Sadhana Panchakam
Sadhana Panchakam in English · English
Origin & Story
Ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · Classical
The Sadhana Panchakam is traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankaracharya. Adi Shankaracharya’s five verses of spiritual practice — a complete path in forty steps: "Study the Veda daily, perform your duty well, offer its fruit to God, renounce desire, see the faults of worldly life, seek the Self, leave home, keep the company of the wise…"
✦ As told in scripture
It is said that to recite the Sadhana Panchakam with a sincere and devoted heart is to draw near to the grace of the divine, which never forsakes those who lovingly call upon it.
The Mantra
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vedo nityamadhīyatāṃ taduditaṃ karma svanuṣṭhīyatāṃ teneśasya vidhīyatāmapacitiḥ kāmye matistyajyatām | pāpaughaḥ paridhūyatāṃ bhavasukhe doṣo'nusandhīyatā- mātmecchā vyavasīyatāṃ nijagṛhāttūrṇaṃ vinirgamyatām || 1|| saṅgaḥ satsu vidhīyatāṃ bhagavato bhaktirdṛḍhā''dhīyatāṃ śāntyādiḥ paricīyatāṃ dṛḍhataraṃ karmāśu santyajyatām | sadvidvānupasṛpyatāṃ pratidinaṃ tatpādukā sevyatāṃ brahmaikākṣaramarthyatāṃ śrutiśirovākyaṃ samākarṇyatām || 2|| vākyārthaśca vicāryatāṃ śrutiśiraḥpakṣaḥ samāśrīyatāṃ dustarkātsuviramyatāṃ śrutimatastarko'nusandhīyatām | brahmāsmīti vibhāvyatāmaharahargarvaḥ parityajyatāṃ dehe'hammatirujjhyatāṃ budhajanairvādaḥ parityajyatām || 3|| kṣudvyādhiśca cikitsyatāṃ pratidinaṃ bhikṣauṣadhaṃ bhujyatāṃ svādvannaṃ na tu yācyatāṃ vidhivaśāt prāptena santuṣyatām | śītoṣṇādi viṣahyatāṃ na tu vṛthā vākyaṃ samuccāryatā- maudāsīnyamabhīpsyatāṃ janakṛpānaiṣṭhuryamutsṛjyatām || 4 || ekānte sukhamāsyatāṃ paratare cetaḥ samādhīyatāṃ pūrṇātmā susamīkṣyatāṃ jagadidaṃ tadbādhitaṃ dṛśyatām | prākkarma pravilāpyatāṃ citibalānnāpyuttaraiḥ śliṣyatāṃ prārabdhaṃ tviha bhujyatāmatha parabrahmātmanā sthīyatām || 5|| || iti paramahaṃsaparivrājakācāryaśrīmacchaṅkarācāryaviracita sādhana pañcakaṃ sampūrṇam ||
Meaning:Adi Shankaracharya’s five verses of spiritual practice — a complete path in forty steps: "Study the Veda daily, perform your duty well, offer its fruit to God, renounce desire, see the faults of worldly life, seek the Self, leave home, keep the company of the wise…"
Benefits of Chanting Sadhana Panchakam
Recitation of the Sadhana Panchakam is held to bring the grace, blessings and protection of the deity.
Cultivates devotion, calms the mind and steadies the heart in the Lord’s remembrance.
Most auspicious on Mondays, and during Maha Shivaratri and Shravan.
A treasured Sanskrit hymn, suitable for daily recitation with faith.
How to Chant Sadhana Panchakam
Bathe and sit facing east or north before an image of the deity. Light a lamp and recite the Sadhana Panchakam slowly and with devotion. It may be chanted daily, or especially on Mondays and during Maha Shivaratri and Shravan.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Read the full Sadhana Panchakam with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts