bhagavatamangalacharanavishnukrishna

Janmady Asya Yatah (Bhagavata Mangalacharana)

जन्माद्यस्य यतः in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Before reading or hearing the Srimad Bhagavata, at dawn (Brahma Muhurta), or at the start of any spiritual study·📜 Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Canto 1, Chapter 1, Verse 1 (Mangalacharana)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Janmady asya yatah is the celebrated opening invocation (mangalacharana) of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, composed by Veda Vyasa. In a single dense verse it defines the Supreme Truth as the source of creation, the giver of Vedic wisdom to Brahma, and the self-luminous reality beyond all illusion. It deliberately echoes the Gayatri mantra with the word 'dhimahi' (let us meditate), and is recited at the start of any Bhagavata reading.

Origin & Story

Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Canto 1, Chapter 1, Verse 1 (Mangalacharana) · Veda Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana) · Puranic

The Srimad Bhagavata opens not with a story but with this single, deeply philosophical invocation. Having compiled the Vedas, the Mahabharata and the other Puranas, Veda Vyasa still felt unsatisfied. Under the guidance of Narada Muni, he composed the Bhagavata as the 'ripened fruit of the Vedic tree.' He prefaced it with this verse so that the entire purpose of the scripture — meditation on the Supreme Truth, Vasudeva-Krishna — would be declared at the very outset. Commentators across traditions have written extensive treatises on this one verse alone.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that the first verse of the Bhagavata contains the entire scripture in seed form, and that Vyasa's restlessness vanished the moment he framed this invocation. It is said that wherever the Bhagavata is read beginning with 'janmady asya yatah', the place itself becomes purified like a place of pilgrimage.

0all time

The Mantra

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

Oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Janmādy asya yato 'nvayād itarataś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ svarāṭ tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ. tejo-vāri-mṛdāṃ yathā vinimayo yatra tri-sargo 'mṛṣā dhāmnā svena sadā nirasta-kuhakaṃ satyaṃ paraṃ dhīmahi.

Meaning:I offer my obeisances unto Lord Vasudeva. Let us meditate upon the Supreme Absolute Truth, from whom the creation, maintenance and dissolution of this universe proceed — who is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations and is fully independent, free of any other cause. It is He who imparted the Vedic knowledge through the heart to Brahma, the first created sage, and about whom even the greatest of demigods and sages are bewildered. Just as fire, water and earth appear to be exchanged for one another, in Him the threefold creation of the three modes of nature appears real though it is but an illusory transformation. By His own self-effulgent abode He is forever free of all illusion. Upon that Supreme Truth, the Absolute, we meditate.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

janma-ādi🔊creation, maintenance and dissolution

asya🔊of this (the manifested universe)

yataḥ🔊from whom

anvayāt🔊directly (present in everything)

itarataḥ🔊indirectly (absent from manifestation)

ca🔊and

artheṣu🔊in all affairs / purposes

abhijñaḥ🔊fully conscious, perfectly aware

svarāṭ🔊fully independent, self-luminous

tene🔊imparted, breathed forth

brahma🔊the Vedic knowledge

hṛdā🔊through the heart

ādi-kavaye🔊unto the first created being (Brahma)

muhyanti🔊are bewildered

yat🔊about whom

sūrayaḥ🔊great sages and demigods

tejo-vāri-mṛdām🔊of fire, water and earth

vinimayaḥ🔊the exchange / interaction

tri-sargaḥ🔊the threefold creation (of the three modes)

amṛṣā🔊factual, real in its dependence

dhāmnā svena🔊by His own abode / inherent effulgence

nirasta-kuhakam🔊free of all illusion / deceit

satyaṃ param🔊the Supreme Absolute Truth

dhīmahi🔊let us meditate upon

Benefits of Chanting जन्माद्यस्य यतः

✦

Invokes auspiciousness before reading or hearing the Srimad Bhagavata

✦

Establishes the philosophical foundation of the entire Bhagavata in one verse

✦

Meditating on it grants clarity about the nature of the Supreme Truth

✦

Echoes the Gayatri mantra (dhimahi) and is considered the 'Gayatri-based' essence of the Bhagavata

✦

Purifies the intellect and removes illusion (kuhaka) and doubt

✦

Cultivates devotion to Vasudeva-Krishna as the Absolute Reality

✦

Traditionally recited to bless any spiritual study, discourse, or sacrifice

How to Chant जन्माद्यस्य यतः

Repetitions3times

Best TimeBefore reading or hearing the Srimad Bhagavata, at dawn (Brahma Muhurta), or at the start of any spiritual study

Begin with 'Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya', then recite the full verse slowly, contemplating each clause — the source of creation, the giver of the Vedas, the reality beyond the play of the three modes. As it culminates in 'satyam param dhimahi', dwell in meditation on the Supreme Truth just as one meditates upon the Gayatri. Reciting it thrice before a Bhagavata Saptaha or daily reading is traditional.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete जन्माद्यस्य यतः 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 is the very first verse (mangalacharana, or auspicious invocation) of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana — Canto 1, Chapter 1, Verse 1 — preceded by the salutation 'Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya'. It defines the Supreme Absolute Truth and sets the theme for the whole scripture.

The verse ends with 'satyam param dhimahi' — 'we meditate upon the Supreme Truth' — directly echoing the 'dhimahi' of the Gayatri mantra. Traditional commentators say Vyasa began the Bhagavata with a meditation modeled on the Gayatri, making the Bhagavata the natural commentary on it.

Svarat means fully independent and self-luminous. It declares that the Supreme Truth depends on no other cause, unlike the created universe which depends entirely upon Him.

It is recited at the beginning of any reading, recitation, or discourse on the Srimad Bhagavata, and may be chanted daily as an invocation for wisdom and devotion.