 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:
Download the Shiva Sankalpa Suktam PDFAll 6 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.
यज्जाग्रतो दूरमुदैति दैवं तदु सुप्तस्य तथैवैति ।
दूरङ्गमं ज्योतिषां ज्योतिरेकं तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु ॥
யஜ்ஜாக்ரதோ தூரமுதைதி தைவம் தது ஸுப்தஸ்ய ததைவைதி ।
தூரங்கமம் ஜ்யோதிஷாம் ஜ்யோதிரேகம் தந்மே மநஃ ஶிவஸங்கல்பமஸ்து ॥
యజ్జాగ్రతో దూరముదైతి దైవం తదు సుప్తస్య తథైవైతి ।
దూరఙ్గమం జ్యోతిషాం జ్యోతిరేకం తన్మే మనః శివసఙ్కల్పమస్తు ॥
ಯಜ್ಜಾಗ್ರತೋ ದೂರಮುದೈತಿ ದೈವಂ ತದು ಸುಪ್ತಸ್ಯ ತಥೈವೈತಿ ।
ದೂರಙ್ಗಮಂ ಜ್ಯೋತಿಷಾಂ ಜ್ಯೋತಿರೇಕಂ ತನ್ಮೇ ಮನಃ ಶಿವಸಙ್ಕಲ್ಪಮಸ್ತು ॥
യജ്ജാഗ്രതോ ദൂരമുദൈതി ദൈവം തദു സുപ്തസ്യ തഥൈവൈതി ।
ദൂരങ്ഗമം ജ്യോതിഷാം ജ്യോതിരേകം തന്മേ മനഃ ശിവസങ്കല്പമസ്തു ॥
yajjāgrato dūramudaiti daivaṃ tadu suptasya tathaivaiti |
dūraṅgamaṃ jyotiṣāṃ jyotirekaṃ tanme manaḥ śivasaṅkalpamastu ||
That divine power which travels far while one is awake, and goes out in the same way while one sleeps; that far-ranging one, the single light of all lights - may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.
येन कर्माण्यपसो मनीषिणो यज्ञे कृण्वन्ति विदथेषु धीराः ।
यदपूर्वं यक्षमन्तः प्रजानां तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु ॥
யேந கர்மாண்யபஸோ மநீஷிணோ யஜ்ஞே க்ருண்வந்தி விததேஷு தீராஃ ।
யதபூர்வம் யக்ஷமந்தஃ ப்ரஜாநாம் தந்மே மநஃ ஶிவஸங்கல்பமஸ்து ॥
యేన కర్మాణ్యపసో మనీషిణో యజ్ఞే కృణ్వన్తి విదథేషు ధీరాః ।
యదపూర్వం యక్షమన్తః ప్రజానాం తన్మే మనః శివసఙ్కల్పమస్తు ॥
ಯೇನ ಕರ್ಮಾಣ್ಯಪಸೋ ಮನೀಷಿಣೋ ಯಜ್ಞೇ ಕೃಣ್ವನ್ತಿ ವಿದಥೇಷು ಧೀರಾಃ ।
ಯದಪೂರ್ವಂ ಯಕ್ಷಮನ್ತಃ ಪ್ರಜಾನಾಂ ತನ್ಮೇ ಮನಃ ಶಿವಸಙ್ಕಲ್ಪಮಸ್ತು ॥
യേന കര്മാണ്യപസോ മനീഷിണോ യജ്ഞേ കൃണ്വന്തി വിദഥേഷു ധീരാഃ ।
യദപൂര്വം യക്ഷമന്തഃ പ്രജാനാം തന്മേ മനഃ ശിവസങ്കല്പമസ്തു ॥
yena karmāṇyapaso manīṣiṇo yajñe kṛṇvanti vidatheṣu dhīrāḥ |
yadapūrvaṃ yakṣamantaḥ prajānāṃ tanme manaḥ śivasaṅkalpamastu ||
That by which the wise and skilful perform their works in the sacrifice, the steadfast in the sacred assemblies; that which is the unique wonder dwelling within all beings - may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.
