vishnukrishnagovindashloka

Namo Brahmanya Devaya

Namo Brahmanya Devaya in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 At the start or close of worship and recitations; daily, especially on Ekadashi and Janmashtami·📜 Traditional salutation / shanti verse to Vishnu as Krishna-Govinda

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This beloved short verse is one of the most widely recited salutations to Lord Vishnu in His form as Krishna-Govinda. It honours the Lord as the protector of Brahmanas and the sacred order, the benefactor of cows and Brahmanas, and the well-wisher of the whole world, ending with repeated obeisance to Krishna and Govinda. It is chanted as a peace verse (shanti-mantra), at the close of recitations, and as a simple daily prayer for universal welfare.

Origin & Story

Traditional salutation / shanti verse to Vishnu as Krishna-Govinda · Traditional (recited across the Mahabharata and Puranic tradition) · Classical

This salutation to the Lord as 'Brahmanya-deva' — the protector of Brahmanas, cows and the world — is among the most popular short verses of Vaishnava devotion. Addressing Krishna-Govinda as the universal well-wisher, it has long been used as a peace verse and a closing prayer in worship and discourse, expressing the wish that the Lord's grace bring welfare to all creation.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that ending any worship or sacred reading with this verse extends its merit to the welfare of cows, the pious and the entire world, for one entrusts all beings to the Lord who is the well-wisher of the whole universe.

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The Mantra

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Namo Brahmanya-Devaya Go-Brahmana-Hitaya Cha | Jagad-Dhitaya Krishnaya Govindaya Namo Namah ||

Meaning:Salutations to the Lord who is the protector of the Brahmanas and of all that is sacred; the benefactor of cows and Brahmanas; the well-wisher of the entire world. To Krishna, to Govinda, I bow again and again.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Namah🔊Salutations, I bow

Brahmanya-Devaya🔊To the Lord (deva) who is devoted to / the protector of the Brahmanas and of Brahman (the Vedas and the pious)

Go-Brahmana-Hitaya🔊To Him who is the well-wisher / benefactor of cows and Brahmanas

Cha🔊And

Jagad-Dhitaya🔊To Him who is the well-wisher / benefactor of the whole world

Krishnaya🔊To Krishna (the all-attractive Lord; the dark-hued one)

Govindaya🔊To Govinda (protector of cows; one who is known through the Vedas)

Namo Namah🔊Again and again I bow; repeated salutations

Benefits of Chanting Namo Brahmanya Devaya

✦

A simple, powerful daily salutation to Lord Vishnu as Krishna-Govinda

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Recited as a shanti (peace) verse for the welfare of cows, the pious and the whole world

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Frequently chanted at the conclusion of pujas, discourses and scriptural recitations

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Invokes the Lord's protective grace as 'Brahmanya-deva', guardian of dharma

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Cultivates a spirit of compassion and goodwill toward all beings (jagad-dhita)

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Easy to memorise and suitable for repeated japa

How to Chant Namo Brahmanya Devaya

Repetitions3times

Best TimeAt the start or close of worship and recitations; daily, especially on Ekadashi and Janmashtami

Recite this verse with folded hands and a calm mind, as a salutation to the Lord and a prayer for the welfare of cows, the virtuous and the whole world. It is well suited to be chanted three times at the conclusion of a puja, reading or discourse, or repeated as japa as a simple daily remembrance of Krishna-Govinda.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Namo Brahmanya Devaya 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 'Salutations to the Lord who protects the Brahmanas and the sacred order, the benefactor of cows and Brahmanas and well-wisher of the whole world; to Krishna and Govinda I bow again and again.' It is a salutation to Vishnu as Krishna-Govinda.

Both — Krishna and Govinda are forms of Lord Vishnu. The verse addresses the Lord as 'Brahmanya-deva' (a Vishnu epithet) and then by His names Krishna and Govinda, so it is used in the worship of Vishnu and Krishna alike.

It is widely recited as a peace verse and as a salutation at the beginning or close of pujas, scriptural recitations and discourses. Many devotees also repeat it daily as a brief prayer for the good of all.

Cows and Brahmanas traditionally symbolise the sustenance of life and the preservation of sacred knowledge. Saluting the Lord as their protector affirms Him as the guardian of dharma and the welfare of the world.