Library
Shlokas
Verses from the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Gita, each with the original Sanskrit, a transliteration you can read aloud, a plain translation, and a short commentary on where it comes from and why it has stayed with us.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
अयं बन्धुरयं नेति गणना लघुचेतसाम् । उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥
For those who live generously, the whole world is one family.
Read commentaryShanti MantraSarve Bhavantu Sukhinaḥ
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥
May all be happy; may no one come to suffering.
Read commentaryRigvedaGāyatrī Mantra
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
May the light of the divine awaken our understanding.
Read commentaryBṛhadāraṇyakaAsato Mā Sadgamaya
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ॥
Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light.
Read commentaryBhagavad GitaKarmaṇy-evādhikāras-te
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥
You have a right to your work, never to its fruits.
Read commentaryTraditionalTvameva Mātā Cha Pitā Tvameva
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव । त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव ॥
You are my mother, father, friend, and all.
Read commentaryMore on the way
We’re adding verses over time, with recitation audio and a daily shloka to come. If there’s one you’d like to see explained, let us know.
