This article explores Shri Ganapati Atharvashirsha through the lens of swara (Vedic intonation). Each verse is presented with its Sanskrit text, transliteration, meaning, and an explanation of how sound and vibration shape its deeper yogic significance.
What Is Shri Ganapati Atharvashirsha?
Śrī Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa is a sacred text associated with the Atharva Veda and is often regarded as Upaniṣadic in nature. Unlike devotional hymns composed later in history, this text speaks the language of tattva, or ultimate reality.
Here, Gaṇapati is not presented merely as a personal deity or remover of obstacles, but as the principle of consciousness itself, directly experienced through sound. The Atharvaśīrṣa identifies Gaṇapati as Brahman, the Self, and the underlying cause, sustainer, and dissolver of all existence.
Readers may also explore the Gananam Tva Ganapatim mantra, another traditional invocation that reveals Ganapati as the guiding principle of beginnings.
Traditionally, this text is chanted, not read silently. Its power lies not only in meaning, but in how it is voiced.
What Are Swaras in Vedic Chanting?
In Vedic Sanskrit, “swara” refers to pitch movement, not musical notes like Sa Re Ga Ma, but tonal directions.
There are three primary swaras:
- Udatta – raised tone
- Anudatta – lowered tone
- Svarita – falling or combined tone
These swaras ensure that the mantra vibrates at the exact frequency it was revealed in.
If the swara is altered, the mantra becomes a different sound-form altogether.
Understanding the Swara Marks in the Text
In your Atharvaśīrṣa text, you see symbols like:
- A Udatta
- A̱ Anudatta
- A̍ Swarita
- A̎ Deergha Swarita
These are intonation indicators, not punctuation.
Why Swara Matters in Ganapati Atharvashirsha
Śrī Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa belongs to the Vedic sound tradition, where mantra functions as direct knowledge, not symbolic language.
In this approach:
- Sound shapes prāṇa
- Prāṇa shapes the mind
- Mind shapes awareness
Swara directs prāṇa.
The Atharvaśīrṣa itself speaks explicitly about Nāda, bindu, anusvāra, and the architecture of sound. This means the text is not only chanted with swara, but teaches swara and sound awareness within its own verses.
To ignore swara in this mantra is to approach only half of its teaching.
How to Approach the Verses That Follow
In the sections below, each verse of Śrī Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa is presented with:
- The original Sanskrit with swara marks
- A clear transliteration
- A direct, non-poetic translation
- An explanation of the swara movement
- A yogic and Nāda-based reflection
The intention is not academic analysis but experiential understanding.
You are encouraged to read slowly, listen inwardly, and allow the sound to reveal its meaning naturally.
Commencing the Verses of Shri Ganapati Atharvashirsha
The following section presents the verses of Śrī Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa. The recitation traditionally begins with a Śānti Mantra, invoking clarity, steadiness, and receptivity before entering the main revelation.
Śānti Mantra (Opening Invocation)
ॐ भ॒द्रं कर्णे॑भिः शृणु॒याम॑ देवाः ।
भ॒द्रं प॑श्येमा॒क्षभि॒र्यज॑त्राः ।
स्थि॒रैरङ्गै᳚स्तुष्टु॒वाꣳ स॑स्त॒नूभिः॑ ।
व्यशे॑म दे॒वहि॑तं॒ यदायुः॑ ।
स्व॒स्ति न॒ इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒द्धश्र॑वाः ।
स्व॒स्ति नः॑ पू॒षा वि॒श्ववे॑दाः ।
स्व॒स्ति न॒स्तार्क्ष्यो॒ अरि॑ष्टनेमिः ।
स्व॒स्ति नो॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र्दधातु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑ ॥
Transliteration
Om bhadraṁ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ
Bhadraṁ paśyemākṣabhir yajatrāḥ
Sthirair aṅgais tuṣṭuvāṁsastanūbhiḥ
Vyaśema devahitaṁ yad āyuḥ
Svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ
Svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ
Svasti nastārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ
Svasti no bṛhaspatir dadhātu
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Meaning
May we hear with our ears what is auspicious, O divine ones.
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O worthy of worship.
With steady limbs and healthy bodies,
May we live our allotted life in praise of the divine order.
May Indra, of great renown, grant us well-being.
May Pūṣā, the all-knowing nourisher, grant us well-being.
May Tārkṣya, the unerring protector, grant us well-being.
May Bṛhaspati grant us well-being.
