shivasuktamyajurvedavedic

Shiva Sankalpa Suktam

शिव सङ्कल्प सूक्तम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 6× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) after bath, before meditation, study, or making a sankalpa·📜 Shukla Yajurveda, Vajasaneyi Samhita, Chapter 34, mantras 1–6

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Shiva Sankalpa Suktam is a celebrated Vedic hymn of six mantras from the Shukla Yajurveda (Vajasaneyi Samhita, chapter 34), a prayer for the mind itself. Each mantra describes the wondrous power of the mind — far-ranging, the light of all lights, the seat of consciousness in which the Vedas and all beings are woven — and closes with the refrain 'tan me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam astu' — 'may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious (Shiva) resolve'. It is chanted to purify, steady and elevate the mind toward what is good and holy.

Origin & Story

Shukla Yajurveda, Vajasaneyi Samhita, Chapter 34, mantras 1–6 · Vedic seers (apaurusheya — revealed scripture) · Vedic period (ancient)

The Shiva Sankalpa Suktam stands at the opening of the 34th chapter of the Shukla Yajurveda. Unlike most hymns that praise a deity, this rare and profound suktam is a prayer directed to the mind itself — recognising it as the subtle, far-ranging power behind all perception, action and worship, and indeed the field in which the Vedas and the consciousness of all beings are woven. The seers pray that this mighty instrument become 'shiva' — wholly auspicious in its every resolve — so that the human being may be drawn always toward the good. It has been cherished across the ages as a mantra for purifying and mastering the mind.

✦ As told in scripture

Sages and practitioners hold that one who chants the Shiva Sankalpa Suktam daily with understanding gradually finds the mind turning of its own accord away from restless and harmful thoughts toward what is calm, pure and auspicious — as though the prayer itself reshapes the very current of the mind.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Yaj-jāgrato dūram-udaiti daivaṁ tad-u suptasya tathaivaiti। Dūraṅgamaṁ jyotiṣāṁ jyotir-ekaṁ tan-me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam-astu॥1॥

Meaning:That divine (mind) which travels far while one is awake, and which likewise wanders far in sleep — the far-ranging one, the single light of all lights — may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.

Verse 2

Yena karmāṇy-apaso manīṣiṇo yajñe kṛṇvanti vidatheṣu dhīrāḥ। Yad-apūrvaṁ yakṣam-antaḥ prajānāṁ tan-me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam-astu॥2॥

Meaning:That by which the skilful and wise, the steadfast, perform their works in sacrifice and in the assemblies; that which is the unprecedented mystery (yaksha) within all beings — may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.

Verse 3

Yat-prajñānam-uta ceto dhṛtiśca yaj-jyotir-antar-amṛtaṁ prajāsu। Yasmān-na ṛte kiñcana karma kriyate tan-me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam-astu॥3॥

Meaning:That which is consciousness, awareness and steadfast will, the immortal light within all creatures, without which no action whatsoever can be done — may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.

Verse 4

Yened-aṁ bhūtaṁ bhuvanaṁ bhaviṣyat parigṛhītam-amṛtena sarvam। Yena yajñas-tāyate sapta-hotā tan-me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam-astu॥4॥

Meaning:That by which all this — the past, the present world and the future — is wholly grasped by the immortal; that by which the sacrifice with its seven priests is extended — may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.

Verse 5

Yasminn-ṛcaḥ sāma yajūṁṣi yasmin pratiṣṭhitā ratha-nābhāv-ivārāḥ। Yasmiṁś-cittaṁ sarvam-otaṁ prajānāṁ tan-me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam-astu॥5॥

Meaning:That in which the Rik, Sama and Yajus verses are fixed, as the spokes are set in the hub of a chariot-wheel; in which the entire consciousness of all beings is woven — may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.

