The Purnamadah Shanti Mantra: text and meaning
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शांतिः शांतिः शांतिः ॥
oṃ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṃ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate /
pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate //
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ /
Word by word
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pūrṇam | filled, full … complete, all, entire |
| adaḥ | (opposed to idam) that, a certain |
| idaṃ | this, this here, referring to something near the speaker |
| pūrṇāt | (from the) filled, full … complete, all, entire |
| udacyate | Pass. -acyate, to be thrown out; to come forth, proceed |
| pūrṇasya | (of the) filled, full … complete, all, entire |
| ādāya | ‘to give to one's self’, take, accept, receive from … to take off or out from, separate from |
| evāvaśiṣyate | (eva) just, exactly, only + (ava-√śiṣ, Pass. -śiṣyate) to be left as a remnant, remain |
| śāntiḥ | tranquillity, peace, quiet, peace or calmness of mind, absence of passion, averting of pain |
- The page says this verse is 'from the Isha Upanishad'. Strictly, it is the invocation printed before the Īśa Upaniṣad. As a text it is Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 5.1.1: GRETIL's Kāṇva BU (sa_bRhadAraNyakopaniSadkANva-recension-comm.txt, brhup_5,1.1) has 'pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṃ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate | pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate |', followed by 'khaṃ brahma …'. It does not have the 'oṃ' or the 'śāntiḥ' line. Suggested wording: 'the śānti invocation of the Īśa Upaniṣad (Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 5.1.1)'.
- Spelling difference: Wikisource writes 'शांतिः' (with anusvāra); GRETIL writes 'śāntiḥ' (with the nasal ñ/n). Both are standard spellings. The more common Devanagari 'शान्तिः' is not what this source prints, so it is not substituted here.
- The GRETIL BU file's own invocation (its line 60) reads 'pūrṇamadacyate', a typo for udacyate. That is why the Īśa file is used for IAST.
- The page also mentions 'Om Shanti Shanti Shanti' on its own. That is the last line here.
- No published English translation was opened: sacred-texts.com returned 403 for Max Müller's SBE translation. None is quoted.
- Not verified: the page's claims about Prana Vayu, Sadhaka Pitta, the Charaka Samhita and the Ashtanga Hridaya are not supported by any source opened here.
Sources
- ईशोपनिषत् (Sanskrit Wikisource), Invocation (śāntipāṭha) printed before Īśa Upaniṣad 1
- Īśopaniṣad (Īśāvāsyopaniṣad), Kāṇva recension with the commentary ascribed to Śaṃkara (GRETIL, Sansknet input; mūla checked against Limaye & Vadekar, Eighteen Principal Upaniṣads, Poona 1958), Invocation before isup_1
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 642,1
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 18,1
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 165,2
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 184,1
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 136,2
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 104,2
- Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, MW p. 1064,3
About this practice
The Shanti Mantras are sacred invocations of peace that traditionally open and close Vedic ceremonies, rituals, and meditation practices. The most well-known, 'Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,' invokes peace three times to address the three sources of suffering described in Vedic philosophy: Adhidaivika (cosmic/divine causes), Adhibhautika (environmental/external causes), and Adhyatmika (internal/personal causes). This triple invocation creates a comprehensive field of peace encompassing all dimensions of human experience.
This meditation centers on the extended Shanti Mantra recited as the invocation of the Isha Upanishad (the verse itself is Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 5.1.1): 'Om Purnamadah Purnamidam, Purnat Purnamudachyate, Purnasya Purnamadaya, Purnameva Avashishyate, Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.' This profound verse declares that wholeness comes from wholeness, and even when wholeness emerges from wholeness, wholeness remains. It is a meditation on the completeness that is your essential nature.
In Ayurvedic psychology, peace (Shanti) represents the highest expression of a Sattvic mind. The Charaka Samhita describes that a mind established in Sattva is naturally free from the disturbances of Rajas (agitation) and Tamas (dullness). The vibration of Shanti directly cultivates this Sattvic quality, acting as a neurological reset that calms Prana Vayu (responsible for mental activity) and soothes Sadhaka Pitta (responsible for emotional processing).