Om. Peace, peace, peace.
Verse 1
ॐ नम॑स्ते ग॒णप॑तये ।
त्वमे॒व प्र॒त्यक्षं॒ तत्त्व॑मसि ।
त्वमे॒व के॒वलं॒ कर्ता॑ऽसि ।
त्वमे॒व के॒वलं॒ धर्ता॑ऽसि ।
त्वमे॒व के॒वलं॒ हर्ता॑ऽसि ।
त्वमेव सर्वं खल्विदं॑ ब्रह्मा॒सि ।
त्वं साक्षादात्मा॑ऽसि नि॒त्यम् ॥
Transliteration
Om namaste gaṇapataye
Tvam eva pratyakṣaṁ tattvam asi
Tvam eva kevalaṁ kartā asi
Tvam eva kevalaṁ dhartā asi
Tvam eva kevalaṁ hartā asi
Tvam eva sarvaṁ khalvidaṁ brahmāsi
Tvaṁ sākṣād ātmā asi nityam
Translation
Salutations to Ganapati.
You alone are the directly perceived reality.
You alone are the creator.
You alone are the sustainer.
You alone are the dissolver.
You are indeed everything that exists.
You are the eternal Self, directly realized.
Verse 2
ऋ॑तं व॒च्मि ।
स॑त्यं व॒च्मि ॥
Transliteration
Ṛtaṁ vacmi
Satyaṁ vacmi
Translation
I speak the cosmic order.
I speak the truth.
Verse 3
अ॒व त्वं॒ माम् ।
अव॑ व॒क्तारम्᳚ ।
अव॑ श्रो॒तारम्᳚ ।
अव॑ दा॒तारम्᳚ ।
अव॑ धा॒तारम्᳚ ।
अवानूचानम॑व शि॒ष्यम् ।
अव॑ प॒श्चात्ता᳚त् ।
अव॑ पु॒रस्ता᳚त् ।
अवोत्त॒रात्ता᳚त् ।
अव॑ दक्षि॒णात्ता᳚त् ।
अव॑ चो॒र्ध्वात्ता᳚त् ।
अवाध॒रात्ता᳚त् ।
सर्वतोमां पाहि पाहि॑ सम॒न्तात् ॥
Transliteration
Ava tvaṁ mām
Ava vaktāram
Ava śrotāram
Ava dātāram
Ava dhātāram
Avānūcānam ava śiṣyam
Ava paścāttāt
Ava purastāt
Avottarāttāt
Ava dakṣiṇāttāt
Ava cordhvāttāt
Avādharāttāt
Sarvato māṁ pāhi pāhi samantāt
Translation
Protect me.
Protect the speaker.
Protect the listener.
Protect the giver.
Protect the supporter.
Protect the disciple who seeks to learn.
Protect from behind.
Protect from the front.
Protect from the north.
Protect from the south.
Protect from above.
Protect from below.
Protect me from all sides, everywhere
Verse 4
त्वं वाङ्मय॑स्त्वं चिन्म॒यः ।
त्वमानन्दमय॑स्त्वं ब्रह्म॒मयः ।
त्वं सच्चिदानन्दाऽद्वि॑तीयो॒ऽसि ।
त्वं प्र॒त्यक्षं॒ ब्रह्मा॑सि ।
त्वं ज्ञानमयोविज्ञान॑मयो॒ऽसि ॥
Transliteration
Tvaṁ vāṅmayaḥ tvaṁ cinmayaḥ
Tvam ānandamayaḥ tvaṁ brahmamayaḥ
Tvaṁ saccidānandādvitīyo’asi
Tvaṁ pratyakṣaṁ brahmāsi
Tvaṁ jñānamayo vijñānamayo’asi
Translation
You are the embodiment of speech; you are the embodiment of consciousness.
You are made of bliss; you are made of Brahman.
You are existence, consciousness, and bliss, non-dual.
You are the directly experienced Brahman.
You are made of knowledge and realization.
