Gita Dhyanam
गीता ध्यानम्
Also known as: gita dhyana shlokas · gita dhyan · om partharthaye pratibodhitam · bhagavad gita dhyanam · vasudevasutam devam · mukam karoti vachalam · geeta dhyanam · dhyana shlokas before gita
Origin & Story
Gita Dhyanam — traditional invocation prefacing the Bhagavad Gita (attributed to Madhusudana Saraswati) · Attributed to Madhusudana Saraswati · Medieval
Editions of the Bhagavad Gita open with these nine dhyana verses. They frame the Gita not merely as a text but as the Divine Mother who showers the nectar of Advaita, and they pay homage to Vyasa, who placed the dialogue in the heart of the Mahabharata, and to Krishna, who 'milked' the essence of all the Upanishads into Arjuna's hearing. Reciting them before study is a centuries-old mark of reverence to the scripture.
✦ As told in scripture
The verse 'Mukam Karoti Vachalam' — 'His grace makes the mute eloquent and the lame cross mountains' — is quoted across India whenever the seemingly impossible is achieved by divine grace. Devotees who open their Gita reading with these verses speak of the text coming alive for them, its meaning unfolding far beyond what the words alone could give.
Complete Text with Meaning
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ॐ पार्थाय प्रतिबोधितां भगवता नारायणेन स्वयं व्यासेन ग्रथितां पुराणमुनिना मध्ये महाभारतम्। अद्वैतामृतवर्षिणीं भगवतीमष्टादशाध्यायिनीम् अम्ब त्वामनुसन्दधामि भगवद्गीते भवद्वेषिणीम्॥
Om Parthaya Pratibodhitam Bhagavata Narayanena Svayam Vyasena Grathitam Purana-Munina Madhye Mahabharatam Advaitamrita-Varshinim Bhagavatim Ashtadasha-Adhyayinim Amba Tvam Anusandadhami Bhagavad-Gite Bhava-Dveshinim
Meaning:O Bhagavad Gita, by which Krishna himself enlightened Arjuna, which Vyasa set in the midst of the Mahabharata, showering the nectar of non-duality in eighteen chapters — O Mother, destroyer of rebirth, I meditate upon you.
नमोऽस्तु ते व्यास विशालबुद्धे फुल्लारविन्दायतपत्रनेत्र। येन त्वया भारततैलपूर्णः प्रज्वालितो ज्ञानमयः प्रदीपः॥
Namostu Te Vyasa Vishala-Buddhe Phullaravinda-Yatapatra-Netra Yena Tvaya Bharata-Taila-Purnah Prajvalito Jnanamayah Pradipah
Meaning:Salutations to Vyasa of vast intellect and lotus eyes, by whom the lamp of knowledge, filled with the oil of the Mahabharata, was kindled.
प्रपन्नपारिजाताय तोत्रवेत्रैकपाणये। ज्ञानमुद्राय कृष्णाय गीतामृतदुहे नमः॥
Prapanna-Parijataya Totra-Vetraika-Panaye Jnana-Mudraya Krishnaya Gitamrita-Duhe Namah
Meaning:Salutations to Krishna — the wish-fulfilling tree for those who surrender, holding the cane, bearing the seal of knowledge, the milker of the Gita's nectar.
सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः। पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्॥
Sarvopanishado Gavo Dogdha Gopala-Nandanah Partho Vatsah Sudhir Bhokta Dugdham Gitamritam Mahat
Meaning:All the Upanishads are the cows; Krishna the cowherd milks them; Arjuna is the calf; the wise drink the milk — the supreme nectar of the Gita.
वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम्। देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम्॥
Vasudeva-Sutam Devam Kamsa-Chanura-Mardanam Devaki-Paramanandam Krishnam Vande Jagad-Gurum
Meaning:I bow to Krishna, son of Vasudeva, destroyer of Kamsa and Chanura, the supreme bliss of Devaki, the teacher of the world.