Verse 6

Suṣārathir-aśvān-iva yan-manuṣyān-nenīyate'bhīśubhir-vājina iva। Hṛt-pratiṣṭhaṁ yad-ajiraṁ javiṣṭhaṁ tan-me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam-astu॥6॥

Meaning:That which, like a skilful charioteer guiding swift horses with the reins, leads men onward; that which is seated in the heart, ever-active and swiftest of all — may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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yaj-jāgrataḥ🔊that which, in the waking state

dūram-udaiti🔊goes far away / travels to distant things

daivaṁ🔊the divine (faculty) / the mind

tad-u suptasya tathaivaiti🔊that same likewise travels (far) even in the state of sleep

dūraṅgamaṁ🔊the far-traveller (that which ranges far)

jyotiṣāṁ jyotir-ekaṁ🔊the one light of all lights

tan-me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam-astu🔊may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve (shiva-sankalpa)

yena karmāṇi🔊by which (the mind) works / performs actions

apasaḥ manīṣiṇaḥ🔊the skilled, the thoughtful / wise ones

yajñe kṛṇvanti vidatheṣu dhīrāḥ🔊the steadfast perform (rites) in sacrifice and in assemblies

yat-prajñānam🔊that which is consciousness / deep knowing

cetaḥ dhṛtiśca🔊awareness and steadfastness / will

antar-amṛtaṁ prajāsu🔊the immortal (light) within all beings

yasmān-na ṛte kiñcana karma kriyate🔊without which not a single action can be performed

yened-aṁ bhūtaṁ bhuvanaṁ bhaviṣyat🔊by which (mind) all the past, present world and the future

parigṛhītam-amṛtena sarvam🔊is wholly grasped/pervaded by the immortal

yena yajñas-tāyate sapta-hotā🔊by which the sacrifice with seven priests is extended/performed

yasminn-ṛcaḥ sāma yajūṁṣi🔊in which the Rik, Sama and Yajus (Vedic hymns) abide

ratha-nābhāv-ivārāḥ🔊like the spokes fixed in the hub of a chariot wheel

yasmiṁś-cittaṁ sarvam-otaṁ prajānāṁ🔊in which the entire consciousness of all beings is woven

suṣārathir-aśvān-iva🔊like a skilful charioteer (guiding) his horses

nenīyate'bhīśubhiḥ🔊guides (men) repeatedly with the reins

hṛt-pratiṣṭhaṁ🔊seated / established in the heart

yad-ajiraṁ javiṣṭhaṁ🔊that which is ever-active and the swiftest

Benefits of Chanting शिव सङ्कल्प सूक्तम्

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A direct Vedic prayer to purify and steady the mind, turning it toward auspicious (shiva) resolve

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Chanted to free the mind of negative, scattered or harmful thoughts and to cultivate noble sankalpa (intention)

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Supports concentration, clarity and steadfast will in meditation, study and work

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Reveals the mind as the 'light of all lights' and the seat of consciousness — a powerful contemplation for self-knowledge

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Considered highly auspicious before beginning any sankalpa, vrata, study or important undertaking

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Being from the Yajurveda, it carries the sanctifying power of the Vedic word when chanted with correct intonation

How to Chant शिव सङ्कल्प सूक्तम्

Repetitions6times

Best TimeEarly morning (Brahma Muhurta) after bath, before meditation, study, or making a sankalpa

Recite the six mantras calmly and attentively, ideally after a bath and in a clean, quiet place facing east. Because this is a Vedic suktam, observe the traditional intonation (svara) where possible, or chant it evenly and reverently. Let the meaning of each refrain — 'may that mind of mine be filled with auspicious resolve' — sink in, gently turning the mind away from restless or negative thoughts toward goodness. It is especially fitting to chant it before meditation, study, a vow (vrata), or any important resolve. It may be recited once or in cycles of six.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete शिव सङ्कल्प सूक्तम् 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 a Vedic hymn of six mantras from the Shukla (White) Yajurveda, chapter 34 of the Vajasaneyi Samhita. It is a prayer for the mind, each mantra ending with 'tan me manaḥ śiva-saṅkalpam astu' — 'may that mind of mine be of auspicious resolve'.

'Shiva' here means auspicious, benevolent and pure, and 'sankalpa' means resolve, will or intention. So 'shiva-sankalpa' is the prayer that the mind be filled only with good, holy and auspicious resolves — the mind that leads one toward the highest good.

The Vedic seers recognised that the mind is the root of all action, thought and worship — described here as the far-traveller, the light of all lights, and the seat of consciousness in which even the Vedas abide. By praying for the mind itself to become auspicious, every action and intention that flows from it becomes pure.

It is best chanted in the early morning after bath, and especially before meditation, study, a vow or any significant undertaking where a clear, pure resolve is needed. Daily recitation is said to steady the mind and free it of restless and negative tendencies.