Verse 5
सर्वं जगदिदं त्व॑त्तोजा॒यते ।
सर्वं जगदिदं त्व॑त्तस्ति॒ष्ठति ।
सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि॑ ल॑यमेष्य॒ति ।
सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि॑ प्रत्ये॒ति ।
त्वं भूमिरापोऽनलोऽनि॑लोन॒भः ।
त्वं चत्वारि वा᳚क्पदा॒नि ॥
Transliteration
Sarvaṁ jagad idaṁ tvatto jāyate
Sarvaṁ jagad idaṁ tvattas tiṣṭhati
Sarvaṁ jagad idaṁ tvayi layam eṣyati
Sarvaṁ jagad idaṁ tvayi pratyeti
Tvaṁ bhūmir āpo’nalo’nilon nabhaḥ
Tvaṁ catvāri vākpadāni
Translation
From you this entire universe is born.
Through you this entire universe is sustained.
Into you this entire universe dissolves.
In you, this entire universe returns.
You are the earth, water, fire, air, and space.
You are the four levels of speech.
Verse 6
त्वं गु॒णत्र॑याती॒तः ।
त्वं अवस्थात्र॑याती॒तः ।
त्वं दे॒हत्र॑याती॒तः ।
त्वं का॒लत्र॑याती॒तः ।
त्वं मूलाधारस्थितो॑ऽसि नि॒त्यम् ।
त्वं शक्तित्र॑यात्म॒कः ।
त्वां योगिनो ध्याय॑न्ति नि॒त्यम् ।
त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णुस्त्वं रुद्रः ।
त्वमिन्द्रस्त्वमग्निस्त्वं वायुस्त्वं सूर्यस्त्वं चन्द्रमाः ।
त्वं ब्रह्म॒भूर्भुवः॒ स्वरोम् ॥
Transliteration
Tvaṁ guṇatrayātītaḥ
Tvaṁ avasthātrayātītaḥ
Tvaṁ dehatrayātītaḥ
Tvaṁ kālatrayātītaḥ
Tvaṁ mūlādhārasthito’asi nityam
Tvaṁ śaktitrayātmakaḥ
Tvāṁ yogino dhyāyanti nityam
Tvaṁ brahmā tvaṁ viṣṇus tvaṁ rudraḥ
Tvam indras tvam agnis tvaṁ vāyus tvaṁ sūryas tvaṁ candramāḥ
Tvaṁ brahma bhūr bhuvaḥ svar om
Translation
You transcend the three qualities.
You transcend the three states of experience.
You transcend the three bodies.
You transcend the three divisions of time.
You eternally abide in the Mūlādhāra.
You are the essence of the three powers.
The yogis meditate upon you constantly.
You are Brahmā, you are Viṣṇu, you are Rudra.
You are Indra, Agni, Vāyu, the Sun, and the Moon.
You are Brahman, the realms of existence, and the sacred Om.
Verse 7
ग॒णादिं᳚ पूर्व॑मुच्चा॒र्य॒ वर्णादिं᳚स्तदन॒न्तरम् ।
अनुस्वारः प॑रत॒रः ।
अर्धे᳚न्दुल॒सितम् ।
तारे॑ण ऋ॒द्धम् ।
एतत्तव मनु॑स्वरू॒पम् ।
गकारः पू᳚र्वरू॒पम् ।
अकारो मध्य॑मरू॒पम् ।
अनुस्वारश्चा᳚न्त्यरू॒पम् ।
बिन्दुरुत्त॑ररू॒पम् ।
नादः॑ सन्धा॒नम् ।
सꣳहि॑ता स॒न्धिः ।
सैषा गणे॑शवि॒द्या ।
गण॑क ऋ॒षिः ।
निचृद्गाय॑त्रीच्छ॒न्दः ।
गणपति॑र्देव॒ता ।
ॐ गं ग॒णप॑तयेनमः ॥
Transliteration
Gaṇādiṁ pūrvam uccārya
Varṇādiṁ stad anantaram
Anusvāraḥ parataraḥ
Ardhendulasitam
Tāreṇa ṛddham
Etat tava manusvarūpam
Gakāraḥ pūrvarūpam
Akāro madhyamarūpam
Anusvāraś cānty arūpam
Bindur uttararūpam
Nādaḥ sandhānam
Saṁhitā sandhiḥ
Saiṣā gaṇeśavidyā
Gaṇaka ṛṣiḥ
Nicṛd gāyatrī chandaḥ
Gaṇapatir devatā
Om gaṁ gaṇapataye namaḥ
Translation
First the sound gaṇa is uttered, followed by the letters thereafter.
The anusvāra comes next, transcendent in nature.
It shines like the half-moon.
It is enriched by the sacred resonance.
This is the true form of your mantra.
The letter ga is the initial form.
The letter a is the middle form.