यत्प्रज्ञानमुत चेतो धृतिश्च यज्ज्योतिरन्तरमृतं प्रजासु ।
यस्मान्नऽऋते किं चन कर्म क्रियते तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु ॥
யத்ப்ரஜ்ஞாநமுத சேதோ த்ருதிஶ்ச யஜ்ஜ்யோதிரந்தரம்ருதம் ப்ரஜாஸு ।
யஸ்மாந்நருதே கிம் சந கர்ம க்ரியதே தந்மே மநஃ ஶிவஸங்கல்பமஸ்து ॥
యత్ప్రజ్ఞానముత చేతో ధృతిశ్చ యజ్జ్యోతిరన్తరమృతం ప్రజాసు ।
యస్మాన్నఽఋతే కిం చన కర్మ క్రియతే తన్మే మనః శివసఙ్కల్పమస్తు ॥
ಯತ್ಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾನಮುತ ಚೇತೋ ಧೃತಿಶ್ಚ ಯಜ್ಜ್ಯೋತಿರನ್ತರಮೃತಂ ಪ್ರಜಾಸು ।
ಯಸ್ಮಾನ್ನಽಋತೇ ಕಿಂ ಚನ ಕರ್ಮ ಕ್ರಿಯತೇ ತನ್ಮೇ ಮನಃ ಶಿವಸಙ್ಕಲ್ಪಮಸ್ತು ॥
യത്പ്രജ്ഞാനമുത ചേതോ ധൃതിശ്ച യജ്ജ്യോതിരന്തരമൃതം പ്രജാസു ।
യസ്മാന്നഽഋതേ കിം ചന കര്മ ക്രിയതേ തന്മേ മനഃ ശിവസങ്കല്പമസ്തു ॥
yatprajñānamuta ceto dhṛtiśca yajjyotirantaramṛtaṃ prajāsu |
yasmānna'ṛte kiṃ cana karma kriyate tanme manaḥ śivasaṅkalpamastu ||
That which is knowing, awareness and steadiness, the immortal light within all beings, without which no act at all is done - may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.
येनेदं भूतं भुवनं भविष्यत्परिगृहीतममृतेन सर्वम् ।
येन यज्ञस्तायते सप्तहोता तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु ॥
யேநேதம் பூதம் புவநம் பவிஷ்யத்பரிக்ருஹீதமம்ருதேந ஸர்வம் ।
யேந யஜ்ஞஸ்தாயதே ஸப்தஹோதா தந்மே மநஃ ஶிவஸங்கல்பமஸ்து ॥
యేనేదం భూతం భువనం భవిష్యత్పరిగృహీతమమృతేన సర్వమ్ ।
యేన యజ్ఞస్తాయతే సప్తహోతా తన్మే మనః శివసఙ్కల్పమస్తు ॥
ಯೇನೇದಂ ಭೂತಂ ಭುವನಂ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತ್ಪರಿಗೃಹೀತಮಮೃತೇನ ಸರ್ವಮ್ ।
ಯೇನ ಯಜ್ಞಸ್ತಾಯತೇ ಸಪ್ತಹೋತಾ ತನ್ಮೇ ಮನಃ ಶಿವಸಙ್ಕಲ್ಪಮಸ್ತು ॥
യേനേദം ഭൂതം ഭുവനം ഭവിഷ്യത്പരിഗൃഹീതമമൃതേന സര്വമ് ।
യേന യജ്ഞസ്തായതേ സപ്തഹോതാ തന്മേ മനഃ ശിവസങ്കല്പമസ്തു ॥
yenedaṃ bhūtaṃ bhuvanaṃ bhaviṣyatparigṛhītamamṛtena sarvam |
yena yajñastāyate saptahotā tanme manaḥ śivasaṅkalpamastu ||
That immortal one by which all this is held - what has been, what is and what will be - and by which the sacrifice of the seven priests is carried out - may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.
