samarth-ramdasmanache-shlokramamarathi

Manache Shlok (Selected Verses)

Manache Shlok (Selected Verses) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (at dawn, as the verses themselves advise) and in the evening·📜 Manache Shlok (Manobodh) of Samarth Ramdas — Marathi devotional literature

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Manache Shlok ('Verses to the Mind'), also called Manobodh, is a celebrated set of 205 Marathi verses composed by the great 17th-century saint Samarth Ramdas, the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Addressed directly to one's own mind, they gently and firmly counsel devotion to Lord Rama, the abandoning of vice, and a life of truth, right conduct and inner discipline. Learned by heart by generations of Maharashtrian children, these opening verses are among the most loved moral and devotional teachings in the Marathi language.

Origin & Story

Manache Shlok (Manobodh) of Samarth Ramdas — Marathi devotional literature · Samarth Ramdas Swami (1608–1681) · 17th century

Samarth Ramdas, the saint of Sajjangad and spiritual guide of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, composed the Manache Shlok as a stream of counsel to the human mind. Drawing on his deep devotion to Lord Rama and his vision of an awakened, disciplined society, he framed each verse as an intimate appeal — 'O mind...' — urging it away from anger, lust, greed and falsehood and toward the path of devotion, truth and right conduct. The verses entered the very fabric of Maharashtrian life, recited in homes and learned by heart by children, and remain among the most beloved moral-spiritual poems in Marathi.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said of Samarth Ramdas that his words carried the force of his own tapas — and generations of devotees affirm that daily recitation of the Manache Shlok steadily transforms character, calming anger and craving and turning the restless mind toward Rama, just as the verses promise that 'the one who holds to right conduct becomes truly blessed'.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Ganaadhish jo Ish sarvaan gunaanchaa. Mulaarambh aarambh to nirgunaachaa. Namoon Shaaradaa mool chatvaar vaachaa. Gamoon panth aananta yaa Raaghavaachaa.

Meaning:I bow to Ganesha, the lord of all virtues, the very root and beginning that springs from the attributeless Absolute; I bow to Sharada, the source of the four kinds of speech; and let me tread the infinite path of Lord Raghava (Rama).

Verse 2

Manaa sajjanaa bhakti-panthechi jaave. Tari Shri-Hari paavije-to svabhaave. Janin nindya te sarva sodooni dyaave. Janin vandya te sarva bhaave karaave.

Meaning:O good mind, walk only upon the path of devotion, and then Lord Hari is attained as a matter of course. Give up entirely everything that the world condemns, and do with all your heart everything that the world honours.

Verse 3

Prabhaate manin Raam chinteet jaavaa. Pudhe vaikharee Raam aadhee vadaavaa. Sadaachaar haa thor saandoon naye to. Janin tochi to maanavee dhanya hoto.

Meaning:At dawn keep contemplating Rama within the mind, and let the very first word your voice utters be 'Rama'. This great virtue of right conduct should never be forsaken; the one who keeps it becomes truly blessed among people.

Verse 4

Manaa vaasanaa dushta kaamaa na ye re. Manaa sarvathaa paapa-buddhee nako re. Manaa dharmataa neeti sodoon nako ho. Manaa antarin saar veechaar raaho.

Meaning:O mind, wicked cravings serve no purpose — never harbour a sinful intent at all. O mind, do not forsake righteousness and good conduct; let the essential, true thought abide within you.

Verse 5

Manaa paapa-sankalpa sodooni dyaavaa. Manaa satya-sankalpa jeevin dharaavaa. Manaa kalpanaa te nako vishayaanchee. Vikaare ghade ho janin sarva chee chee.

Meaning:O mind, give up every sinful resolve, and hold fast in life to the resolve of truth. O mind, do not dwell on thoughts of the senses, for through such distortions all manner of disgrace befalls one in the world.

Verse 6

Nako re manaa krodh haa khed-kaaree. Nako re manaa kaam naanaa vikaaree. Nako re manaa lobh haa angikaaroo. Nako re manaa matsaroo dambh bhaaroo.