The anusvāra is the final form.
The bindu is the higher form.
Nāda is the connecting principle.
Continuity is the union.
This is the sacred knowledge of Gaṇeśa.
Gaṇaka is the seer.
The meter is Nicṛd Gāyatrī.
Gaṇapati is the presiding deity.
Om gaṁ, salutations to Gaṇapati.
Verse 8
एकद॒न्ताय॑ वि॒द्महे॑ वक्रतु॒ण्डाय॑ धीमहि ।
तन्नो॑ दन्तिः प्रचो॒दया᳚त् ॥
Transliteration
Ekadantāya vidmahe
Vakratundāya dhīmahi
Tanno dantiḥ pracodayāt
Translation
We know the one with the single tusk.
We meditate upon the one with the curved trunk.
May that divine one inspire and guide our understanding.
Verse 9
एकद॒न्तं च॑तुर्ह॒स्तं॒ पाशम॑ङ्कुश॒धारि॑णम् ।
रदं॑ च॒ वर॑दं ह॒स्तै॒र्बि॒भ्राणं॑ मूष॒कध्व॑जम् ।
रक्तं॑ ल॒म्बोद॑रं शू॒र्प॒क॒र्णकं॑ रक्त॒वास॑सम् ।
रक्त॑ग॒न्धानु॑लिप्ता॒ङ्गं॒ रक्तपु॑ष्पैः सु॒पूजि॑तम् ।
भक्ता॑नु॒कम्पि॑नं दे॒वं॒ जगत्का॑रणमच्यु॑तम् ।
आवि॑र्भू॒तं च॑ सृ॒ष्ट्या॒दौ॒ प्र॒कृतेः᳚ पुरु॒षात्प॑रम् ।
एवं॑ ध्या॒यति॑ यो नि॒त्यं॒ स॒योगी॑ योगि॒नां व॑रः ॥
Transliteration
Ekadantaṁ caturhastaṁ pāśam aṅkuśadhāriṇam
Radaṁ ca varadaṁ hastair bibhrāṇaṁ mūṣakadhvajam
Raktaṁ lambodaraṁ śūrpakarṇakaṁ raktavāsasam
Raktagandhānuliptāṅgaṁ raktapuṣpaiḥ supūjitam
Bhaktānukampinaṁ devaṁ jagatkāraṇam acyutam
Āvirbhūtaṁ ca sṛṣṭyādau prakṛteḥ puruṣāt param
Evaṁ dhyāyati yo nityaṁ sa yogī yogināṁ varaḥ
Translation
We contemplate the One with a single tusk and four arms,
holding the noose and the goad,
bearing the broken tusk and the gesture of blessing,
whose banner bears the mouse.
Clad in red, with a large belly and wide ears,
adorned with red garments,
smeared with red fragrance and worshipped with red flowers.
Compassionate toward devotees,
the divine cause of the universe, imperishable,
manifest at the beginning of creation,
beyond both Prakṛti and Puruṣa.
One who meditates thus constantly
is a true yogi, the best among yogis.
Verse 10
नमो॒ व्रात॑पतये ।
नमो॒ गण॑पतये ।
नमः॑ प्रमथपतये ।
नमस्ते॒ऽस्तु॑ लम्बोदरायैकदन्ताय ।
विघ्नविनाशिने ।
शिवसुताय ।
श्रीवरदमूर्तये॒ नमः॑ ॥
Transliteration
Namo vrātapataye
Namo gaṇapataye
Namaḥ pramathapataye
Namaste’stu lambodarāya ekadantāya
Vighnavināśine
Śivasutāya
Śrīvaradamūrtaye namaḥ
Translation
Salutations to the Lord of all groups.
Salutations to Gaṇapati.
Salutations to the leader of the Pramathas.
Salutations to you, O pot-bellied one with the single tusk,
the remover of obstacles,
the son of Śiva,
the embodiment of auspicious boons.
