isha-vasyam-idam-sarvamisha-upanishadishavasyavedanta

Isha Vasyam Idam Sarvam (All is Pervaded by the Lord)

Isha Vasyam Idam Sarvam (All is Pervaded by the Lord) in English · English

🕉️ upanishad·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study·📜 Isha Upanishad, Verse 1

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Isha Vasyam Idam Sarvam is the celebrated opening verse of the Isha Upanishad, which gives the Upanishad its name. It declares that everything in the moving universe is pervaded and indwelt by the Lord, and therefore one should live by renunciation — enjoying what is given without grasping or coveting another's wealth. In a single verse it unites the vision of God in all with a profound ethic of non-attachment.

Origin & Story

Isha Upanishad, Verse 1 · Traditional (Upanishadic) · Vedic / Upanishadic

The Isha Upanishad, though one of the shortest with only eighteen verses, is held in the highest regard, for it is set within the Samhita portion of the Shukla Yajur Veda itself. Its opening verse proclaims that the entire moving world is enveloped by Isha, the Lord, and counsels that one should therefore enjoy life through renunciation, free of all greed. From this first word 'Isha' the Upanishad takes its name, and the verse has become a beloved summary of the Vedantic art of living in the world while belonging to God.

✦ As told in scripture

Sages cite this verse as the perfect reconciliation of action and renunciation — Mahatma Gandhi himself said that if all the Upanishads and scriptures were lost but this one verse remained, it would suffice to teach the whole of Hindu dharma, so completely does it contain the secret of a godly life.

0all time

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

īśā vāsyam idaṁ sarvaṁ yatkiñca jagatyāṁ jagat tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasyasviddhanam

Meaning:All this — whatever moves in this moving world — is pervaded by the Lord. Therefore enjoy through renunciation; do not covet, for whose is wealth?

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

īśā🔊By the Lord, by the Supreme Ruler (Ishvara)

vāsyam🔊Is pervaded, enveloped, indwelt; to be covered/clothed (by the Lord)

idaṁ sarvam🔊All this (everything that exists)

yat kiñca🔊Whatsoever, whatever there is

jagatyāṁ jagat🔊Moving (changing) in this moving world; all that moves in the universe

tena tyaktena🔊By that renunciation; through detachment (giving up the sense of ownership)

bhuñjīthāḥ🔊You should enjoy, sustain yourself, partake

mā gṛdhaḥ🔊Do not covet, do not be greedy

kasya svit dhanam🔊Whose is this wealth? (the wealth belongs to no one in particular)

Benefits of Chanting Isha Vasyam Idam Sarvam (All is Pervaded by the Lord)

✦

Instils the vision of the Divine pervading all things, beings and the whole universe.

✦

Teaches the secret of joyful living through renunciation (tyaga) and non-attachment rather than grasping.

✦

Frees the heart from greed and covetousness by reminding that nothing truly belongs to anyone.

✦

Harmonizes worldly life and spirituality — to act and enjoy while inwardly detached, offering all to the Lord.

✦

Cultivates contentment, equanimity and reverence for all creation as God's dwelling.

✦

A foundational verse of Vedanta, often chanted at the start of scriptural study and contemplation.

How to Chant Isha Vasyam Idam Sarvam (All is Pervaded by the Lord)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study

FaceEast or North

Recite 'Isha Vasyam Idam Sarvam' and let its vision sink in: see the one Lord present within everything you perceive — people, objects, nature, your own body. Then hold the verse's counsel of 'enjoyment through renunciation', receiving life's gifts gratefully without clinging or coveting. It is excellent as an opening prayer for study and as a daily reflection to dissolve greed and deepen reverence.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Isha Vasyam Idam Sarvam (All is Pervaded by the Lord) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It means 'All this is pervaded by the Lord'. Everything in the changing universe is indwelt by God, so one should live by renunciation — enjoying what comes without greed, since no wealth ultimately belongs to anyone.

It is the very first verse of the Isha Upanishad (verse 1), which belongs to the Shukla Yajur Veda and forms the final chapter of the Vajasaneyi Samhita. The Upanishad takes its name from this opening word, 'Isha'.

It is the Upanishad's famous teaching of 'tena tyaktena bhunjithah' — sustain and enjoy yourself by giving up the sense of ownership. One lives and works in the world, partaking of its gifts, but inwardly renounces possessiveness, dedicating everything to the Lord.

The phrase 'ma gridhah kasya svid dhanam' — 'do not covet, for whose is wealth?' — reminds us that nothing truly belongs to us; all is the Lord's. This dissolves greed and the impulse to seize what belongs to others, fostering contentment and honesty.