भीष्मद्रोणतटा जयद्रथजला गान्धारनीलोत्पला शल्यग्राहवती कृपेण वहनी कर्णेन वेलाकुला। अश्वत्थामविकर्णघोरमकरा दुर्योधनावर्तिनी सोत्तीर्णा खलु पाण्डवै रणनदी कैवर्तकः केशवः॥
Bhishma-Drona-Tata Jayadratha-Jala Gandhara-Nilotpala Shalya-Grahavati Kripena Vahani Karnena Velakula Ashvatthama-Vikarna-Ghora-Makara Duryodhana-Avartini Sottirna Khalu Pandavai Rana-Nadi Kaivartakah Keshavah
Meaning:The Pandavas crossed the river of battle — its banks Bhishma and Drona, its waters Jayadratha, its crocodiles Ashvatthama and Karna — with Krishna as the ferryman.
पाराशर्यवचः सरोजममलं गीतार्थगन्धोत्कटं नानाख्यानककेसरं हरिकथासंबोधनाबोधितम्। लोके सज्जनषट्पदैरहरहः पेपीयमानं मुदा भूयाद्भारतपङ्कजं कलिमलप्रध्वंसि नः श्रेयसे॥
Parasharya-Vachah Sarojam Amalam Gitartha-Gandhotkatam Nana-Khyanaka-Kesaram Hari-Katha-Sambodhana-Abodhitam Loke Sajjana-Shatpadair Aharahah Pepiyamanam Muda Bhuyad Bharata-Pankajam Kali-Mala-Pradhvamsi Nah Shreyase
Meaning:May the lotus of the Mahabharata, born of Vyasa's words, fragrant with the meaning of the Gita, drunk daily with joy by the good, destroy the impurities of this dark age and bring us blessing.
मूकं करोति वाचालं पङ्गुं लङ्घयते गिरिम्। यत्कृपा तमहं वन्दे परमानन्दमाधवम्॥
Mukam Karoti Vachalam Pangum Langhayate Girim Yat-Kripa Tam Aham Vande Paramananda-Madhavam
Meaning:I bow to Madhava of supreme bliss, whose grace makes the mute eloquent and the lame cross mountains.
यं ब्रह्मा वरुणेन्द्ररुद्रमरुतः स्तुन्वन्ति दिव्यैः स्तवैः वेदैः साङ्गपदक्रमोपनिषदैर्गायन्ति यं सामगाः। ध्यानावस्थिततद्गतेन मनसा पश्यन्ति यं योगिनो यस्यान्तं न विदुः सुरासुरगणा देवाय तस्मै नमः॥
Yam Brahma Varunendra-Rudra-Marutah Stunvanti Divyaih Stavaih Vedaih Sanga-Pada-Kramopanishadair Gayanti Yam Samagah Dhyana-Avasthita-Tad-Gatena Manasa Pashyanti Yam Yogino Yasyantam Na Viduh Surasura-Gana Devaya Tasmai Namah
Meaning:Salutations to that God whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise with divine hymns, whom the singers of the Sama Veda extol, whom yogis behold in deep meditation, and whose limit neither gods nor demons know.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Gita Dhyanam
The traditional nine 'dhyana' (meditation) verses chanted before reading the Bhagavad Gita
Salutes the Gita itself as the Divine Mother, and honours Vyasa and Krishna
Recited to open Gita parayana (sequential reading) and Gita study
Contains the beloved verses 'Vasudevasutam Devam' and 'Mukam Karoti Vachalam'
Settles and consecrates the mind before taking up the Lord's teaching
How to Chant Gita Dhyanam
Chant the nine verses slowly before beginning the Gita, as an act of reverence to the scripture, to Vyasa who recorded it, and to Krishna who spoke it. Many begin daily Gita reading with at least 'Vasudevasutam Devam' and 'Mukam Karoti Vachalam'.
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