Verse 11
एतदथर्वशीर्षं॑ योऽधी॒ते ।
स ब्रह्मभूया॑य क॒ल्पते ।
स सर्वविघ्नै᳚र्न बा॒ध्यते ।
स सर्वतः सुख॑मेध॒ते ।
स पञ्चमहापापा᳚त् प्रमु॒च्यते ।
सा॒यम॑धीया॒नो॒ दिवसकृतं पापं॑ नाश॒यति ।
प्रा॒तर॑धीया॒नो॒ रात्रिकृतं पापं॑ नाश॒यति ।
सायं प्रातः प्र॑युञ्जा॒नो॒ऽपापोऽपा॑पो भ॒वति ।
सर्वत्राधीयानोऽपवि॑घ्नो भ॒वति ।
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षं॑ च वि॒न्दति ।
इदमथर्वशीर्षमशिष्याय॑ न दे॒यम् ।
योयदि मो॑हाद् दा॒स्यति स पापी॑यान् भ॒वति ।
सहस्रावर्तनाद्यं यं काम॑मधी॒तेतं तमने॑न सा॒धयेत् ॥
Transliteration
Etad atharvaśīrṣaṁ yo’dhīte
Sa brahmabhūyāya kalpate
Sa sarvavighnair na bādhyate
Sa sarvataḥ sukham edhate
Sa pañcamahāpāpāt pramucyate
Sāyam adhīyāno divasakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ nāśayati
Prātar adhīyāno rātrikṛtaṁ pāpaṁ nāśayati
Sāyaṁ prātaḥ prayuñjāno’pāpo’pāpo bhavati
Sarvatrādhīyāno’pavighno bhavati
Dharmārthakāmamokṣaṁ ca vindati
Idam atharvaśīrṣam aśiṣyāya na deyam
Yo yadi mohād dāsyati sa pāpīyān bhavati
Sahasrāvartanād yaṁ kāmam adhīte
Taṁ tam anena sādhayet
Translation
One who studies this Atharvaśīrṣa
becomes established in Brahman.
Such a person is not afflicted by obstacles
and flourishes in happiness everywhere.
They are freed from the five great sins.
One who recites it in the evening
destroys the sins committed during the day.
One who recites it in the morning
destroys the sins committed during the night.
One who practices it both morning and evening
becomes free from sin.
One who studies it everywhere
remains unhindered by obstacles.
They attain dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa.
This Atharvaśīrṣa should not be given to an unworthy student.
One who gives it out of delusion becomes blameworthy.
By repeating it a thousand times,
whatever desire one holds is fulfilled through this practice.
Verse 12
अनेन गणपतिम॑भिषि॒ञ्चति स वा॑ग्मी भ॒वति ।
चतुर्थ्यामन॑श्नन् ज॒पति स विद्या॑वान् भ॒वति ।
इत्यथर्व॑णवा॒क्यम् ।
ब्रह्माद्यावर॑णं वि॒द्यान्न बिभेति कदा॑चने॒ति ॥
Transliteration
Anena gaṇapatim abhiṣiñcati sa vāgmī bhavati
Caturthyām anaśnan japati sa vidyāvān bhavati
Ity atharvaṇavākyam
Brahmādyāvaraṇaṁ vidyān na bibheti kadācaneti
Translation
By reciting this, one anoints Gaṇapati
and becomes eloquent in speech.
One who chants it on the fourth lunar day while fasting
becomes endowed with true knowledge.
Thus declares the statement of the Atharva Veda.
One who knows this is never afraid of any covering or limitation, beginning with Brahmā.
Verse 13
यो दूर्वाङ्कु॑रैर्य॒जति स वैश्रवणोप॑मो भ॒वति ।
यो ला॑जैर्य॒जति स यशो॑वान् भ॒वति ।
स मेधा॑वान् भ॒वति ।
यो मोदकसहस्रे॑ण य॒जति स वाञ्छितफलम॑वाप्नो॒ति ।
यः साज्यसमि॑द्भिर्य॒जति स सर्वं लभते ।
स सर्वं ल॒भते ॥
Transliteration
Yo dūrvāṅkurair yajati sa vaiśravaṇopamo bhavati
Yo lājair yajati sa yaśovān bhavati
Sa medhāvān bhavati
Yo modakasahasreṇa yajati sa vāñchitaphalam avāpnoti
Yaḥ sājya-samidbhir yajati sa sarvaṁ labhate
Sa sarvaṁ labhate
Translation
One who performs worship with fresh durvā grass
becomes equal to Kubera in prosperity.
One who worships with parched grains
becomes renowned and illustrious.
They become endowed with intelligence.
One who worships with a thousand modakas
attains the desired fruits.
One who worships with clarified butter and sacred fuel
attains everything.
Indeed, such a one attains everything.