This meditation is particularly beneficial for Pitta types, whose intense mental activity and competitive nature can create chronic inner turbulence. The cooling, surrendering quality of Shanti counterbalances Pitta's fire without diminishing its positive aspects of clarity and determination. For Vata types, the rhythmic, repetitive quality of mantra chanting provides a stabilizing anchor that reduces anxiety and mental scatter.
The practice is ideal for evening meditation when the day's accumulated mental and emotional impressions need to be processed and released before sleep. The Ashtanga Hridaya recommends peaceful practices before sleep to ensure that the night's natural healing processes proceed without interference from unresolved mental agitation.
Benefits
- Establishes profound inner peace that transcends external circumstances
- Calms Pitta's mental intensity and reduces chronic inner turbulence
- Addresses all three sources of suffering simultaneously through the triple peace invocation
- Creates a powerful evening practice for releasing the day's accumulated stress
- Cultivates Sattvic mental quality for clearer perception and wiser choices
- Supports healthy sleep by calming Prana Vayu and Sadhaka Pitta before bed
- Provides a simple yet deeply effective practice accessible to all experience levels
How to practice
- 1
Sit comfortably in the evening as the day winds down. Light a candle or ghee lamp. Close your eyes and take 5 slow, deep breaths, releasing any tension accumulated throughout the day.
- 2
Begin by chanting 'Om Shanti Shanti Shanti' three times slowly. With the first Shanti, release disturbances from cosmic forces. With the second, release environmental stresses. With the third, release inner turmoil.
- 3
Now chant the full Purnam Shanti Mantra: 'Om Purnamadah Purnamidam, Purnat Purnamudachyate, Purnasya Purnamadaya, Purnameva Avashishyate.' Feel the meaning: everything is already whole and complete.
- 4
Close with 'Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.' Repeat this entire sequence 3 times, letting each repetition deepen the feeling of peace permeating your body, mind, and surroundings.
- 5
After the final chant, sit in silence. Feel peace as a tangible presence in the room, like warmth from a fire. Let it saturate every cell of your body and every corner of your mind.
- 6
Bring to mind any situations or people that disturbed your peace today. Without analyzing, simply enfold each memory in the Shanti vibration, as if wrapping it in a blanket of peace. Release it.
- 7
Rest in the awareness of wholeness (Purnam). Affirm: 'I am complete. Nothing is lacking. Peace is my nature.' Sit for 3 minutes before gently opening your eyes.
Practice tips
- Practice this meditation in the same quiet space each evening to build a 'field' of peace that deepens over time
- Burning sandalwood or lavender incense enhances the calming, Sattvic atmosphere for Shanti meditation
- If you wake during the night with anxiety, mentally chant 'Om Shanti' to quickly re-establish peace
- Teaching this mantra to children is a beautiful evening ritual that supports healthy sleep patterns and emotional resilience
Vaidya picks the right session for your dosha — the balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha you were born with — and the time of day. Free, about 4 minutes. Take the dosha quiz to start.
Take the dosha quiz→Three questions towards your dosha
These are the first three questions of the full dosha quiz. Answer them here and carry on where you left off.
Prefer to start from the beginning? Take the full dosha quiz.
Frequently asked questions
The triple chanting addresses three types of suffering described in Vedic philosophy: Adhidaivika (suffering from divine or cosmic forces like natural disasters), Adhibhautika (suffering from other beings and environmental factors), and Adhyatmika (suffering from one's own body and mind). By invoking peace at all three levels, the practice creates comprehensive protection and harmony.
The Purnam Shanti Mantra teaches that your essential nature is already whole and complete — nothing can be added or taken away from it. Practically, this means that peace is not something you need to create or find; it is what remains when disturbances are released. This understanding transforms meditation from 'seeking peace' to 'uncovering the peace that is already present,' which is far more effective and sustainable.