ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय। मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
Word-by-Word Meanings (Padartha)
सरल हिंदी भावार्थ:
हे परमात्मा! मुझे असत्य से सत्य की ओर ले चलो। मुझे अज्ञान रूपी अंधकार से ज्ञान रूपी प्रकाश की ओर ले चलो। मुझे मृत्यु से अमरता (मोक्ष) की ओर ले चलो। ॐ, तीनों प्रकार के तापों (आधिभौतिक, आधिदैविक, आध्यात्मिक) की शांति हो।
English Translation:
Lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Context & Living Philosophy
Narrative Context
Recorded in the sacred soma sacrifice liturgy of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the Pavamana Abhyaroha mantra is the seeker's supreme upward aspiration. The Upanishad itself provides the ancient esoteric commentary: 'Asat' is mortal, transient empirical existence; 'Sat' is the imperishable immortal Brahman. 'Tamas' is the darkness of ignorance; 'Jyoti' is the self-effulgent light of divine consciousness.
Philosophical Essence & Commentary
The prayer unfolds three progressive ascents of spiritual realization: (1) From the unreal/fleeting to the eternal Truth (Asato mā sad gamaya), (2) From ignorance/delusion to the light of self-realization (Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya), and (3) From the cycle of biological mortality to liberation/immortality (Mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya).