Swasti Mantra (Swastivachan): Sanskrit Text, Meaning & Benefits
Swasti Mantra (Swastivachan) - Sanskrit Text
ॐ स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः ।
स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः ।
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः ।
स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
oṁ svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ |
svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ |
svasti nas-tārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ |
svasti no bṛhaspatir-dadhātu ||
oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Meaning
"Om. May Indra of ancient fame grant us well-being; may Pusha, knower of all the worlds, grant us well-being; may Tarkshya (Garuda) of unfailing felloe - whose protection never fails - grant us well-being; may Brihaspati bestow well-being upon us. Om, peace, peace, peace." The word svasti = su (good) + asti (be) - "may it be well, may there be welfare." This Vedic verse (from the Rigveda) is a prayer that the great divine powers - Indra the king of the gods, Pusha the nourisher and guardian of paths, Tarkshya/Garuda the indomitable protector, and Brihaspati the lord of wisdom - establish auspiciousness, safety and prosperity for all.
About this Mantra
The Swasti Mantra is among the most famous of the Vedic shanti / mangala mantras. The act of reciting it is called svasti-vāchana - "the utterance of well-being" - and it is traditionally chanted at the beginning of every auspicious rite, puja, yajna, samskara or new undertaking to invoke a blessed and obstacle-free start. Drawn from the Rigveda, it is a collective prayer ("na" = for us, for all), embodying the sanatana ideal of welfare for everyone.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
Swastivachan sets an auspicious, peaceful field before any sacred or important activity. It is held to remove obstacles, invite divine protection, and harmonise the minds and hearts of those gathered. As a mangala mantra it brings shanti (peace) - the threefold "shanti" calming disturbances of the body, the surroundings and fate. Recited at the start of the day, a journey, a ceremony or a new venture, it consecrates the beginning and draws the blessing of the great deities upon all present.
Astrological Relevance
The mantra names Brihaspati - the planet Jupiter (Guru) - the great benefic and karaka of wisdom, dharma, fortune and auspiciousness, whose blessing it directly invokes. It also calls on Indra and Pusha, powers associated with sovereignty and with the safe travel of paths. Recited before any muhurta-based undertaking, the Swasti Mantra invites Jupiter's protective, prosperity-bringing influence and is a fitting opening prayer to strengthen the auspiciousness of any chosen time, especially on Thursday, Jupiter's day.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Recite at the very start of any puja, ceremony, journey or important task, after a brief invocation of Ganesha. Sit clean and composed, facing east or north, and chant the verse clearly, closing with the threefold "Om Shanti." In formal rituals the priest leads the svasti-vachana while the participants join in. It may also be recited daily as a simple morning blessing for the household.
Best Day & Time
Recited at the beginning of any auspicious occasion, at any time. As a daily blessing, dawn is ideal; Thursday (Guruvar), Jupiter's day, is especially fitting given its invocation of Brihaspati.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Swasti" mean?
Swasti = su (good) + asti (be) - "may it be well." The mantra is a prayer for welfare, auspiciousness and peace for all.
When is the Swasti Mantra recited?
At the beginning of pujas, yajnas, samskaras, journeys and new undertakings, as svasti-vachana, to invoke an auspicious, obstacle-free start.
Which deities does it invoke?
Indra, Pusha, Tarkshya (Garuda) and Brihaspati - the king of the gods, the nourisher-guardian, the unfailing protector, and the lord of wisdom (the planet Jupiter).
Why Vedic rites begin with this ancient blessing
The Swasti Mantra - known in the ritual context as Swastivachan - holds an irreplaceable place at the threshold of every auspicious Vedic undertaking. Drawn from the Rigveda, it does not petition a single deity but assembles a constellation of divine powers: Indra of great fame, Pusha the nourisher, Tarkshya (identified with the eagle Garuda, guardian of the sky), and Brihaspati the preceptor of the gods. By invoking this fourfold blessing at the outset, the ritualist acknowledges that true well-being - svasti - arises from cosmic harmony, not from any single source of grace.
Priests and family elders recite this mantra before marriages, naming ceremonies, griha-pravesh, new business ventures, and any sankalpa-based worship, establishing a field of auspiciousness before more specific prayers begin. In the Jyotish tradition, Brihaspati's central presence in this mantra connects it to the planet Jupiter, and astrologers often recommend its recitation as a gentle but effective means of strengthening a benefic Jupiter or seeking the planet's grace during Jupiter transits and Guru Purnima. The mantra's sweep - encompassing the four directions and all beings - gives it a universality that makes it as relevant in a quiet morning prayer as in the grandest public ceremony.