Meaning:O mind, do not yield to anger, which brings only sorrow; do not yield to lust, the source of countless distortions. O mind, do not embrace greed, and do not bear the heavy burden of envy and hypocrisy.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Ganaadhish jo Ish sarvaan gunaanchaa🔊Ganesha, who is the lord of all virtues/attributes

Mulaarambh aarambh to nirgunaachaa🔊The very root and beginning, springing from the attributeless (Nirguna)

Namoon Shaaradaa🔊I bow to Sharada (Saraswati, goddess of speech)

Gamoon panth aananta yaa Raaghavaachaa🔊Let me tread the infinite path of this Raghava (Lord Rama)

Manaa sajjanaa bhakti-panthechi jaave🔊O good mind, walk only on the path of devotion

Tari Shri-Hari paavije-to svabhaave🔊Then Lord Hari is attained naturally

Janin nindya te sarva sodooni dyaave🔊Give up entirely all that is condemned among people

Janin vandya te sarva bhaave karaave🔊Do with feeling all that is honoured (righteous) among people

Prabhaate manin Raam chinteet jaavaa🔊At dawn, keep contemplating Rama in the mind

Pudhe vaikharee Raam aadhee vadaavaa🔊Then let the first word the voice utters be 'Rama'

Sadaachaar haa thor saandoon naye to🔊This great virtue of right conduct should never be abandoned

Janin tochi to maanavee dhanya hoto🔊That very person becomes blessed among human beings

Manaa vaasanaa dushta kaamaa na ye re🔊O mind, evil cravings are of no use (avoid them)

Manaa sarvathaa paapa-buddhee nako re🔊O mind, never harbour a sinful intent at all

Manaa dharmataa neeti sodoon nako ho🔊O mind, do not forsake righteousness and good conduct

Manaa antarin saar veechaar raaho🔊O mind, let the essential (true) thought abide within you

Manaa satya-sankalpa jeevin dharaavaa🔊O mind, hold fast in life to the resolve of truth

Nako re manaa krodh haa khed-kaaree🔊O mind, do not give in to anger, which brings only grief

Nako re manaa kaam naanaa vikaaree🔊O mind, do not give in to lust, the source of many distortions

Nako re manaa lobh haa angikaaroo🔊O mind, do not embrace greed

Nako re manaa matsaroo dambh bhaaroo🔊O mind, do not bear the burden of envy and hypocrisy

Benefits of Chanting Manache Shlok (Selected Verses)

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Trains and purifies the mind through direct, loving self-instruction (manobodh)

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Instils steady devotion to Lord Rama and the habit of remembering his name at dawn

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Encourages abandoning anger, lust, greed, envy and hypocrisy

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Builds a foundation of sadachara (right conduct), truthfulness and discipline

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Brings peace of mind by turning the mind from sense-cravings to the essential truth

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An ideal teaching for children and seekers alike to memorise and live by

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Recited daily by many Maharashtrian families for moral and spiritual upliftment

How to Chant Manache Shlok (Selected Verses)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning (at dawn, as the verses themselves advise) and in the evening

Recite the Manache Shlok aloud in a steady rhythm, ideally at dawn, dwelling on the meaning as you address your own mind. Traditionally several or all 205 verses are recited daily; even these opening verses, recited every morning, set a tone of devotion and right conduct for the day. They are especially valuable to learn by heart, so that their counsel arises naturally in the mind when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Manache Shlok (Selected Verses) 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.

The Manache Shlok ('Verses to the Mind') are 205 Marathi verses by Saint Samarth Ramdas, also known as the Manobodh. Each verse addresses one's own mind, advising it toward devotion to Lord Rama and a virtuous, disciplined life. They are a cornerstone of Marathi devotional and moral literature.

They were composed by Samarth Ramdas Swami (1608–1681), the renowned saint of Maharashtra and spiritual guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He also wrote the celebrated text Dasbodh and was a great devotee of Lord Rama and Hanuman.

Samarth Ramdas teaches that the mind is the root of bondage and liberation alike, so he counsels it directly and affectionately ('O mind...'), persuading it to give up vice and turn to devotion. This makes the Shlok a practical method of self-purification and self-discipline.

They are best recited at dawn, as the verses themselves advise contemplating Rama first thing in the morning. Many families recite them daily, and children traditionally memorise them as a foundation of good character.