Verse 14
अष्टौ ब्राह्मणान् सम्य॑ग् ग्राहयि॒त्वा सूर्यवर्च॑स्वी भ॒वति ।
सूर्यग्रहे म॑हान॒द्यां प्रतिमासन्निधौ वा ज॒प्त्वा सिद्धम॑न्त्रो भ॒वति ।
महाविघ्ना᳚त् प्रमु॒च्यते ।
महादोषा᳚त् प्रमु॒च्यते ।
महापापा᳚त् प्रमु॒च्यते ।
महाप्रत्यवाया᳚त् प्रमु॒च्यते ।
स सर्वविद्भ॒वति ।
स सर्व॑विद्भ॒वति ।
य ए॑वं वे॒द ।
इत्यु॑प॒निष॑त् ॥
Transliteration
Aṣṭau brāhmaṇān samyag grāhayitvā sūryavarcasvī bhavati
Sūryagrahe mahānadyāṁ pratimāsannidhau vā japtvā siddhamantro bhavati
Mahāvighnāt pramucyate
Mahādoṣāt pramucyate
Mahāpāpāt pramucyate
Mahāpratyavāyāt pramucyate
Sa sarvavid bhavati
Sa sarvavid bhavati
Ya evaṁ veda
Ity upaniṣat
Translation
One who properly instructs eight brāhmaṇas
becomes radiant like the sun.
One who chants this mantra at the time of a solar eclipse,
by a great river, or in the presence of an image,
becomes a perfected chanter.
They are freed from great obstacles.
They are freed from great faults.
They are freed from great sins.
They are freed from grave transgressions.
They become all-knowing.
Indeed, they become all-knowing.
One who knows this thus
realizes this Upaniṣad.
Śānti Mantra (Closing Invocation)
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑ ॥
ॐ स॒ह ना॑ववतु ।
स॒ह नौ॑ भुनक्तु ।
स॒ह वी॒र्यं॑ करवावहै ।
ते॒ज॒स्विना॒वधी॑तमस्तु॒ मा वि॑द्विषा॒वहै᳚ ।
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑ ॥
ॐ भ॒द्रं कर्णे॑भिः शृणु॒याम॑ देवाः ।
भ॒द्रं प॑श्येमा॒क्षभि॒र्यज॑त्राः ।
स्थि॒रैरङ्गै᳚स्तुष्टु॒वाꣳ स॑स्त॒नूभिः॑ ।
व्यशे॑म दे॒वहि॑तं॒ यदायुः॑ ।
स्व॒स्ति न॒ इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒द्धश्र॑वाः ।
स्व॒स्ति नः॑ पू॒षा वि॒श्ववे॑दाः ।
स्व॒स्ति न॒स्तार्क्ष्यो॒ अरि॑ष्टनेमिः ।
स्व॒स्ति नो॒ बृह॒स्पति॑र्दधातु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॒ शान्तिः॑ ॥
Transliteration
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Om saha nāv avatu
Saha nau bhunaktu
Saha vīryaṁ karavāvahai
Tejasvināv adhītam astu
Mā vidviṣāvahai
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Om bhadraṁ karṇebhiḥ śṛṇuyāma devāḥ
Bhadraṁ paśyemākṣabhir yajatrāḥ
Sthirair aṅgais tuṣṭuvāṁsastanūbhiḥ
Vyaśema devahitaṁ yad āyuḥ
Svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ
Svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ
Svasti nastārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ
Svasti no bṛhaspatir dadhātu
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Translation
Om. Peace, peace, peace.
May we both be protected.
May we both be nourished.
May we work together with strength and clarity.
May our study be luminous.
May we not oppose one another.
Om. Peace, peace, peace.
May we hear with our ears what is auspicious, O divine ones.
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O worthy of worship.
With steady limbs and healthy bodies,
May we live our allotted life in harmony with the divine order.
May Indra grant us well-being.
May Pūṣā grant us well-being.
May Tārkṣya grant us well-being.
May Bṛhaspati grant us well-being.
Om. Peace, peace, peace.
Closing Reflection
Śrī Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa is not a text to be merely understood, but one to be entered through sound. When approached with awareness of swara, the mantra reveals itself as a living transmission, guiding the listener from structured vibration toward inner stillness. In this Upaniṣadic vision, Gaṇapati is not only invoked as a deity, but realized as Nāda itself, the subtle movement where sound dissolves into silence. May this exploration serve as an invitation to chant slowly, listen deeply, and allow the mantra to unfold its wisdom through direct experience.
