yajurvedataittiriya-upanishadshanti-pathapeace

Sham No Mitrah Sham Varunah

शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः in English · English

🕉️ vedic·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Before study of the Upanishads or scripture, and at the start of spiritual practice·📜 Taittiriya Upanishad (Shiksha Valli), Krishna Yajurveda

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is the celebrated Shanti Patha that opens the Shiksha Valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad (Krishna Yajurveda). It invokes the blessing of Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman, Indra, Brihaspati and Vishnu, then bows to Brahman and Vayu as the manifest Reality, vowing to speak only Rta (cosmic order) and Satya (truth). It is one of the most widely recited Vedic peace invocations, chanted before scriptural study to bless both student and teacher.

Origin & Story

Taittiriya Upanishad (Shiksha Valli), Krishna Yajurveda · Vedic tradition (Taittiriya Shakha) · Vedic period

This Shanti Patha opens the Shiksha Valli, the first section of the Taittiriya Upanishad of the Krishna Yajurveda. Before imparting the sacred knowledge, the student invokes peace from Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman, Indra, Brihaspati and the wide-striding Vishnu, then turns to Vayu and Brahman as the directly perceptible Reality, vowing to uphold truth. It is one of the most beloved and frequently recited of all the Vedic peace invocations.

✦ As told in scripture

For countless generations this invocation has begun the study of the Upanishads, and teachers say that where it is sincerely recited, the mind grows calm and the meaning of the scripture opens of its own accord. By blessing 'both me and the teacher,' it is held to weave a protective grace around the entire act of learning, so that sacred knowledge is received and transmitted in peace.

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The Mantra

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Oṃ śaṃ no mitraḥ śaṃ varuṇaḥ | śaṃ no bhavatv aryamā | śaṃ na indro bṛhaspatiḥ | śaṃ no viṣṇur urukramaḥ | Namo brahmaṇe | namas te vāyo | tvam eva pratyakṣaṃ brahmāsi | tvām eva pratyakṣaṃ brahma vadiṣyāmi | ṛtaṃ vadiṣyāmi | satyaṃ vadiṣyāmi | tan mām avatu | tad vaktāram avatu | avatu mām | avatu vaktāram | Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||

Meaning:Om. May Mitra be blissful to us; may Varuna be blissful to us; may Aryaman be blissful to us; may Indra and Brihaspati be blissful to us; may the wide-striding Vishnu be blissful to us. Salutations to Brahman; salutations to you, O Vayu — you indeed are the perceptible Brahman. I shall declare you to be the manifest Brahman; I shall speak the cosmic order (Rta); I shall speak the truth (Satya). May That protect me; may That protect the teacher; may it protect me; may it protect the teacher. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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śam🔊may there be peace / blessing / well-being

naḥ🔊to us, for us

mitraḥ🔊Mitra (the friendly deity of day, harmony and breath)

varuṇaḥ🔊Varuna (deity of cosmic order, waters and the night)

aryamā🔊Aryaman (the solar deity of nobility, the eye)

indraḥ bṛhaspatiḥ🔊Indra (strength) and Brihaspati (wisdom, lord of prayer)

viṣṇuḥ urukramaḥ🔊Vishnu of wide strides (who measured the worlds)

namaḥ brahmaṇe🔊salutations to Brahman (the Supreme Reality)

namaḥ te vāyo🔊salutations to you, O Vayu (the cosmic wind / life-breath)

tvam eva pratyakṣaṃ brahma asi🔊you alone are the perceptible (manifest) Brahman

ṛtaṃ vadiṣyāmi🔊I shall speak the cosmic order (the right)

satyaṃ vadiṣyāmi🔊I shall speak the truth

tat mām avatu🔊may That (Brahman) protect me

tat vaktāram avatu🔊may That protect the teacher (the speaker)

avatu mām🔊may it protect me

avatu vaktāram🔊may it protect the teacher

śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ🔊peace, peace, peace (in body, mind and surroundings)

Benefits of Chanting शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः

✦

Invokes peace and the blessing (sham) of the great Vedic deities

✦

A revered Shanti Patha to begin scriptural study and spiritual practice

✦

Blesses and protects both the seeker and the teacher

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Affirms the vow to speak only truth (Satya) and cosmic order (Rta)

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Recognises Vayu and Brahman as the directly perceptible Reality

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Settles body, mind and surroundings into threefold peace

How to Chant शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः

Repetitions3times

Best TimeBefore study of the Upanishads or scripture, and at the start of spiritual practice

Chant this Shanti Patha at the beginning of Vedic or Upanishadic study, with reverence for both the deities invoked and the teacher. Begin with 'Om' and end with 'Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,' the three repetitions praying for peace in the body, the mind, and the outer world. Recite calmly and clearly, holding the resolve to speak truth that the mantra declares.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः 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 'May Mitra be blissful (peaceful) to us; may Varuna be blissful to us.' The full verse asks Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman, Indra, Brihaspati and Vishnu to bless us, and salutes Brahman and Vayu as the manifest Supreme Reality.

It is the opening peace invocation (Shanti Mantra) of the Shiksha Valli, the first chapter of the Taittiriya Upanishad, which belongs to the Krishna (Black) Yajurveda. Its root deity-praise echoes Rigvedic invocations of Mitra and Varuna.

The student vows to speak Rta (the cosmic, eternal order) and Satya (truth in word and deed). This vow of truthfulness is the proper attitude for one approaching sacred knowledge, and it invites the protection of Brahman upon both student and teacher.

It is traditionally recited before studying the Taittiriya Upanishad and other scriptures, and is widely used as a general Shanti Patha to begin spiritual study, discourses and practice.