Manache Shlok (Selected Verses) Meaning — Line by Line

मनाचे श्लोक (चयनित श्लोक)

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Manache Shlok (Selected Verses) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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Verse 1. Ganaadhish jo Ish sarvaan gunaanchaa.
Verse 2. Manaa sajjanaa bhakti-panthechi jaave.
Verse 3. Prabhaate manin Raam chinteet jaavaa.
Verse 4. Manaa vaasanaa dushta kaamaa na ye re.
Verse 5. Manaa paapa-sankalpa sodooni dyaavaa.
Verse 6. Nako re manaa krodh haa khed-kaaree.

Verse 1#

गणाधीश जो ईश सर्वां गुणांचा। मुळारंभ आरंभ तो निर्गुणाचा॥ नमूं शारदा मूळ चत्वार वाचा। गमूं पंथ आनंत या राघवाचा॥

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

MeaningI 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#

मना सज्जना भक्तिपंथेचि जावे। तरी श्रीहरी पाविजेतो स्वभावे॥ जनीं निंद्य ते सर्व सोडूनि द्यावे। जनीं वंद्य ते सर्व भावे करावे॥

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

MeaningO 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#

प्रभाते मनीं राम चिंतीत जावा। पुढे वैखरी राम आधी वदावा॥ सदाचार हा थोर सांडूं नये तो। जनीं तोचि तो मानवी धन्य होतो॥

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

MeaningAt 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#

मना वासना दुष्ट कामा न ये रे। मना सर्वथा पापबुद्धी नको रे॥ मना धर्मता नीति सोडूं नको हो। मना अंतरीं सार वीचार राहो॥

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

MeaningO 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#

मना पापसंकल्प सोडूनि द्यावा। मना सत्यसंकल्प जीवीं धरावा॥ मना कल्पना ते नको वीषयांची। विकारे घडे हो जनीं सर्व ची ची॥

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

MeaningO 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#

नको रे मना क्रोध हा खेदकारी। नको रे मना काम नाना विकारी॥ नको रे मना लोभ हा अंगिकारू। नको रे मना मत्सरू दंभ भारू॥

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.

MeaningO 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 Breakdown

गणाधीश जो ईश सर्वां गुणांचा

Ganaadhish jo Ish sarvaan gunaanchaa

Ganesha, who is the lord of all virtues/attributes

मुळारंभ आरंभ तो निर्गुणाचा

Mulaarambh aarambh to nirgunaachaa

The very root and beginning, springing from the attributeless (Nirguna)

नमूं शारदा

Namoon Shaaradaa

I bow to Sharada (Saraswati, goddess of speech)

गमूं पंथ आनंत या राघवाचा

Gamoon panth aananta yaa Raaghavaachaa

Let me tread the infinite path of this Raghava (Lord Rama)

मना सज्जना भक्तिपंथेचि जावे

Manaa sajjanaa bhakti-panthechi jaave

O good mind, walk only on the path of devotion

तरी श्रीहरी पाविजेतो स्वभावे

Tari Shri-Hari paavije-to svabhaave

Then Lord Hari is attained naturally

जनीं निंद्य ते सर्व सोडूनि द्यावे

Janin nindya te sarva sodooni dyaave

Give up entirely all that is condemned among people

जनीं वंद्य ते सर्व भावे करावे

Janin vandya te sarva bhaave karaave

Do with feeling all that is honoured (righteous) among people

प्रभाते मनीं राम चिंतीत जावा

Prabhaate manin Raam chinteet jaavaa

At dawn, keep contemplating Rama in the mind

पुढे वैखरी राम आधी वदावा

Pudhe vaikharee Raam aadhee vadaavaa

Then let the first word the voice utters be 'Rama'

सदाचार हा थोर सांडूं नये तो

Sadaachaar haa thor saandoon naye to

This great virtue of right conduct should never be abandoned

जनीं तोचि तो मानवी धन्य होतो

Janin tochi to maanavee dhanya hoto

That very person becomes blessed among human beings

मना वासना दुष्ट कामा न ये रे

Manaa vaasanaa dushta kaamaa na ye re

O mind, evil cravings are of no use (avoid them)

मना सर्वथा पापबुद्धी नको रे

Manaa sarvathaa paapa-buddhee nako re

O mind, never harbour a sinful intent at all

मना धर्मता नीति सोडूं नको हो

Manaa dharmataa neeti sodoon nako ho

O mind, do not forsake righteousness and good conduct

मना अंतरीं सार वीचार राहो

Manaa antarin saar veechaar raaho

O mind, let the essential (true) thought abide within you

मना सत्यसंकल्प जीवीं धरावा

Manaa satya-sankalpa jeevin dharaavaa

O mind, hold fast in life to the resolve of truth

नको रे मना क्रोध हा खेदकारी

Nako re manaa krodh haa khed-kaaree

O mind, do not give in to anger, which brings only grief

नको रे मना काम नाना विकारी

Nako re manaa kaam naanaa vikaaree

O mind, do not give in to lust, the source of many distortions

नको रे मना लोभ हा अंगिकारू

Nako re manaa lobh haa angikaaroo

O mind, do not embrace greed

नको रे मना मत्सरू दंभ भारू

Nako re manaa matsaroo dambh bhaaroo

O mind, do not bear the burden of envy and hypocrisy

Origin & History

Source: Manache Shlok (Manobodh) of Samarth Ramdas — Marathi devotional literature

Author: Samarth Ramdas Swami (1608–1681)

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Manache Shlok?▼

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.

Who composed the Manache Shlok?▼

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.

Why are the verses addressed to the mind?▼

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.

When should the Manache Shlok be recited?▼

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.

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