यस्मिन्नृचः साम यजूंषि यस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठिता रथनाभाविवाराः ।
यस्मिंश्चित्तं सर्वमोतं प्रजानां तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु ॥
யஸ்மிந்ந்ருசஃ ஸாம யஜூம்ஷி யஸ்மிந் ப்ரதிஷ்டிதா ரதநாபாவிவாராஃ ।
யஸ்மிம்ஶ்சித்தம் ஸர்வமோதம் ப்ரஜாநாம் தந்மே மநஃ ஶிவஸங்கல்பமஸ்து ॥
యస్మిన్నృచః సామ యజూంషి యస్మిన్ ప్రతిష్ఠితా రథనాభావివారాః ।
యస్మింశ్చిత్తం సర్వమోతం ప్రజానాం తన్మే మనః శివసఙ్కల్పమస్తు ॥
ಯಸ್ಮಿನ್ನೃಚಃ ಸಾಮ ಯಜೂಂಷಿ ಯಸ್ಮಿನ್ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಿತಾ ರಥನಾಭಾವಿವಾರಾಃ ।
ಯಸ್ಮಿಂಶ್ಚಿತ್ತಂ ಸರ್ವಮೋತಂ ಪ್ರಜಾನಾಂ ತನ್ಮೇ ಮನಃ ಶಿವಸಙ್ಕಲ್ಪಮಸ್ತು ॥
യസ്മിന്നൃചഃ സാമ യജൂംഷി യസ്മിന് പ്രതിഷ്ഠിതാ രഥനാഭാവിവാരാഃ ।
യസ്മിംശ്ചിത്തം സര്വമോതം പ്രജാനാം തന്മേ മനഃ ശിവസങ്കല്പമസ്തു ॥
yasminnṛcaḥ sāma yajūṃṣi yasmin pratiṣṭhitā rathanābhāvivārāḥ |
yasmiṃścittaṃ sarvamotaṃ prajānāṃ tanme manaḥ śivasaṅkalpamastu ||
That in which the Rig verses, the Sama chants and the Yajus formulas are set like spokes in the hub of a chariot wheel; that into which all the thought of living beings is woven - may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.
सुषारथिरश्वानिव यन्मनुष्यान्नेनीयतेऽभीशुभिर्वाजिन इव ।
हृत्प्रतिष्ठं यदजिरं जविष्ठं तन्मे मनः शिवसङ्कल्पमस्तु ॥
ஸுஷாரதிரஶ்வாநிவ யந்மநுஷ்யாந்நேநீயதேபீஶுபிர்வாஜிந இவ ।
ஹ்ருத்ப்ரதிஷ்டம் யதஜிரம் ஜவிஷ்டம் தந்மே மநஃ ஶிவஸங்கல்பமஸ்து ॥
సుషారథిరశ్వానివ యన్మనుష్యాన్నేనీయతేఽభీశుభిర్వాజిన ఇవ ।
హృత్ప్రతిష్ఠం యదజిరం జవిష్ఠం తన్మే మనః శివసఙ్కల్పమస్తు ॥
ಸುಷಾರಥಿರಶ್ವಾನಿವ ಯನ್ಮನುಷ್ಯಾನ್ನೇನೀಯತೇಽಭೀಶುಭಿರ್ವಾಜಿನ ಇವ ।
ಹೃತ್ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಂ ಯದಜಿರಂ ಜವಿಷ್ಠಂ ತನ್ಮೇ ಮನಃ ಶಿವಸಙ್ಕಲ್ಪಮಸ್ತು ॥
സുഷാരഥിരശ്വാനിവ യന്മനുഷ്യാന്നേനീയതേഽഭീശുഭിര്വാജിന ഇവ ।
ഹൃത്പ്രതിഷ്ഠം യദജിരം ജവിഷ്ഠം തന്മേ മനഃ ശിവസങ്കല്പമസ്തു ॥
suṣārathiraśvāniva yanmanuṣyānnenīyate'bhīśubhirvājina iva |
hṛtpratiṣṭhaṃ yadajiraṃ javiṣṭhaṃ tanme manaḥ śivasaṅkalpamastu ||
That which leads people about as a good charioteer guides swift horses with the reins; that which dwells in the heart, never ageing and swiftest of all - may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.
The syllable people get wrong
The first word, yajjāgrato (यज्जाग्रतो), joins yat ('which') to jāgrataḥ ('of one awake'), so the j is doubled: hold it, yaj-jaa-gra-to, rather than sliding into 'ya-jaa-grato', and keep the long aa.
When the Shiva Sankalpa Suktam is chanted
Weekday. Monday
Festival. Shravana month, in Rudri recitation
Questions
Have your chart read before you decide
Chanting is yours to do, and free. But which deity your situation calls for — and whether a mantra alone is the right response — depends on your chart. Sometimes it is; sometimes it is not.
- Over 30 years in the Guru–Sishya Parampara, from the age of five
- He reads every chart himself — 60 minutes, one to one, never delegated
- Charts are read only between sunrise and sunset, following tradition
