Shanti Mantra
A prayer of peace for all beings — threefold peace for body, mind, and spirit.
Original
Transliteration
Oṃ sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ sarve santu nirāmayāḥ sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścid duḥkha bhāg bhavet Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Translation
May all be happy. May all be free from illness. May all see what is good. May no one suffer. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Quick answer
The Shanti Mantra is a Sanskrit peace prayer — 'may all beings be happy, may all be free from illness' — closing with Om Shanti Shanti Shanti, the threefold invocation of peace.
- Tradition
- Hindu / Vedic
- Language
- Sanskrit
- Repetitions
- Once or three times.
- Best time
- At the close of any practice, or before sleep.
- Best for
- Closing practice, Group prayer, Cultivating loving-kindness
Line by line
Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ
May all beings be happy.
Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ
May all beings be free from illness.
Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu
May all see auspiciousness everywhere.
Mā kaścid duḥkha bhāg bhavet
May no one carry a share of sorrow.
Śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Peace threefold — in body, in mind, and in spirit.
Meaning
Literal
A benediction wishing happiness, health, and freedom from suffering upon all beings, sealed with the threefold invocation of peace.
Spiritual interpretation
Shanti is chanted three times for a reason: peace from disturbances of the body, of the surrounding world, and of one's own mind. The prayer widens the circle of concern until it includes everyone — and in that widening, the heart itself becomes peaceful.
What this mantra is used for
How to chant
Chant slowly at the close of meditation or yoga, letting each 'shanti' grow quieter than the last — the third almost a whisper.
When to chant
At the close of any practice, or before sleep.
Traditional count: Once or three times.
Origin & context
A classical Vedic benediction; the shanti-path verses close many Upanishads, including the Brihadaranyaka.
Related mantras
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.
Om (Aum)
The primordial sound — the seed from which every mantra arises.
Asato Ma Sad Gamaya
Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality.
Continue exploring
Frequently asked questions
Why is shanti chanted three times?+
The three repetitions ask for peace on three levels — from bodily disturbance, from the surrounding world, and from one's own mind.
What does Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah mean?+
'May all beings be happy' — the opening of a universal prayer for the happiness, health, and freedom from suffering of everyone.
When should I chant the Shanti Mantra?+
Most often at the close of meditation or yoga practice, and any time the mind needs settling.